Dubai taxis to be exempt from Salik

All Dubai taxis will be exempt from the Salik road toll from Dec. 2 onwards to mark UAE National Day, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said on Sunday.

The RTA said taxis belonging to Dubai Taxi Agency and franchise companies would no longer have to pay the 4-dirham ($1.10) charge each they passed through one of the four sets of toll gates now in operation across the city.

Taxi drivers pass the charge onto passengers, increasing the cost of taxi journeys around the city.

Essa Abdul-Rahman Al-Dossari, CEO of the RTA's Public Transport Agency, said in a statement the move "contributes to upgrading the level of taxi service".

The RTA in September added two sets of toll gates on Al-Maktoum Bridge and Sheikh Zayed Road next to Al-Safa.

There are also sets of toll gates on Sheikh Zayed Road opposite Mall of the Emirates and on Al-Garhoud Bridge.

The RTA also launched a 'District Taxi' initiative where drivers can take passengers outside the boundaries of a district, but must return to the district afterwards without any passengers on board.

The RTA said 200 taxis of Dubai Taxi Agency would be deployed as part of the initiative in areas such Satwa, Hudaiba, Jafliah, Mankhool, Karama, Rifaah, Umm Harir, Khubaib, Hamriya, Riqqa, Al-Nasr, Muraqqabat, Abu Hail, Hor Al-Anz, and Port Saeed.

Abdul-Aziz Malik, CEO of Dubai Taxi Agency, said district taxis would "have distinctive markings in the form of a surrounding belt displaying the names of areas covered by the service along with a logo in the form of a map showing the boundaries of areas covered".

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