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Emirates Road Salik proposal dismays contractors

by Greg Whitaker on Dec 22, 2009

31 Comments

Salik gates may be destined for Emirates Road.

Hard pushed fleet operators are dismayed to hear that a number of toll gates are set to open on the Emirates Road through Dubai.

A report in several Arabic newspapers has suggested that the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) raised the proposals at a meeting of the General Budget Committee, which explores Dubai’s revenue streams for 2010.

If implemented, this will be a shift in policy away from using Salik fees as a method of encouraging drivers to use less congested routes, to that as a simple revenue generator.

Understandably, the proposals have been given a lukewarm response by local businesses.

Ninan George, a manager at Al Wasit machinery said: “The roads need to be paid for – but now is not the right time to introduce this.”

Paul Austin Price, a manager at trailer factory Gorica has another suggestion. “It might be simpler to charge all heavy good operators some sort of levvy for using the roads.”

Story continues below

FEATURED COMMENT

Good-work RTA and Congratulations, we expecting the same Saliks in all the roads in Dubai. After started in Emirates roa

31 Comments

Readers' Comments

Sreejith (Jan 3, 2010)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Salik
Good-work RTA and Congratulations, we expecting the same Saliks in all the roads in Dubai. After started in Emirates road, waiting to get Jumeirah road as well.Atleast we have to earn AED 50 per day from a person who stayed in sharjah and working in Jebel Ali.

Stanley (Jan 3, 2010)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Salik
The purpose of the road toll tax is to control the heavy traffic during the rush hours and the tax paid is justified by saving in time. SALIK operating 24/7 is a revene generating plan , than traffic control. Appreciate if the RTA looks into this issue & re schelude the SALIK operating timing.

tom (Jan 3, 2010)
dunai
Brazil

Guiness book og world record
i think RTA is to build a guiness book of record for most number of toll points in the most smallest part of the world.three cheers to the inew idea...

adam (Jan 2, 2010)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

My dear Robert...
You and anyone who thinks "we" the expatriates are here to pay "them" the Government for their roads (which if they stopped digging them up every year for a metro that takes twice as long as a car journey and goes nowhere) needs to get real. This is one of the wealthiest and least densely populated regions on earth and after 22 years here it is slightly repugnant to hear people self righteously demanding that everyone "lives it up" or suffers a miserable quality of life. In time my friend you will realise that this is the biggest scam in history - the Congestion Charge in London was bad enough - but this is plain robbery in a region where we came to save money for retirement/education/whatever and work hard in the process, not have it all taken away from us and be lectured by those self satisfied tourists/yuppy backpackers who think money/sunshine/taxfree blah blah blah is everything and know NOTHING about normal real life in Dubai or the Gulf and who probably sees the world and its people as a series of retirement/job/package holiday options. It is both insensitive and sickening considering how little some people get paid to criticise the same fathers & mothers from cutting their cloth accordingly. Good riddance to your kind Sir Robert and anyone who agrees with you. I have a feeling the good people of Sharjah will be here long after you are back on the bus from wherever you came from. Get a Nol card and sell your car if it makes you feel better about being ripped off Sir Robert!

sif (Jan 2, 2010)
dubai
South Africa

Salik
When I considered Dubai as a country to work in, one big reason was the tax free salary, but only after arriving here did I learn that you are taxed in everyway other way than Income tax in Dubai, infact much more than any normal IT in any country, So here goes few more Tax collection points for you to dig in your already empty pockets!! Dont drive FASTER to whet your frustrations guys. HAHAHA!!

ME (Jan 2, 2010) Malaysia

LOVE DUBAI, LEAVE DUBAI
The time has come. Perhaps we need to give it a deep thought... Shall we stay on and pay more changes or shall leave this place with a peaceful mind. With the current economy condition, obviously it?s not wise for the government to enforce such tariff at this junction. When things get tough, the tough get going. We choose to be with Dubai even during hard time, BUT if the governments choose to let us go? We will leave the place.

