How to Activate Salik Tag : 6 Quick Methods in 2025

ByRab Nawaz Khan
How to activate Salik Tag

A popular saying in the UAE is that if you don’t have a driving licence, it’s like not having hands or feet. Simply put, your life will be quite complicated because you won’t be able to drive without a license, and taxis in Dubai can be quite expensive.

Once you receive your driving license, the first thing you to do is activate the Salik tag on your car. Salik is an electronic tollgate system that automatically scans and deducts charges from the Salik tag placed on the windshield of your car while passing through the tollgate.

By reading this article, you will be able to register and install Salik Tag with our easy to follow instructions.

Six Methods to Activate Salik Tag in Dubai

The reason most people travel through the roads that have Salik toll gates in Dubai is that it allows them to save time by avoiding traffic. Dubai usually has huge traffic, and sometimes it takes hours to travel just a few miles, and that’s why the government is trying very hard to reduce congestion by implementing ways like Salik toll gates and constructing new highways.

Pro Tip: Read where to buy a Salik Tag in Dubai

How to Activate Salik Tag Through Salik Website

One of the easiest ways to register a Salik tag on your car is through the official Salik website. Please make sure you have the Salik Tag and Vehicle Registration Card, usually referred to as Malkiya in your hand.

Here is the step-by-step guide:

  • Salik Website: Visit the Salik website, click on Salik Services on the menu, and select “Activate a tag” from the dropdown menu.
  • Agree to Terms & Conditions: Check two of the boxes which says that you have all the necessary information to start the registration and that you have read and agreed to the terms and conditions and click next.
  • Registration Details: Enter the following details in the required fields such as:
  • Tag number and activation key written on your Salik tag card.
  • the country your vehicle is registered i.e., UAE.
  • TC number written on Malkiya/your Vehicle Registration Card.
  • Your emirate.
  • Your vehicle category from the menu.
  • and lastly your plate code and number and click next.
Enter registratoin details while activating a salik tag
  • Vehicle Detail: Select and confirm your vehicle details such as vehicle brand, model, category, colour, year, and chassis number. Click next to proceed.
  • Profile Details: Select whether you are registering as an individual or a company, write your name, mobile phone number, email, and your preferred communication language, either English or Arabic. You will receive an OTP after clicking next.
  • OTP: Write the OTP received on your given phone number in the required field.
  • Upload Documents: Upload the required documents.
verify your registeration details
  • Check Details: Check and verify your details such as your personal and vehicle details and click submit.
  • Confirmation: You will receive a message with a new account number and pin number.
  • Experience: Rate your experience by selecting an emoji from the options.

That’s how you activate a Salik Tag through the Salik official website.

Pro Tip: Read how to check Salik Balance once you activate your Salik tag.

Activate Salik Through Smart Salik App

Download the Smart Salik App from Google Play Store or App Store if you don’t have it on your phone. Follow these steps for Salik activation through the app:

  • Open the Smart Salik App on your mobile phone.
  • Click on the “Tag Activation” on the main screen.
  • Check the box at the end of the screen to get started.
  • Enter your T.C Number, Tag Number, and your mobile number. Then, select your vehicle’s registered emirate, vehicle category, plate code and number, and click continue.
  • Confirm by entering the OTP received on your phone.
  • The details of your vehicle will be automatically shown such as your vehicle brand, model, category, year, and chassis number, etc. Just write your name in the required field and continue.
  • You will receive your Account number and PIN number through an SMS.

Activate Salik Through Dubai Drive App

Dubai Drive is an application by the Dubai government through which you can access multiple services related to Driving and Vehicles licensing, fines, parking, and Salik. To activate your Salik tag:

  • Download the Dubai Drive App from the Google Play Store or App Store.
  • Open the App on your mobile phone.
  • Select “Salik” on the homepage.
  • Click “Activate Salik Tag”.
  • Tap on Get Started by checking the two boxes.
  • Enter the tag number, activation key in the required fields.
  • Select the plate source and emirate from the drop down menu.
  • Choose the plate type and plate code from the menu.
  • Enter the plate number and Traffic File Number (T.C Number) and click next.
  • Enter your Vehicle Details and continue.
  • Write your profile details and click submit.

You will receive an SMS with your New Account number and PIN Number.

Activate Salik Through Dubai Now App

Dubai Now is a mobile application by the Dubai government specifically launched for the residents of Dubai, providing them easy access to over 120 government services. It’s like a one stop shop for services such as topping up your mobile balance, paying DEWA bills and traffic fines, recharging NOL and Salik cards, renewing vehicle registration, cancelling and renewing residency visas, and much more.

To register your Salik Tag on Dubai Now App, follow these simple steps:

  • Download Dubai Now App from the Google Play Store for Android or App Store for iPhone.
  • Sign in with the UAE Pass.
  • Select Driving from the main screen.
  • Select Salik in the available options.
  • Click on “Activate Salik Tag”.
  • Enter tag number, activation key, and other details of your vehicles..
  • Verify your personal details and submit.

A new Account number and PIN number will be received on your mobile phone through an SMS.

Through Salik Counters at Customer Happiness Centres

If you are not a tech savvy person, the easiest way is to visit Salik counters at any of your nearest Customer Happiness Centres in Dubai. Once you are there, share the details such as Tag number, Activation key, your vehicle registration numbers and your personal details with the customer support representative.

The customer support representative will activate your Salik tag, and you will receive your account number and PIN number on your mobile phone through SMS.

Through Salik Counters at Customer Happiness Centres

If you don’t have an internet connection, can’t visit the physical Salik Centres, or are not tech savvy, you can activate your Salik tag through the Salik Call Centres as well.

  • Dial and call on 80072545.
  • Follow the voice instructions and keep dialling the instructed keys.
  • Provide the required information such as tag number, activation key, vehicle details, and your personal details, etc.
  • Once done, your Salik Tag will be activated and you will receive an SMS with account and PIN numbers.

How Salik Works?

Salik is Dubai’s electronic toll gate system that uses RFID technology in the toll gates, which automatically scans and deducts amounts from the vehicle tags as they pass through the toll gates. The amount is deducted from your Salik prepaid account, and if your balance is low, you have 5 days to recharge your account; otherwise, you will incur a fine of 50 AED per day until you pay it.

FAQ

You can activate your Salik account through multiple methods such as Salik website, Smart Salik App, Dubai Drive App, Dubai Now App, Customer Happiness Centres, and through Salik Call Centres.

For the best results, place the Salik tag on the windshield of your car so it can be easily scanned as you pass through the tollgate. However, based on the experience of some users, if the tag is already activated, you can keep it anywhere as the RFID technology in the tollgate will scan your vehicle’s plate number to deduct the amount.

Once you register your Salik tag, you will receive an SMS containing your Account Number and PIN.

Yes, if you’re living in Dubai, it’s mandatory to have a Salik tag on your car. Without it, you’ll be fined if you pass through a toll gate without paying, starting five days after the first unpaid passage.

Activating a Salik tag costs 100 AED. This fee includes a 50 AED credit that will be added to your Salik account for toll usage, while the remaining 50 AED covers the cost of the tag itself.

As discussed in the article, having a Salik tag on your car is mandatory in the UAE. Based on the six methods we have shared in this article, you can activate your Salik tag through any of them to save yourself from fines and enjoy a smooth journey in the UAE.

Rab Nawaz Khan

I have lived in the UAE for the last five years, and on Calculate Dubai, I share helpful solutions and my personal experiences to make it easier for people to find reliable information.

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