How to Check Your Salik Balance in 2026 (and Recharge It in One Step)
Quick answer: To check your Salik balance by plate, open salik.ae and click Check my balance. Enter the mobile number registered with Salik, then the plate details: emirate, plate category, plate code and plate number. Your balance appears right away, and you do not need to log in. You can also check it in the Smart Salik or RTA Dubai app, at a Salik kiosk, or by calling 800 SALIK (72545) with your account number and PIN. If the balance is low, top up straight away from AED 50.
This guide follows Salik's own website and FAQ as they stand in October 2026. Every screenshot is from salik.ae, and the numbered red boxes match the numbers in the text.
How to check your Salik balance (5 official ways)
Salik lists five channels for checking your balance. All of them are free.
| Method | What you need | Login? |
|---|---|---|
| salik.ae “Check my balance” | Registered mobile number + emirate, plate category, plate code, plate number | No |
| Phone 800 SALIK (72545) | Salik account number + PIN | Via the phone menu |
| Smart Salik app / RTA Dubai app | Your Salik online account | Yes |
| Account number and PIN | Account number + PIN (on the phone line or when signing in) | Yes |
| Salik kiosk | Your account details at the machine | On site |
Method 1: Salik balance check by plate number on salik.ae
This is the quickest way, and you do not need to log in. Open salik.ae and click Check my balance in the top right corner. Then fill in the form:
- Mobile number (1): the number registered on the Salik account, with the +971 prefix.
- Emirate (2): the emirate that issued the plate (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah).
- Plate category (3): usually “Private”.
- Plate code and plate number (4): as shown on your plate and your mulkiya.
- Click Check balance (5). The available balance in AED appears on screen.
The plate number on its own is not enough. The mobile number has to match the one registered with Salik. If it does not, update it first in the app or on the website.
Method 2: Check your Salik balance by phone (800 72545)
- Call 800 SALIK (72545). The self-service line runs 24 hours.
- Press 1 for Arabic or 2 for English.
- Press 3 and log in with your Salik account number and PIN. The system reads out your balance immediately.
- Press 1 to hear the balance again (2).
Method 3: Check in the Smart Salik or RTA Dubai app
Sign in to the Smart Salik app or the RTA Dubai app (1). The dashboard shows your balance and your recent trips. If you have unpaid trips, a countdown timer shows how long you have left to pay before they turn into violations. That makes the app the best place to watch your balance if you drive through the gates often.
Method 4: Check your balance by account number and PIN
Your Salik account number and PIN identify the account on the 800 SALIK line (Method 2). With someone else's account number and PIN you can also recharge their account.
Method 5: Check at a Salik kiosk
Salik kiosks show your balance and let you top up at the same machine, including with cash.
What does a negative Salik balance mean? (the 5-day rule)
If you pass a gate without enough balance, nothing is charged as a fine at that moment. Salik gives you a grace period of 5 working days from the date and time of the trip to recharge. If you do not top up in time, you get an AED 50 violation for each day you made trips, with a maximum of one violation per day per vehicle. Salik also says you may not get an SMS when your balance runs out, so checking it is your responsibility.
Can you get a refund of your remaining Salik balance?
No. According to Salik, account balances are neither refundable nor transferable to someone else. The balance stays on the account for up to 5 years. If there is no activity (no recharge and no trip) in that time, the balance is forfeited.
Salik balance on a rental car
On a rental car the tag and the Salik account belong to the rental company, not to you. You cannot check that balance yourself. The tolls you incur reach you through the rental company under your rental agreement, so check the agreement for how they bill Salik.
How to recharge your Salik account
Once you know your balance, you can top up in a minute. You pay only the amount you add: Salik charges no recharge fee and no VAT on a top-up.
Online recharge without login (Salik website, apps, Careem, TAMM)
On salik.ae you can top up without logging in. You identify the account by one of these: account number and PIN, or plate number and the mobile number registered with Salik. Pay by card, and the balance updates as soon as you confirm. You can also pay by card in the Smart Salik app, the Careem app or TAMM.
- Minimum and maximum: AED 50 to AED 50,000 per transaction, in multiples of 50 (50, 100, 150 …).
- Someone else's account: you need their account number and PIN, or their mobile number and plate number (2).
Recharge cards and e-vouchers (phone, SMS, app)
With a recharge card or e-voucher you can top up through the 800 SALIK line, by SMS, in the Smart Salik app, in the RTA Dubai app or on the website. If you recharge by SMS, your mobile operator deducts a service fee of 30 fils.
Bank auto top-up and cash
Salik recommends automatic top-ups through your bank as the easiest way to avoid violations. Ask your bank whether it offers the service. To pay in cash, use a Salik kiosk or the cash deposit machines of Emirates NBD and Dubai Islamic Bank.
Salik toll rates and timings in 2026
Since 31 January 2025 Salik has used variable tolling at all gates. What you pay depends on the day and time you cross:
| Time (normal timing) | Monday – Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| 6 AM – 10 AM and 4 PM – 8 PM | AED 6 (peak) | AED 4 |
| 10 AM – 4 PM and 8 PM – 1 AM | AED 4 (low-peak) | AED 4 |
| 1 AM – 6 AM | AED 0 (off-peak) | AED 0 |
- Ramadan: peak (AED 6) runs from 9 AM to 5 PM. Low-peak (AED 4) runs from 7 AM to 9 AM and from 5 PM to 2 AM. Crossing is free from 2 AM to 7 AM. On Sundays in Ramadan the peak hours also cost AED 4.
- Public holidays: there are no free days. The variable rates apply, and Salik announces special timings for holidays and major events.
