RTA to re-introduce Salik tolls for taxis

Taxi-users in the UAE will have to pay the AED 4 Salik toll from the new year, UAE daily Gulf News reported on Tuesday.

The move reverses an exemption from the toll for taxis that has been in place since December 2008, after customer complaints.

“Previously most complaints were from tourists, because cab drivers had to manually add the AED 4 toll on the fare and this made tourists think they were being cheated. This time, the meters will automatically add the toll,” an official at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) told Gulf News.

The new meters will use a system called D8, which will automatically account for the Salik toll and add it to the overall fare.

According to the report, RTA has asked taxi operators to upgrade their meters to the new system.

The move is likely to draw sharp criticism from customers.

“It is unfair to charge Salik from taxi users, since taxis are part of the public transport network,” one regular commuter told Gulf News.

There are currently four Salik tolls across Dubai: Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Maktoum Bridge and two on Sheikh Zayed Road.