By dubailife 
Dubai motorists are reevaluating their budgets in light of two new Salik toll gates set to activate on November 24. The new tolls—located at Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road between Al Meydan Street and Umm Al Sheif Street—bring the total Salik gates in the city to 10, impacting regular commuters’ expenses.
Jordanian expat Mohammed AbuNael, a marketing executive, expects his monthly Salik cost to rise significantly. Currently spending around Dh350 per month on Salik as he travels over 80 km daily, he’s now bracing for expenses of more than Dh500. “When I can, I take Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to avoid Salik gates. But my usual routes include Ittihad Road or Airport Tunnel, costing Dh12 and Dh4, respectively, with an additional charge if I pass Al Safa gate on Sheikh Zayed Road,” he shared with *Khaleej Times*.
**Exploring Alternative Routes**
Syrian expat Shorouq Saleem is also reconsidering his routes. “The Business Bay bridge is my main access to Al Khail Road. Traveling from Al Twar via Airport Tunnel to Business Bay, I used to pay for one Salik gate—now, I’ll pay for two, which increases my costs significantly. I’ve tested alternative routes, but I anticipate these will get crowded as people try to bypass the tolls.”
Similarly, Saeed Shah from Al Nahda, Sharjah, has explored alternatives but finds them costly in fuel. “Avoiding Salik by taking Airport Tunnel to Ras Al Khor or Mustaqbal Street consumes more fuel with added traffic and signals. These routes connect to Al Khail Road without crossing Business Bay, but I’m already noticing higher fuel costs,” he explained.
**Traffic Relief and Expectations**
While adjusting his budget, AbuNael is hopeful that the new gates will help ease congestion on key roads. “With more Salik gates, I hope traffic will divert toward Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, which could reduce congestion on Airport Tunnel Road leading to Al Khail via Business Bay Crossing.”
The upcoming Salik gates are designed to streamline traffic across Dubai, yet for many commuters, they represent a balancing act between time, costs, and fuel efficiency.
Source : Khaleejtimes