Dubai set to add two new Salik gates in April

Posted by: Ashfaq Friday, 8 March 2013 11:04 PM[UAE] - Pakistan

@ greydog, why should RTA penalize the large public who works hard to earn and save for our children's education and future? Is this a reasonable way to reduce the number of cars entering Dubai daily? What about the other Saliks located in odd places that play absolutely no role in reducing or regulating the traffic? Where is Dubai the City That Cares???

Posted by: Laith Friday, 1 March 2013 12:25 PM[UAE] - UAE

I requested the respected authorities in Dubai to rethink these new Salik gates. Life is not easy and is very burdensome when you have children to educate. This will encourage people to remain in Sharjah during weekends and use carpooling during weekdays but these new Salik gates will never force people to relocate to Dubai simply because Sharjah and northern Emirates rent prices are considerably cheaper than rents in Dubai. A small example, a one-bedroom apartment in Sharjah can range from Dhs 20,000 to Dhs 30,000 while the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Dubai ranges from Dhs 30,000 to Dhs 60,000 per year which only means that rent for a one-bedroom flat in Dubai is about 60% higher than in Sharjah. Once again, please rethink these new Salik gates.

Posted by: Telcoguy Sunday, 10 March 2013 12:45 PM[UAE] - UAE

@greydog, this tax (or fee) is not intended to reduce the number of cars because there are essentially no alternatives that can be realistically used (as someone pointed even car pooling could be deemed illegal here)
The goal is to generate revenue that, hopefully, will be used to maintain the infrastructure. There is nothing wrong with that and in fact this is my preferred choice. But I would prefer if the goals were stated clearly as here at least there is no reason to sugarcoat things

Posted by: greydog Thursday, 7 March 2013 3:06 PM[UAE] - UAE

Laith - I welcome your recognition that you have choices - car sharing, staying in Sharjah, using public transport etc. I don't think RTA has any desire to reolcate people to Dubai - they just want to reduce the number of cars coming into their city every day from elsewhere.

Expat - Your final comment is spot on! One of the biggest reasons why rents are cheaper in Sharjah is because the public infrastructure (inc roads and public transport services) is not very good, and the congestion on Dubai'soads is a consequence! On the other hand, if Sharjah Transport address these problems, rents will rise...

Posted by: Hisham Thursday, 21 February 2013 12:13 PM[UAE] - UAE

Every time there is an increase in some fees people have to pay in Dubai (which are already minute even when totalled all up) people have the strangest comments. The country doesn't owe you anything and it should be obvious that no country in the world makes it it's sole mission to satisfy people coming in from other countries. The UAE does much more for the 89% non-UAE nationals than can be asked from any country. In fact, I think (and I am not a UAE national) some forms of tax would be very justifiable. For example, the huge sums of money leaking out of the economy through remittance to some countries should be heavily taxed (at at least 50%). That money would greatly benefit the local economy if it were to circulate, thus benefiting us all as fees do not have to be increased, but instead ends up greatly benefiting other economies.

Posted by: Sarfaraz Sunday, 31 March 2013 3:16 PM[UAE] - India

i think you've lost ur senses hisham. tax on remittance @50% would make 99% of the 89% expats leave the country for good, and then the RTA, DEWA etc can see how they can run thier city/country without the income earned from the hard working expats & without their manpower. It'll take only a few months to turn this entire city/country into a ghost country by levying any kind of taxes....
I'm an Indian expat civil engineer living here for not long & i still rue the day that i came to see this glittery part of the world....imposing any tax on me & I'll be a happy boomerang going back to my country......

Posted by: Sasha Tuesday, 19 March 2013 3:25 PM[UAE] - DUBAI

Hisham, you do know, those countries where you DO pay taxes, you are eligible for both a tax return and you do happen to qualify to be a CITIZEN too !! you always are and will be an "outsider" in this part of the world (Gulf Region). So the only thing with which they attract people to come here and work is the whole notion of "we are a tax free nation" .

Posted by: amir Wednesday, 20 February 2013 2:17 PM[UAE] - UK

What if 90% of all traffic from Sharjah & Northern Emirates used Salik.... How it would help in congestion, except for the fact that RTA's income would skyrocket.

Either companies got to pay for this or employees. It could have major impact for people living in these areas.

What if Sharjah or Northern Emirates would put up similar plans to ease traffic jam.....

Posted by: greydog Thursday, 7 March 2013 3:06 PM[UAE] - uae

- they would have to provide alternative transport systems first (as Dubai did with the metro).

Posted by: Grant Holt Wednesday, 20 February 2013 1:05 PM[UAE] - UAE

Be nice if they used some of the income from salik to print highway codes and distribute them free of charge at petrol stations.

This might then help the people who cause the road congestion realise the following:

If your being undertaken, that means your in the wrong lane, as lanes are only meant for overtaking, not hogging. Move over to the right hand side if the lanes are free.

The hard shoulder is not a pick-up/ drop-off point for taxis and buses. Re-joining a busy road from a standing start is not sensible or safe to other road users. When you pull into fast moving traffic you are meant to speed-up to the flow, not brake or try to move lanes before your even up to the traffic flow speed.

Dont reverse up a highway if you miss a turn, go to the next interchange and come back.

These sort of things cause the real congestion, as they slow the flow of traffic and cause accidents!

Had my rant for the day, now for a nice drive to Abu Dhabi!