Team Blitz India
DUBAI’S exclusive toll gate operator saw 122.8 million cars passed through its eight toll gates from January to March this year, resulting in Dh562 million first quarter revenue, up by 8.1 per cent in the same period last year. Salik Company PJSC operates all the toll gates. The company released its Q1 2024 revenues on May 13.
During the first quarter of 2024, Al Maktoum Bridge gate saw the number of revenue-generating trips (excluding paid taxi trips) increase 49.0 per cent YoY (year on year), due to the ongoing closure of the nearby Floating Bridge and diversion of traffic through the gate. Similarly, Al Garhoud Bridge saw the number of revenue-generating trips (excluding paid taxi trips) increase 9.1% YoY. Excluding both Al Maktoum and Al Garhoud Bridges, Salik’s revenue-generating trips increased 5.3% YoY in the first quarter.
Growth remained strong across several gates in the first quarter, with Jebel Ali seeing double digit growth (+c12%), and other gates growing in the high-single digit range, including Airport Tunnel and Al Mamzar North (+c.8%).
Business outlook is also upbeat with the introduction of two new toll gates in Dubai – Business Bay Crossing and Al Safa South gates – that are expected to be operational by the end of November this year. Salik is also building its ancillary revenue streams, with the use of barrier-free paid parking system that should be operational by third quarter of 2024 at Dubai Mall. Salik is likewise looking into “enriching offerings that are payable directly through Salik accounts, alongside other ancillary revenue streams, including advertising and the potential monetisation of data with mobility players”.
Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad, CEO of Salik, said: “We continue to thrive in our core tolling business and remain focused on diversifying our portfolio through the expansion of ancillary revenue streams”.
