Dubai motorists will pay increased road toll charges from Monday, June 1, as new valued add tax (VAT) levies come into force.Salik, the operator of the network, announced on Friday that it would apply a 5 per cent VAT rate on toll gate usage and tag activation fees from the start of next month.The company said the additional VAT revenues collected will be remitted to the Federal Tax Authority in line with the UAE's financial laws."Salik reaffirmed its full commitment to complying with the regulatory and legislative frameworks adopted in the UAE, while continuing to deliver smart and seamless mobility services that enhance the user experience and support traffic efficiency across Dubai," the company said.Road toll fees to riseSalik introduced peak and off-peak toll charges in January 2025. The move increased the cost of travelling during designated peak hours – in mornings and evenings – from the flat Dh4 fee to Dh6.The introduction of VAT means Dubai motorists will see the Dh6 peak charge increase to Dh6.3 and the off-peak Dh4 charge rise to Dh4.20.A Salik tag - used to register motorists in the toll system and collect fees - currently costs Dh100 if bought in person and Dh120 when purchased online.The UAE introduced a 5 per cent VAT on the majority of goods and services in January 2018 as part of its plans to diversify the economy.What is Salik?The Salik system was introduced in 2007 to ease traffic congestion, raise state revenue and encourage the population to use public transport.The first two gates were installed in Al Garhoud and Al Barsha, with Safa and Al Maktoum Bridge gates added a year later. In 2013, three more were introduced, at Airport Tunnel and Al Mamzar South and North. In 2018, the Jebel Ali gate was established.Two additional Salik toll gates – at the Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and at Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road – were activated in November 2024.Motorists are charged to pass through each gate, with the amount deducted automatically from tags fixed to vehicle windscreens. The tags can be bought online or at service stations, and topped up online or through recharge cards.Revenue drops as war takes tollSalik recorded thirteen million fewer journeys through the road toll network in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2025, with the Iran war driving a sharp drop in traffic.The company reported 197 million trips by registered vehicles in the first quarter of the year, down 6.4 per cent from 210 million.The company reported a profit of Dh369.3 million from January to the end of March, a slight drop from the Dh370.6 million in the first quarter of 2025.This came despite a 7.5 per cent increase in the number of active registered accounts in the Salik network over the 12 months, amid Dubai's sustained population growth.