Muhammad Ali (Jan 2, 2010)
Dubai
Pakistan

Salik Emirates Road
As per comman sense the toll gates, if needed, should only be at the Entry and Exit points to a city. Say at Jebel Ali, Nahda, Emirates Road.. means from where ever you enter /exit Duabi, Shj, Abu Dhabi etc.. Just think what's the reason there are long traffic tails early morning from Shj to Dubai and vice versa in the evening.. People try to act smart.. they earn in Dubai and live in Shj.. that's not a problem.. ok understandable.. but if they are saving on rent a handsome money, which Dubai resident is not, then let them pay Salik from where ever they enter Dubai.. RTA had never stopped anyone from renting in Shj.. but if people do so and it causes traffic problems, time and resource wastage then let them pay 'Tax'.. whats the problem..?? I agree with Robert and am also staying in Dubai,10 mins away from my office.. and not saving money like most of my friends are, by living in Shj. Issue is not Salik.. Issue is the smart mentality of people.. if you work in Dubai; live in Dubai and just exit once in a week towards Abu Dhbai or Shj for an outing then AED4 will not hurt you.. At the end when you calcualte and give weightage to various factors.. like family hours, stuck in traffic hours, fatigue, Salik, petrol/maintenanace, life risk by staying extra hours on roads etc.. different poeple think the answer is different but actually the gross result shall be the same. Think on it.

a (Jan 2, 2010)
dubai
United Arab Emirates

salik
if RTA wants to reduce traffic, then salik should charge the peak time only.or RTA needs money then put all roads and squeeze blood of the public.

ray (Jan 2, 2010) USA

salik
i have no problem in paying salik in dubai.but are we realy feeling fine when we drive into the emirates road? no body will say its very safe ! why RTA are not making roads for long and heavy trucks only ? when we pay money we have to get something good in return!!

farida yusuf (Jan 2, 2010)
sharjah
United Arab Emirates

Reply to Robert
Dearest Robert, U have obviously a good salary pack. Nobody and i repeat NOBODY likes to spend time or rather waste time commuting to and from work for hrs together. I shall not even bother justifying why we live in Shj., the reasons are glaringly obvious.The problem is not us .... the environment is the way it is today due to insensitive and selfish people. A humble suggestion ... since your good self lives close to thy workplace .... why dont you bicycle to work ? .... at least in the winters ... Regards, farida

Zoi (Jan 2, 2010)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Racist comment by Mr. Robert
I live in Dubai, but don't feel at all the way Mr. Robert said in his comment.

Snowflake (Jan 2, 2010)
Doha
Qatar

SALIK
Guys...this is the best time for you in the UAE to extend your gesture of help and support to Dubai especially on this time of financial dilemma. The extra mile from you counts so much. I was from Dubai before and came to Qatar prior to the financial meltdown and i felt so sad for Dubai.

Justin George (Dec 29, 2009)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

One question to Robert
Dear Robert, How can a 3000-6000 Dhs monthly salaried person can afford a house in Dubai ? You should also comment to give proper salary to live in Dubai or reduce rent.

robert (Dec 28, 2009)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

salik
I thinks its great idea to have Salik because all those free loaders paying cheap rent in Sharjah and clogging all the Dubai roads should look at living in Dubai so all of us can relax on the roads and enjoy the fantastic infustructures RTA are building. I personally pay a fortune to live in Dubai and I spend 10mins each way to work feeling sorry for those poor families which have to miss the father because he spends 4 hours traveling on the road poluting the enviroment. The reality is all people in sharjah should be forced to take public transport to save the planet. So if I had to complain about RTA is the fact they didn't build the Metro all the way to sharjah on day one.

NOT WISE (Dec 26, 2009)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

WHY MORE TORTURE !!!
To increase the Government income, I think the first step that needs to be taken is reduce the salaries of Government employess. They work from 7 to 2 and earn double than the people who work in private sectors (who work more than 10 - 12 hours a day!) Also I completely agree with Roger, please better town planning will help in reducing traffic not charging them AED 16 per day, which is almost equal to 8% of average salary for a normal person (AED 6000 is the average salary as per many surveys). Another alternative is to charge a lumpsum amount road tax for people / families who have more than one car, if this is only about generating income, which 99.99% people believe it is !

luay alhashimi (Dec 24, 2009)
dubai
Iraq

free access
should it be to avoid traffic congestion why dont they stop it on shk zaid rd. & garhoud bridge after 10 pm like almaktoum bridge

umair (Dec 24, 2009) Pakistan

Whats Wrong in having SALIK?
There is nothing wrong in making SALIK Toll BUT with conditions that other modes of transport to be as accessible as like you are going by car...government departments should be looking to serve people not rip them off.

INAM (Dec 23, 2009)
Muscat
Oman

Salik
Is Salik applies to Oman registered Vehicles too? Rajesh absoloutly right, salik will be paind up by the government ultimatly, not by the normal persons in term of the increase in project prices. Is there anyone knows that it will be applicable to the GCC other countries vehicles too?

