How to activate a Salik tag step by step?

Activating a Salik Tag: Steps and Fees in 2024

If you have recently purchased a Salik tag from a petrol station or through the Salik app, the tag does not work automatically upon purchase. It must be linked to an account and your vehicle's plate registered before you can pass under any toll gate. Here is everything you actually need to know.

Quick Answer

Activating a Salik tag is done through the Salik app or the website salik.ae within minutes. Create an account using your Emirates ID (EID), add the 13-digit tag number printed on the back, register your vehicle's plate, then top up with a minimum of AED 50. The account becomes active within one hour at most. The tag costs AED 100, of which AED 50 is an initial balance. Each pass under a toll gate automatically deducts AED 4.

Activation Steps via the App

Download the Salik app from the App Store or Google Play. Create a new account using your Emirates ID number and an active UAE mobile number — you will receive an OTP verification code.

After logging in, select "Register Salik Tag". Enter the 13-digit serial number found on the back of the tag. Then register your vehicle details: plate number, issuing emirate, plate category, and year of manufacture. You will also need a copy of a valid vehicle registration card (Mulkiya).

The final step is topping up your balance. The minimum permitted amount is AED 50, and payment can be made by credit card or via Apple Pay. Once payment is confirmed, the Salik tag activation is complete and you can pass through toll gates immediately.^[1]

Activation at Service Centres

If you prefer to complete the process in person, visit one of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) customer service centres or a "Tasheel" centre. Bring your Emirates ID, your Mulkiya, and the tag itself. A staff member will carry out the Salik tag activation on the system in front of you, and you will leave with an account ready for use.

In practice, the app is faster. Most customers who visit service centres discover that the issue was an incorrectly entered tag number or an expired Mulkiya — both of which can be resolved from home.

Important: Do not use the tag before activation is complete and the balance is topped up. Passing under a toll gate with an unactivated account or a zero balance is recorded as a violation: AED 100 for the first offence, AED 200 for the second, and AED 400 for each subsequent offence within 10 working days.^[2]

What If the Tag Does Not Work After Activation?

The most common reason is an error in entering the plate number — make sure the emirate and category (private, public, commercial) match your Mulkiya exactly. The second most common reason is that the tag has been installed in the wrong position on the windscreen. The correct position is behind the rear-view mirror, adhered to the glass and not placed on the dashboard.

If everything is correct and the toll gate is still recording violations, call the Salik contact centre on 800 72545 within 10 working days of the violation date to file an appeal. Appeals submitted after this deadline are rarely accepted.

Also remember to enable the Auto Recharge feature in the app. A low balance is the leading cause of accumulated violations on active vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can one tag be used for more than one vehicle? No. Each tag is linked to a single vehicle only, but a single account can hold multiple tags for multiple vehicles.

Is a tag mandatory for visitors and renters? Rental vehicles provided by car rental companies come equipped with a ready-to-use Salik tag, and charges are billed to the renter through the rental company.

Can the balance be refunded when selling the vehicle? Yes, by submitting a refund request in the app alongside the ownership transfer, and the balance is returned within 30 working days.

Do you need to review your specific legal situation? Speak with a licensed lawyer in the UAE ←