Salik said in a statement that it has renewed its contract with TransCore for five years beginning this month, extending a collaboration that will continue to underpin the operation of Dubai’s toll gates while opening pathways to new digital services. The agreement runs from September 13, 2026, to September 12, 2031, and maintains the existing financial structure with annual costs projected to remain between 5 and 5.5 percent of total revenue. According to the company, the deal incorporates upgraded requirements around sustainability, governance, cybersecurity and system maintenance to accommodate both current needs and future growth initiatives.
The partnership with the US-based tolling specialist dates back to 2006, when TransCore contributed to the design and launch of Dubai’s original open-road tolling infrastructure that later became the Salik system. A WAM report on the announcement noted that the renewed contract will support ongoing technological enhancements, including the potential deployment of artificial intelligence tools to lift operational performance across the network. Salik added that the arrangement will also strengthen its e-Wallet platform as the company broadens its role beyond toll collection.
Salik’s earnings presentation for the full year 2025 placed the number of registered active vehicles at roughly 4.8 million, illustrating the volume of traffic managed by the tolling network covered under the TransCore agreement. The company operates 10 gates under a concession with the Roads and Transport Authority that lasts until 2071, according to the same presentation. Total chargeable trips in the core tolling business reached 639.1 million during 2025, the document showed.
Expansion into parking payments has become a notable ancillary revenue stream for Salik, with the TransCore partnership expected to facilitate further integration of its digital solutions. The company has already rolled out seamless e-Wallet payments at more than 150 locations through a separate five-year tie-up with Parkonic, building on an initial deployment at Dubai Mall. Additional agreements, including a 10-year arrangement with Dubai Airports for terminal parking, demonstrate the widening application of Salik’s payment technology across mobility services.
Ibrahim Al Haddad, chief executive officer of Salik, said the company plans to use advanced technologies and digital solutions to improve operational performance and support its expansion into a broader range of mobility services. The CEO’s remarks, included in coverage of the renewal, underlined the importance of maintaining system reliability while adapting to evolving demands in Dubai’s transport sector. Salik was established as an independent public joint stock company in 2022 after years of operation under the transport authority.
Variable pricing introduced across Salik gates in January 2025 has continued to influence travel patterns, with the company reporting shifts in peak and off-peak usage that align with broader goals of reducing congestion. Gulf News reported that the latest TransCore contract includes provisions for upgrades linked to Salik’s future expansion plans within Dubai’s mobility network. The partnership renewal reinforces the operator’s asset-light model, under which TransCore handles key operational, software and maintenance responsibilities for the tolling infrastructure.
