Dubai’s toll gate operator, Salik, saw its first-half profits for 2026 slip by 8.7 percent, settling at Dh704 million. This downturn was largely attributed to a 9.5 percent drop in total trips, which fell to 383.8 million, and an 11.4 percent decline in toll usage revenue. Despite these challenges, company leadership remains optimistic, pointing to the resilience of their business model and a steady recovery in traffic patterns as the second quarter progressed. Notably, the firm’s active account base grew to 2.9 million, suggesting that consumer trust in their services remains high even as the company navigates a period of fluctuating traffic volumes.

Looking ahead, Salik is pivoting toward long-term growth by diversifying its digital mobility ecosystem. CEO Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad emphasized that while traffic showed signs of returning to normal levels by June, the company is prioritizing new initiatives, such as electric vehicle charging partnerships and seamless payment integrations for fuel services. Although revenue from traffic tolls softened, the company did see a 7.5 percent increase in income from fines and a healthy rise in tag activation fees, providing a diversified foundation as they move into the second half of the year.