Dubai set to add two new Salik gates in April

Ashfaq Friday, 8 March 2013 11:04 PM - 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???

Laith Friday, 1 March 2013 12:25 PM - 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.

Telcoguy Sunday, 10 March 2013 12:45 PM - 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

greydog Thursday, 7 March 2013 3:06 PM - 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...

Expat Wednesday, 6 March 2013 2:48 PM - UAE

If only the RTA would read AB for these comments and listen to any common man and his problems. RTA will never go back on their decisions as they have already announced it. Maybe they will turn it off at night atleast & weekends when the congestion does not exist to be SALIKed. Or atleast provide good alternate transport in co-ordination with Sharjah Transport with good connectivity between the 2 Emirates. I wonder what Sharjah Transport will do to help Sharjah residents to face this new situation?

Hisham Thursday, 21 February 2013 12:13 PM - 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.

Sarfaraz Sunday, 31 March 2013 3:16 PM - 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......

Sasha Tuesday, 19 March 2013 3:25 PM - 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" .

Hadi Friday, 22 February 2013 10:52 AM - UAE

Very true Hisham, they will keep on whining when they have to pay rents and fees and fines but they know that they have no choice but to pay so let us leave them to their usual whining and if they do not like it, they know the several air, land and sea exits.

M.A.K Thursday, 21 February 2013 2:45 PM - Saudi Arabia

("at least 50%") Great reasoning! While were at it, why don't we work for peanuts and live in cages.

Wildwine Thursday, 21 February 2013 2:44 PM - UAE

@Hisham, I think you have got it wrong.
In the current situation (whether anybody likes it or not), UAE needs the expats (may be more than expats need UAE). Otherwise, who is going to live in the properties, buy the goods, use the massive infrastructure and keep the economy running?
It is simply not possible to run an economy as big as UAE with only UAE nationals: this is the reality.
Whether this is an ideal situation for the local community is another discussion.
Taxing 50% of remittances is not such a bright idea in this context.
Moreover, UAE is a free market and this is a fundamental aspect of the success of the country. As suggested by you if you are going to tax remittances how is that going to be compatible within a free market?

amir Wednesday, 20 February 2013 2:17 PM - 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.....

greydog Thursday, 7 March 2013 3:06 PM - uae

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

Grant Holt Wednesday, 20 February 2013 1:05 PM - 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!

Adam Wednesday, 20 February 2013 1:01 PM - UAE

We are here to work and save for our sons and daughters, if this trend continues, how are we going to save??? Please be always guided by your conscience before applying such fees on hard working families because sooner or later we all will be held accountable to God.

omar is back Wednesday, 20 February 2013 9:49 AM - Dubai

I wish i could have asked Sheikh Mohammed the question at the summit: Over a long period of time, UAE has been discussing the demographic inbalance that instead of improving, expats have reached the unbelievable 89% of the population and this is really unhealthy for any country!I am not a UAE citizen but i must say that i am not surprised how people moan about Dubai while their countries don't have 1 single km of UAE roads nor 1 single metro station like here nor 1 hall of any UAE airport!!!With the big boom in UAE now and all the crazy rents again, RTA had to do something and more Salik shouldnt be the end of the world-all big cities have tens of toll gates so 6 in Dubai is no disaster!!!Like AB said in its greatest articles ever in the middle of the 2009 crisis- Don't moan, look closer to home!!!Thank God 1 million times every second you are in Dubai (yes, most probably better than your country - admit it bravely so you know how to improve your home country!!)

Kevin Tuesday, 19 February 2013 1:09 PM - UAE

I wish I listened to my friend and never bought a car a couple of months ago but hey no harm done really, I decided to sell it and live stress free again, it just ain't worth it with all the Salik and parking fees and hidden cameras etc.

Richard Wright Monday, 18 February 2013 4:23 PM - UAE

I am not sure why people think that this is a congestion charge.

If you go to salik.ae it clearly states in its oopening line: 'Salik, meaning open or clear, is Dubai?s road toll collection system'.

Salik operate toll roads.

This is no different to many cities throughout the world. And in all of those cases that I know of, you pay a toll to drive on that road any time of the day or night.

SAM Thursday, 21 February 2013 12:13 PM - UAE

@henry: most affected people are commuters from Sharjah and most will be considered below the poverty line if they were living in Denmark, hence no taxes paid. In fact, they will be receiving government support. I just felt sad for the individual who will spend 20% of his gross salary on Salik and DEWA fixed charge; it is called compassion in certain circles. Personally, I am not affected by this toll as I never use these roads.

keenobzerver Monday, 18 February 2013 4:21 PM - UK

In many coutries people and companies are taxed as a a percentage of their income or profit, and the money is spent on the betterment and improvement of society as a whole.
In other countries there is what is known as a "poor mans tax" such as VAT, service taxes, indirect taxes, etc.
When you look at the impact of the tax on an individual earning eg 5000 AED , paying 500AED Salik, 500 distric cooling& Dewa fixed charges thats 20% of his monthly income, but 2% of someone earning 50,000AED. This results in a social system where lower income people are overburdened at the benefit of the rich who own companies and are awarded government contracts paid for by the govt by money collected from the "poor"
Robin hood in reverse :) ?