Salik Breaks Ground: Dubai Toll Operator Expands Revenue Horizons with ‘Barrier-Free’ Toll Collection at The Dubai Mall

Dubai toll operator partners with Emaar Malls for parking management.

Dubai’s Salik, a leading toll-gate operator and standout performer on the Dubai Financial Market, is diversifying its revenue streams through a strategic partnership with Emaar Malls. The collaboration aims to introduce a ‘seamless’ parking management system at The Dubai Mall, enhancing the parking experience for visitors. Salik’s technology will facilitate automatic fee collection for ticketless parking, utilizing vehicle plate recognition to deduct fees from Salik user accounts based on business rules defined by Emaar Malls. Shoppers at The Dubai Mall can expect smoother movements in and out without the need for traditional payment collection kiosks and machines.

Set to be operational by Q3-2024, Salik will oversee the design, financing, development, installation, and management of the parking management system at The Dubai Mall. CEO Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad emphasizes the project’s significance in Salik’s strategy to provide sustainable and smart mobility solutions while diversifying into complementary revenue streams. By eliminating gates or barriers at The Dubai Mall, the solution aims to reduce congestion and enhance the overall customer journey. Al Haddad envisions leveraging technology to create new revenue prospects beyond toll-gates, as demonstrated by the company’s IPO disclosures highlighting alliances with marketers and brand owners for targeted promotional messages. As Salik explores opportunities in Dubai’s parking landscape, plans may include conducting in-depth market studies to identify areas for further growth.

Embarking on new avenues for growth

The Emaar Malls partnership marks a strategic move for Salik, expanding its top-line growth. Leveraging insights gained from The Dubai Mall collaboration, Salik aims to implement similar parking solutions across other city destinations. Al Haddad emphasizes the strategic importance of providing sustainable mobility solutions and diversifying revenue streams. The Dubai Mall currently operates five parking zones with 13,000+ spaces, and the Salik solution will initially cover the busiest zones, eliminating the need for parking gates and reducing congestion during peak hours.

How the Dubai Mall system will wor

1. Entry Point Capture:
   • Upon vehicle arrival, a camera captures the plate number at the entry point.
2. Processing and Entry Record:
   • Salik system processes the image, recognizes the plate number, and records the entry time.
3. Exit Point Scanning:
   • When the vehicle exits, the system scans the plate number, recording the elapsed time.
4. Fee Calculation and Deduction:
   • The Parking Management System calculates the parking fee, associates the plate number with the Salik account, and deducts the value from the Salik account

The current scope of the project exclusively encompasses The Dubai Mall, with potential extensions to other malls subject to a separate discussion and agreement with Emaar Malls, as stated by Al Haddad. Salik’s business model prioritizes reducing congestion in parking lots, enhancing parking utilization efficiency, and implementing barrierless entry and exit procedures. This approach not only ensures increased security but also emphasizes the accuracy of license plate tracking, eliminating the reliance on traditional payment machines for a more streamlined and technologically advanced parking experience.