Dubai’s exclusive toll gate operator, Salik PJSC, posted a strong financial performance in the first quarter of 2025, buoyed by the introduction of variable pricing, the launch of two new toll gates, and rising revenue from fines and ancillary services.
Salik reported a total revenue of AED 751.6 million for the period between January and March, marking a 33.7% increase compared to the same period last year. Net profit after taxes also climbed by 33.7%, reaching AED 370.6 million.
According to the company’s statement released on Tuesday, total chargeable trips hit 158 million in Q1 2025. This was driven largely by the implementation of variable toll pricing at the end of January and the operation of the Business Bay and Al Safa South toll gates, launched in November 2024. Peak-period trips, which incur a AED 6 fee, accounted for 39.3 million of these, while 107.5 million were registered during off-peak hours at the AED 4 rate. An additional 11.2 million trips occurred between 1am and 6am, when tolls are waived.
Fine revenues also saw a significant rise, increasing 16.2% year-on-year to AED 68.4 million. Approximately 786,000 net violations were recorded in the quarter, contributing 9.1% to Salik’s total revenue.
CEO Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad highlighted the company’s momentum, stating, “We’ve entered 2025 with strong momentum, with our core tolling business continuing to thrive, bolstered by the opening of two new toll gates in late 2024.” He added that revenue from parking partnerships and tag activation fees also showed promising growth, with total ancillary revenue reaching AED 2.8 million and tag fees climbing 17.4% to AED 11.5 million.
Al Haddad also reported an EBITDA growth of over 35% and reaffirmed Salik’s full-year revenue guidance of a 28–29% increase. “We aim to tap into new opportunities while maintaining our performance trajectory,” he said.
Chairman of the Board Mattar Al Tayer emphasized the company’s long-term vision: “Our exceptional Q1 performance reflects a continued focus on delivering long-term value to shareholders and our ambition to become a global leader in providing smart and sustainable mobility solutions.”
Salik introduced variable toll pricing on January 31 to improve traffic flow and has also expanded into barrier-less parking at Dubai Mall through a partnership with Parkonic. The deal, which integrates Salik’s e-wallet across over 107 Parkonic-managed sites, marks the company’s first expansion beyond Dubai.
Looking ahead, Salik is preparing to launch personalized toll tags for corporate clients as it continues to broaden its services and explore new markets.
