Salik scraps charge for taxi passengers

DUBAI // Salik charges will be scrapped for taxi passengers starting from December 2 to coincide with the 37th UAE National Day. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) abolished the charges to improve its passenger service across Dubai. Taxi companies which are franchised by the Dubai Taxi Agency will also be exempt from the charge. "This step helps promote the ideal tourist with a civilized profile of Dubai. It entails a considerable impact on taxi passengers through lifting them to their intended destinations in a prompt and smooth manner," said Essa Abdul-Rahman al Dossari, the CEO of the Public Transport Agency, part of the RTA. In total, there are four Salik gates in Dubai where taxi passengers have to pay Dh4 each time. eharnan@thenational.ae