How to Get a Salik Tag and Pay Tolls in Dubai
Salik is Dubai's electronic toll system. You stick an RFID tag on your windshield. The tag is linked to a prepaid account. Each time you pass one of Dubai's 10 toll gates, the toll is charged to your account automatically. Toll prices change by time of day. At peak times you pay AED 6. Off-peak you pay AED 4. It is free from 1:00 to 6:00 AM. On Sundays the price is a flat AED 4. Since 1 June 2026, 5% VAT is added on top, so you pay AED 6.30 / AED 4.20. If you pass a gate without a registered tag, you get a fine. You also get a fine if your balance is too low and you do not top up within 5 days.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Tag about AED 100–122.50 incl. AED 50 prepaid credit (varies by channel); tolls per crossing
- Total time:
- Minutes to buy and activate
- Steps:
- 7 steps
- Where to apply:
- dubai.ae
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked annually · next review due October 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UAE sources(October 2026).
0 of 7 steps
- Before You Go Minutes About AED 100–122.50 incl. AED 50 credit
Buy a Salik tag
You can buy a tag online, on the Salik website or app, or in the RTA Dubai app. Or buy one in person at a petrol station (ENOC, EPPCO, Emarat, ADNOC). The tag costs about AED 100 to 122.50. The price depends on where you buy it. The price includes AED 50 of prepaid toll credit. Online orders also add a delivery charge.
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- Submit & Pay Minutes
Activate the tag
A tag bought online activates on its own once your payment goes through. A tag bought at a petrol station needs activation. Do it on the Salik website or app, or in the RTA Dubai app. Or call the Salik call centre. Set your PIN when you activate.
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- Go Minutes
Stick the tag on your windshield
Stick the tag on the front windshield. Follow the installation instructions, so the gates can read it. All vehicles pay the toll, including taxis.
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- Submit & Pay Minutes
Top up your account
You can top up in the Salik app or on the Salik website. You can also use the RTA Dubai app, a petrol station, or the Salik call centre. Set up auto top-up in the app. Then your balance never runs out.
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- Follow Up Ongoing AED 6.30 peak / AED 4.20 off-peak (incl. VAT)
Know the toll rates
From Monday to Saturday, peak times are 6:00 to 10:00 AM and 4:00 to 8:00 PM. At peak times, you pay AED 6 for each crossing. Off-peak, you pay AED 4. Every day, from 1:00 to 6:00 AM, it is free. On Sundays, you pay a flat AED 4, apart from the free early-morning hours. During Ramadan, the peak hours can change. Since 1 June 2026, 5% VAT is added on top, so you pay AED 6.30 / AED 4.20. Check the live schedule in the Salik app before a long drive.
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- Follow Up Ongoing Fines vary — confirm on Salik channels
Avoid violations
If you pass a Salik gate without a registered tag, you get a fine. If you pass with a balance that is too low, and you do not top up within 5 days, you also get a fine. Check the current fine amounts on the Salik website or app before you rely on them.
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- Follow Up Per rental
Rental cars
The rental company owns the tag. Tolls go to its account, and the company charges them to you. It also adds any admin fee stated in your contract. The company often holds your deposit for 15 to 30 days after you return the car. This covers tolls and fines that are posted late.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need one tag per car?
Yes. Each Salik tag and account is registered to one vehicle plate number only. If you own more than one vehicle, you need a separate account for each vehicle.
Can I transfer my Salik balance to another car?
No. You cannot move a Salik balance from one vehicle to another.
What about the paired gates at Al Safa and Al Mamzar?
Salik limits the charges when you cross both gates of a pair, in the same direction, within one hour. Check the current paired-gate rule on Salik channels.
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