Dubai’s exclusive toll operator Salik will manage more than 21,000 parking spaces across Dubai Airport Freezone, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai CommerCity.
Salik Company announced on Thursday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) to introduce access control and parking management solutions across three Dubai free zones.
As part of the agreement, Salik will implement its barrier-free technology at Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ), Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) and Dubai CommerCity (DCC), covering more than 21,000 parking spaces.
The partnership aims to address two major challenges faced by free zone operators: traffic congestion on key routes and the improper use of designated parking spaces.
Salik’s technology is expected to help reduce bottlenecks, improve parking management and optimise the use of available spaces across DIEZ’s economic zones.
For DIEZ, the partnership supports its broader efforts to upgrade infrastructure and align with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to strengthen Dubai’s position as a leading global hub for business and investment.
Salik CEO Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad said the agreement reflects the company’s ambition to expand beyond toll collection and become an integrated mobility solutions provider.
“This agreement reflects Salik’s strategic ambition to expand its role as an integrated mobility solutions provider, leveraging partnerships to deliver enhanced operational outcomes… This initiative also marks the launch of a new smart mobility vertical for Salik, reinforcing our contribution to Dubai’s vision for intelligent, connected infrastructure,” he said.
Eng. Muammar Al Katheeri, Chief Officer of Engineering and Sustainability at DIEZ, said the collaboration supports the authority’s digital transformation strategy.
“Our collaboration with Salik reflects DIEZ’s ongoing commitment to adopting advanced digital solutions and forging strategic partnerships that contribute to delivering more efficient and seamless services for businesses operating within our economic zones,” he said.
Both organisations will explore further technical integration between their systems, aiming to improve traffic flow management and establish unified access control standards across the three free zones. The move is expected to combine business growth objectives with greater operational efficiency.
Salik, which became a public joint stock company in June 2022, currently operates 10 toll gates across Dubai, including locations on Sheikh Zayed Road. The company holds exclusive rights to manage Dubai’s toll infrastructure under a 49-year concession agreement with the RTA running until 2071.
Earlier this month, Salik partnered with Shamal to introduce seamless parking payments at Dubai Harbour’s Harbour West Car Park, allowing motorists to pay parking fees directly through their Salik accounts without tickets, cash or conventional payment methods.
The agreement, which came into effect on July 13, enables Salik to provide its digital payment solution at the facility in partnership with Parkonic, as the company continues expanding its services beyond traditional road toll operations.
In May, Salik announced plans to apply a 5 per cent VAT on toll charges and tag activation fees, with the company confirming that the VAT amount would be transferred to the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) in line with UAE regulations.
