Salik, Fines and Speed Limits in Dubai: A Renter's Guide

A rented supercar in Dubai attracts attention — from people and from cameras. Most visitors who receive a fine did not break a rule on purpose: they misunderstood how Salik works, missed a lower limit or assumed a margin that does not exist. This guide explains the system so the only souvenir is the photographs.

Salik: the toll that charges itself

Salik is Dubai's electronic toll. Gates on main routes — Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Maktoum and Al Garhoud bridges, Business Bay Crossing and others — read a tag on the windscreen and charge every time you pass. There is no booth and nothing to do while driving.

Since 31 January 2025 Salik uses variable pricing, as announced by the RTA: AED 6 during weekday peak hours (morning and late afternoon), AED 4 at other times, and free between 1 am and 6 am. Holidays and special days can follow different rules, so check Salik's own information for current rates.

On a rental, tolls are charged to the company's account and then passed on to you. Ask MJM Motors at booking how they bill Salik.

Speed limits and radar

Limits are posted on every road and the cameras enforce exactly what is posted. Typical limits:

Residential streets and central districts: 40–60 km/h
Main city roads: 60–80 km/h
Urban motorways such as Sheikh Zayed Road: 100–120 km/h depending on the section
Some inter-emirate highways: up to 140 km/h

Two points catch visitors. First, the margin many people assume above the limit is not a right; the authorities can and do change tolerance. Drive to the number on the sign. Second, limits drop near junctions, tunnels and works zones.

What fines look like

The UAE's federal traffic law sets penalties that scale with the excess. Small excesses bring fines of a few hundred dirhams; large ones add black points on the licence and impoundment. At the top of the scale, exceeding the limit by more than 80 km/h brings a fine of AED 3,000, 23 black points and 60 days' impoundment of the car. Other common fines include using a hand-held phone, not wearing a seat belt, running a red light (which carries heavy penalties and impoundment) and sudden lane changes.

Noise matters too. Revving engines or modified exhausts in residential areas can be fined — enjoy the Huracán's V10 on the open road, not under hotel windows.

How fines reach you on a rental

Fines in Dubai are linked to the plate. The company sees them in its account, sometimes days later, and passes them to the renter with the date, time and location. With MJM Motors' no-deposit policy there is no card hold waiting for these — so settle them promptly when the company asks, and keep the chat as your record. If you do not recognise a fine, ask for the details; the time stamp normally settles it.

Parking

Most city parking is paid by zone through meters or the RTA app, with variable tariffs introduced in 2025 in busy areas. Malls and hotels have their own car parks, often with valet. Avoid parking on kerbs or in reserved bays — those fines are among the most common on rental cars.

A calm-driving checklist

Read the limit on every new road.
Keep the phone in a holder; use navigation by voice.
Do not race the car beside you at a red light; it may be a police patrol in an unmarked car.
Plan routes through Salik gates at off-peak times if you care about the toll.
If you are stopped, stay calm and keep your documents ready.

Around Al Garhoud and the airport

MJM Motors is based in Al Garhoud, which sits between two of the city's busiest crossings. The Al Garhoud Bridge has a Salik gate, and so do the Al Maktoum Bridge and Business Bay Crossing nearby, so a day that starts and ends in Garhoud often includes a few toll passes. Roads around Dubai International Airport also have lower limits, frequent lane merges and heavy taxi traffic at peak arrival times. Give yourself time when collecting or returning a car near the airport, and use the navigation app's lane guidance on the approaches to the terminals.

Dubai is one of the best places in the world to drive a fast car — legally. Read our guide on the best drives from Dubai to find roads where a Range Rover Sport SVR or a McLaren 720S Spider can stretch within the rules.