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Fujairah/Abu Dhabi/Ras Al Khaimah/Al Ain: For many non-Dubai residents, one of the perks of not living or working in Dubai is the ability to sweep in and out of the emirate on weekends for a fairly hassle-free day out.
Taking a trip down to Dubai to experience the big city lights or for a high-end shopping spree is a must for many residents of other emirates. So the possibility of a more expensive trip or more congestion on some routes is not a welcome one.
Starting next month, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will introduce a road toll system between Al Garhoud Bridge and the Fourth Interchange on Shaikh Zayed Road.
Motorists will have to buy a Dh150 pre-paid card and pay Dh4 each time they pass a toll gate, but the maximum charge per day per car using toll roads will be Dh24.
Although there has been a lot of publicity on Salik, many visitors from other emirates are likely to be taken by surprise, said Fujairah resident Mohammad Al Rangi, an Emirati manager at Fujairah's Chamber of Commerce.
"[Many people are going to be] taken by surprise by the new toll system. Even those who know about it can be a bit lax about taking the necessary steps and will probably have to fork out hundreds of dirhams in fines before they finally adapts [the system]."
Profit angle
Tamara H, from Abu Dhabi, thinks having a 24-hour system does not make sense and smacks of profitability on behalf of RTA.
Tamara also thinks nonresidents of Dubai are unfairly affected by Salik. She said: "How will this work for someone like me? I only go to Dubai on weekends, a couple of times a month. Does it really make sense for me to buy a toll tag worth Dh150 just for that?"
Akhlaq Haider, an expatriate engineer from Al Ain, also thinks the system will be ineffective and unfair, especially for the residents of other emirates who occasionally go to Dubai.
"There are many other ways to reduce traffic load from the streets. But if they want to make money by creating discomfort for the residents and the visitors, they have taken the right step," Haider exclaimed.
Abid Hussain, an expatriate sales manager and also an Al Ain resident, said the toll is likely to impact Dubai's economy as visitors would stay away.
"The toll system would badly hurt internal tour-ism. People would now avoid going to Dubai for shopping and leisure trips. The toll amount is also very high."
'Unfair'
Mohammad Al Shumaili, an Emirati from Ras Al Khaimah, thinks the proposed system should have categories to suit different groups of people, not only the residents of Dubai who need the tags on daily basis.
He stressed that people who don't visit Dubai on a regular basis do not need to get the tags for daily use of the roads, adding that a trip to Dubai every couple of months should never have to get a Dh150 tag.
Aref Al Za'abi, an Emirati from Ras Al Khaimah, said the residents of Ras Al Khaimah, for example, may have to make an urgent trip to Dubai without having the chance to fill the necessary forms and get the tags, and would be subject to penalties and fines and that would be unfair to them.
But some residents do feel something needs to be done to ease the pressure on Dubai's roads.
Saif Mohammad Moaili, a Fujairah Emiri Court employee, thinks Salik could have some merits. "All the thousands of drivers who clog-up the roads for no good reason will probably think twice before driving through those routes."
Your comments
It is very difficult to bear this heavy toll system. I live in Qusais and work on Shaikh Zayed road every day. I have to pay Dh4, which is very difficult for the office employees. A better solution would be to make new roads and interchanges.
Shahbaz
Dubai,UAE
I totally agree that the road toll will kind of ban the tourists from visiting the tourists' heaven, because all these prices are too high to be able to be afforded by some people.
Mahwish
Dubai,UAE
This system is great. Not only will Dubai lose its internal appeal but it will really give the opportunity for other cities to flourish and became successful hubs. Logically it's not a great step for Dubai because with the rising cost of living and high road congestion other cities will jump on their unpopularity and exploit it to their benefit. Let's hope they are smart enough to figure it out.
Jonothan
Toronto,Canada
With this new system, I will not buy these ugly tags. I have seen them, they are not even discreet. They make our car window look ugly, and forget going to the malls. It will cause more traffic! Dubai will lose tourism to Oman, Bahrain, KSA, Qatar etc. No one will bother to buy the tags. The more they get fines, the less they come.
Ahmed
Dubai,UAE
I agree with a lot of people who say that Salik will affect everyone. Not only in Dubai, but also for others who live outside Dubai. It is very early to make the toll(s) gates effective, as when there are still roads/routes that are still under heavy construction. Why not finish all remaining projects first that have already started rather than implementing another one?
A Reader
Okinawa,Japan
The toll system can work better if it works like the Dubai paid parking system, only on peak timing and no charge on weekends.
Abu
Sharjah,UAE
I will not be buying a Dh150 card just to pass the toll gate once a month. It seems I will now have to forget about visiting the malls in Dubai.
Hari
Dubai,UAE
I have previously driven down Shaikh Zayed Road at 2am. I barely met any traffic jam all the way to the Dubai Airport from Abu Dhabi. Therefore, it makes no sense of having a 24-hour toll; especially when the diversions from the toll gate are not even ready.
Mohamed
Melbourne,Australia
I think implementing the toll system is too early. With most of the roads in Dubai under construction, authorities should first get the work done so people have alternative roads to avoid the toll gates.
Clarence
Dubai,UAE
Some of these residents who are complaining are from other emirates. If you like Dubai, please pay or give way.
Ahmed
Dubai,UAE
The toll charge of Dh4 is exorbitant. Dh2 is fair.
Sandeep
Dubai,UAE
All Dubai-registered cars and other cars registered in other emirates would have to buy this card costing Dh150. And maybe frequent visitors will have to pay Dh300. It is big money.
Syed
Dubai,UAE
This toll project was approved without having other modes of transportation in place, such as the Metro. After enjoying a huge success in business, Dubai will damage itself as a business hub and thus allow other emirates to improve their economy. All the best for Sharjah, Ajman and the Northern Emirates. They cannot get a better lifeline than this one.
Mansoor
Sharjah,UAE
Salik may affect the business of the Mall of the Emirates and Ibn Batutta, especially the shop owners who are already paying high rent.
Suresh
Dubai,UAE
It is going to create havoc on alternative routes. It is not a good idea to make Salik functional until the Metro and other projects are completed.
Joyveer
Dubai,UAE
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