Dubai Toll-Free Salik Trips Soar 47% in Q2 2025 as Commuters Shift Travel Times
Dubai, August 2025 – Toll-free Salik trips in Dubai jumped 46.8% in Q2 2025, as residents increasingly plan their commutes around the city’s new toll system.
Data from Salik, Dubai’s exclusive toll operator, shows that 16.4 million trips were made after 1am, when tolls are waived. This comes after the variable toll pricing system, introduced on January 31, 2025, which charges as follow:
| Time Period | Toll Charge |
|---|---|
| 6am–10am, 4pm–8pm | Dh6 |
| 10am–4pm, 8pm–1am | Dh4 |
| 1am–6am | Dh0 |
In total, 27.6 million toll-free trips were recorded in the first half of 2025, while chargeable trips reached 160.4 million, up 1.6% from Q1. The increase was partly driven by two new gates at Business Bay and Al Safa South. Revenue for H1 2025 hit Dh1.53 billion.
Residents are changing travel habits to save both tolls and fuel. Amir Niaz, a Sharjah resident working night shifts, explained: “I sometimes wait 15–20 minutes before leaving work to cross after 1am. It saves me Dh8 daily and avoids traffic.”
Other commuters adjust by parking near key areas, waiting for tolls to drop, or rescheduling social plans to avoid peak-hour charges.
The data shows Dubai’s variable toll system is not only boosting revenue but also encouraging smarter commuting, helping residents save money and reduce congestion.
