Driving Down Sheikh Zayed Road Just Became More Expensive

Driving Down Sheikh Zayed Road Just Became More Expensive

Any driver in Dubai will be familiar with Salik tolls and the charges you face when you cruise down one of Dubai's busiest highways. Up until now, drivers who pass both Al Safa and Al Barsha within 40 minutes of each other were only charged once at the cost of 4 Dhs. 

But that has changed from today (February 19th), as the Salik gates have been unlinked.

Meaning, if you now pass through both of these toll gates in one journey, you'll be charged twice... 

So for any of you who commute down SZR on a daily basis to/from work and through these toll gates, you'll now face Dhs 8 in one journey. Then add Dhs 8 on the way home... That's Dhs 16 per day if you're travelling to and from home. That's Dhs 80 weekly (Sunday - Thursday), which means an astounding Dhs 320 per month just to drive through these two toll gates. Do you see where we're going with this? That's Dhs 3,840 per year. 

That's not including the other 5 toll gates there are across the Emirate that you may also pass through on your journey to and from work, or the mall, or the aiport... Al Garhoud, Al Maktoum, Al Mamzar North, Al Mamzar South and Airport Tunnel. 

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Actually, while mentioning the airport... We're sure you'll be heading there in a taxi, which means Dhs 8 on top of your taxi fare. And if you're getting a taxi from the airport when landing, where fares already begin at Dhs 25... It's even more...

But while the toll gate increase may seen steep at first, the reasoning behind it is hugely understandable. 

After all, any driver in Dubai knows just as well how busy Sheikh Zayed Road can get during rush hours, and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have unlinked these two gates in an effort to reduce traffic flow along the highway.

The RTA has done this also to ensure that SZR remains an express traffic corridor, The Khaleej Times has reported, which helps business travellers and those commuting to and from the airport will be able to reach their destination in much less time if successful.