Backer (Dec 23, 2009) United Arab Emirates

Welcome Salik
Welcome to Emirates to Road Mr.Salik

Mirdif President (Dec 23, 2009)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

RTA SALIK CARD - DUBAI METRO
Dear All It was obvious why this would happen, this is to force people to use the METRO Yes they want the money as always, but they must ensure the Metro is a success.. People with cars with never use the Metro

Farhoud (Dec 23, 2009)
Ras Al Khaimah
United Kingdom

RTA SALIK
Pleeeeeeeeeeeas! What is next?

alaudeen (Dec 23, 2009)
dubai

salik on emirates road hahaa
No one can stop comming of salik in emirates roads, bcoz if any thing comes in the news papers that ''likely'' such as ''salik likely to ciome in emirates road'' that means its already finalised to set. yes i have living quit long in dubai so know bit about the things around us. anyhave its not the right way and its prooves that the salik is nothing but money earning, bcoz the salik which came in shaik zaid road that time thay said that the salik for reducing the traffic, ok it was acceptable that time, now, there is not much traffic like past years and there are metros and lot of busses in that roads. still salik is existing for what?. and now in emirates road.....it makes more buuuuuzzzzz to dubai....am just against it like others.....

Fadi (Dec 23, 2009)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

SALIK
The word Salik literally means "Freeway" I have always known it was never about that, the name was just part of their marketing strategy so as to make people accept the idea of paying road fees! Now that RTA had clearly fooled everyone, I suggest that they write on all toll gates: SALIK.. YOU'VE BEEN PUNKED!

Rajesh (Dec 23, 2009)
Abu Dhabi
India

SALIK
The decision to introduce the salik was absolutly wrong. If we took the statitics of the vehicles at leat 50% of them are belongs to official, taxis, rent-a-car,transport companies and company vehicle,from the balance 50% i am sure that 25% them, the companies are paying all the expenses including petrol, salik etc. another 10-15% are getting a salary hike as per the increase in expenditure. Ultimatly what is happening is these companies are back charging to goverment on their project. So actulay the goverment is introducing salik to harass only for those remaining 10-15% poor common man.

GV (Dec 23, 2009)
dubai
United Arab Emirates

RTA SALIK
Inroducing Salik is yet another burden at this crisis time.More than salik, probably means such as Road tax per annum per can be looked at. Today in Sheikh Zayed Road many of us pay AED 16 per trip to drive at snail speed in many places

NOT LOGICAL (Dec 23, 2009)
DUBAI
United Arab Emirates

NOT LOGICAL
The location of Salik TOLL gates on sheikh Zayed Road doesn't make any sense having them all on a striaght line. This means that if you are driving from Jebel Ali towards Garhoud you will pass them all! Logically, toll gates should be located at exits to and from the highway thus charging the appropriate distance the vehicle has travelled from one point to another. Hopefully, RTA will locate toll gates like it's usually done worldwide.

Abdul (Dec 23, 2009)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

RTA Road Payments
I have to agree that at this time of low salaries that poor policy decisions by the Government Agencies will result in a 'black hole' policy.Even Emirate Airlines which appeared to be the one really sound business has started to massively over book their flights and are treating passengers with already booked seats as if they couldnt care less. Maybe the government should firstly look at the high salaries they are paying the people working for the Government Departments/Agencies and if they represent money well spent or not increasing costs for all expat staff on very basic salaries will not either encourage companies to move here or help with the general country income by them investing here.I can think of loads of other places in the world I would rather set up a company than Dubai with its still too high costs.

CS (Dec 23, 2009)
Dubai
United Kingdom

Emirates Road Salik proposal
Looks like RTA has found the Goose which lays the Golden Egg, and is in the process to breed more Babies from this Goose.

Roger (Dec 23, 2009) United Arab Emirates

Salik
Dubai has not learned the first basic principal of turning its fortunes around... When you find yourself in hole the first action should be to stop digging... A renewed round of brainless money grabbing tactics is not going to set Dubai on a course to recovery. You can't raise 100 billion dollars through Salik fees! It is time to rethink these tired, proven to fail, tactics... No country in history has taxed its way to prosperity!!! Not one!

Bob D (Dec 23, 2009)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Just charge a single flat road tax
There should simply be a federal road tax, instead of the current situation where you have to keep going to EPPCO and buying these charge cards before your credit runs out. And yes, call it a 'tax' instead of a 'fee' or 'charge'. We can handle the idea of paying tax.

syed (Dec 22, 2009)
dubai
United Arab Emirates

RTA SALIK
This is not a good idea, because in this recession period many people already suffering for job and and salary.... and people cant afford dubai , they live in sharjah , Ajman and Umm al Kuwain come everyday using emirates road. Salik is fine anywhere, when metro will be working 100 % in all over dubai, their is no bus route on emirates road...

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