- Paired gates: Al Mamzar North and South count as one crossing if you pass both in the same direction within one hour. The same applies to Al Safa North and South. Every other gate is charged separately.
Salik toll rates with 5% VAT
Salik's FAQ states that a 5% VAT is added on top of the standard toll for each crossing. A peak crossing therefore costs AED 6.30 (AED 6 + 5%) and a low-peak crossing AED 4.20 (AED 4 + 5%). No VAT is charged on recharges or on Salik violations.
Full list of the 10 Salik toll gates in Dubai
- Al Barsha
- Al Garhoud Bridge
- Business Bay Crossing
- Al Maktoum Bridge
- Al Mamzar South
- Al Mamzar North
- Al Safa South
- Al Safa North
- Airport Tunnel
- Jebel Ali
Salik fines and grace periods
Insufficient balance fine (AED 50)
If you do not recharge within 5 working days of the trip, you get an AED 50 violation. There is at most one violation per day per vehicle (1).
Unregistered tag fines (AED 100 / 200 / 400)
If you drive through a gate without a registered Salik tag, you have 10 working days from the first trip to buy and register a tag (2). After that, the violations are:
- AED 100 for the first trip
- AED 200 for the second trip
- AED 400 for each further trip
Again, there is at most one violation per day per vehicle. Tampering with a tag costs AED 10,000, and so does damaging a gate or a recharge machine.
Where to pay: online on rta.ae (“Violations Enquiry & Payment”), at Dubai Police for Dubai plates, at Abu Dhabi Police for plates from other emirates, or at any vehicle registration centre. You can dispute a violation in the apps, on salik.ae or by phone, up to the vehicle's registration due date or within the last 13 months. Our traffic fine check guide shows how to see every fine on a plate, Salik included.
Salik when you buy or sell a car in Dubai
A Salik tag belongs to one vehicle, and the account belongs to a person. At a car sale both need a clear decision.
What happens to the Salik balance when you sell your car?
- Selling: remove and discard the tag, and remove the vehicle from your Salik account immediately. If you do not, the new owner's tolls are charged to your account, and they can turn into violations on your side.
- Your balance stays with you: it remains on your account for your next vehicle. It is not refundable and not transferable.
- Buying a used car: remove the old tag from the windshield. From your first trip through a gate you have 10 working days to buy, activate and stick your own tag.
- New plate, same car: you can keep the tag. Update the plate number in your account, or violations can follow.
- New car, same plate: tags cannot move between vehicles. The new car needs its own tag.
Planning a vehicle transition?
Before you hand over the car, settle the Salik tag and account. Want to sell your car? Sell it now for free on LicensePlate.ae and get an instant valuation.
When you sell a number plate separately from the car, the Salik tag stays with the vehicle, not with the plate. Our guides to plate management, selling a plate and the pre-purchase verification checklist cover the rest of the handover. Unpaid Salik violations also hold up a registration renewal.
How Salik works: tag and account in brief
Salik is Dubai's barrier-free toll system. Every vehicle that drives through a gate needs its own tag on the windshield, linked to a prepaid account.
- Tag price: AED 102.50 at a sales point, made up of AED 52.50 for the tag (incl. VAT) and AED 50 of toll balance. Online it costs AED 122.50, which includes AED 20 delivery.
- Where to buy: online on salik.ae or in the Smart Salik app (activated automatically and delivered within 5 working days), at selected Emarat, ENOC/EPPCO and ADNOC stations, at service centres, or through the Careem app.
- One account per traffic file: all vehicles registered to you sit in one account, and each vehicle has its own tag.
- Electric cars: the tag is free, but the tolls are not.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my Salik balance by plate number?
Go to salik.ae and click “Check my balance”. Enter the mobile number registered with Salik, then the emirate, plate category, plate code and plate number, and click “Check balance”. No login is needed, but the mobile number must match the account.
Can I check my Salik balance without an account number?
Yes. The balance check on salik.ae works with your registered mobile number and plate details. The phone line 800 72545 needs your account number and PIN; the Smart Salik and RTA Dubai apps need your online login.
What is the Salik balance check number?
Call 800 SALIK (72545), choose 1 for Arabic or 2 for English, press 3 and log in with your account number and PIN. The balance is read out immediately; press 1 to repeat it.
What is the fine for driving with an insufficient Salik balance?
You have 5 working days from the trip to recharge. After that, Salik issues an AED 50 violation, at most one per day per vehicle.
How much does a Salik tag cost in 2026?
AED 102.50 at a sales point, including AED 52.50 for the tag (with VAT) and AED 50 of toll credit. Online it costs AED 122.50, because AED 20 delivery is added.
Are Salik toll rates charged with VAT?
Yes. Salik adds 5% VAT on top of each toll, so AED 6 becomes AED 6.30 and AED 4 becomes AED 4.20. Recharges and violations carry no VAT.
What is the minimum Salik recharge?
AED 50 per transaction, up to AED 50,000, in multiples of 50. Salik charges no fee on a top-up; an SMS recharge costs 30 fils from your mobile operator.
Can I get my Salik balance refunded?
No. Salik balances are not refundable or transferable. The balance stays on the account for up to 5 years without activity, then it is forfeited.
Is Salik free at night?
Yes. Crossing is free from 1 AM to 6 AM, and from 2 AM to 7 AM during Ramadan. There are no free days; public holidays follow the variable rates.
What happens to Salik when I sell my car?
Remove and discard the tag and remove the vehicle from your account right away, or the buyer's tolls are charged to you. Your balance stays on your account. The buyer has 10 working days from the first trip to fit their own tag.