You can recharge your Salik balance instantly through the Salik website, the Smart Salik app, DubaiNow, Careem, TAMM, or Dubai Drive, at a kiosk, through your bank, or with a prepaid recharge card. Recharging is free through every official channel except SMS redemption, which carries a small mobile-operator charge. This guide covers all nine ways, in the order most residents actually use them.
Quick Reference: Recharge Methods at a Glance
| Method | Speed | Extra Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Salik Website | Instant | None |
| Smart Salik App | Instant | None |
| DubaiNow App | Instant | None |
| Careem App | Instant | None |
| TAMM App | Instant | None |
| Dubai Drive App | Instant | None |
| Kiosk / Cash Deposit Machine | Instant | None (cash or card only) |
| Bank or ATM | Instant to same-day | None from Salik (check your own bank’s terms) |
| Recharge Card (buy, then redeem by SMS or call) | A few minutes | 30 fils if redeeming by SMS |
Already know your balance and just need to top up before your next drive? Jump to whichever method suits you below. If you haven’t checked your balance yet, see our guide to checking your Salik balance first.
Recharge Salik via the Salik Website
- Go to salik.ae and sign in to your account.
- Open the “Salik Services” menu and select “My Tag Recharge.”
- Choose Online Payment.
- Enter your account details — mobile number, country, category, and plate.
- Select the amount you want to recharge and continue.
- Enter your card details and confirm.
Recharge Salik via the Smart Salik App
Download the official app — App Store / Google Play — then:
- Log in to your account.
- Select Recharge Now from the dashboard.
- Choose your payment method, including a recharge card PIN if you have one.
- Confirm — your updated balance appears immediately.
Recharge Salik via the DubaiNow App
DubaiNow — App Store / Google Play — lets you recharge and set up automatic top-ups:
- Sign in with your UAE Pass.
- Select Salik under the driving/transport section.
- Add your Salik account number and PIN.
- Choose an amount and pay by card or Apple Pay.
Set Up Salik Auto Top-Up via DubaiNow
DubaiNow’s built-in auto top-up recharges your Salik account once your balance drops below AED 4 — a fixed threshold, not one you can adjust within the app. Turn this on from the same Salik section once your account is linked. Worth knowing: since tolls now reach AED 6 + VAT at peak hours, an AED 4 trigger leaves very little buffer — it can still fire the top-up only after you’ve already crossed a gate with an insufficient balance on a peak trip. If you’d rather have more headroom, your bank’s own auto top-up (below) uses a higher threshold.
Recharge Salik via the Careem App
Careem — App Store / Google Play — also supports Salik top-ups:
- Open the “Pay Bills” section.
- Select Salik.
- Enter your car plate number and the code shown.
- Pay via Apple Pay or credit card.
Recharge Salik via the TAMM App (Handy for Abu Dhabi Residents)
TAMM — App Store / Google Play — is Abu Dhabi’s government services app, but it also handles Salik top-ups for residents there:
- Open “My Utilities.”
- Select your registered vehicle.
- Choose Salik and top up by credit card or Apple Pay.
Recharge Salik via the Dubai Drive App
Dubai Drive — App Store / Google Play — is RTA’s own driver app:
- Sign in via UAE Pass.
- Select Salik.
- Enter the amount.
- Pay by credit card or Apple Pay.
Recharge Salik at a Kiosk or Cash Deposit Machine
Salik kiosks and cash deposit machines are located at malls and hypermarkets across the UAE, including in Deira, Al Barsha, Al Aweer, Al Kifaf, Al Towar, and Umm Ramool in Dubai.
- Log in to your registered account at the kiosk.
- Select Recharge.
- Choose the amount to add.
- Pay with cash or card.
Recharge Salik via Bank or ATM
Most major UAE banks let you top up Salik through web banking, mobile banking, ATMs, cash deposit machines (CDM), IVR, or SMS — availability varies by bank. Banks known to support Salik recharge include Emirates NBD, Dubai Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, CitiBank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mashreq Bank, RAKBANK, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Standard Chartered, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Al Hilal Bank, Ajman Bank, and United Arab Bank — check your own bank’s app or branch to confirm current channels, since offerings can change.
(Noor Bank is no longer listed — it was fully absorbed into Dubai Islamic Bank in 2020 and no longer operates as a separate recharge channel.)
Set Up Salik Auto Recharge Through Your Bank
Several UAE banks offer their own Salik auto top-up as a card feature, separate from DubaiNow’s. The trigger threshold is fixed by the bank and card type rather than freely adjustable, but it’s generally higher than DubaiNow’s AED 4 — for example, Emirates NBD’s Salik Auto Top-Up triggers at AED 30, while Emirates Islamic’s triggers at AED 30 on its Cashback Plus card or AED 20 on its RTA credit card. You typically choose the top-up amount (commonly AED 50, 100, or 200) when activating the feature. Check with your own bank to confirm what it offers and at what threshold.
Recharge Salik Using a Recharge Card
A Salik recharge card is a physical scratch card with a 12-digit PIN, sold in AED 50, AED 100, or AED 200 denominations.
Where to Buy a Salik Recharge Card
Recharge cards are sold at petrol stations across the UAE, including Emirates, EPPCO, ENOC, and ADNOC outlets.
Redeem via SMS
- Scratch the card to reveal your 12-digit recharge number.
- Open your SMS app and compose a new message.
- Write: R<space>12-digit number<space>Salik account number<space>Salik PIN.
- Send it to 5959.
You’ll receive a confirmation by SMS. Standard mobile-operator SMS charges (30 fils) apply to this method.
Redeem via Phone Call
- Scratch your card to get your 12-digit PIN.
- Call the Salik helpline at 800-72545 (“800 SALIK”).
- Choose Arabic or English.
- Enter your 12-digit recharge number and confirm.
If your mobile number is registered with Salik, you’ll only be asked for your account and PIN numbers. If not, have your mobile number and plate number (or tag number and plate number) ready.
Salik Recharge Fees and Limits
Recharging is free through every official channel — the only cost is a 30 fils mobile-operator SMS charge if you redeem a recharge card by text. Top-ups start at a minimum of AED 50 (in multiples of 50) up to a maximum of AED 50,000 per transaction.
Requirements to Recharge Your Salik Account
- Salik account number
- 12-digit recharge card PIN (for card redemption)
- Mobile number registered with Salik
- Vehicle plate number (for kiosk/self-service)
- Salik tag number (for phone redemption through the call center)
FAQs
Is there a fee to recharge my Salik account?
No — recharging is free through the website, apps, kiosks, and bank channels. The only cost is a 30 fils mobile-operator charge if you redeem a recharge card by SMS.
What’s the minimum and maximum Salik recharge amount?
Minimum AED 50, in multiples of 50, up to a maximum of AED 50,000 per transaction.
Where can I buy a Salik recharge card?
At petrol stations across the UAE — Emirates, EPPCO, ENOC, and ADNOC — in AED 50, AED 100, or AED 200 denominations.
Can I set up Salik to recharge automatically?
Yes, in two ways. DubaiNow’s built-in auto top-up recharges your account once your balance drops below AED 4 (a fixed, non-adjustable threshold). Several banks also offer their own Salik auto top-up as a card feature with a higher fixed threshold — for example, AED 20-30 depending on the bank and card — letting you choose the top-up amount (commonly AED 50, 100, or 200).
What happens if my Salik balance runs out?
You’ll be charged a daily fine after a grace period, capped per vehicle per year. See our guide on checking your Salik balance for the full breakdown of insufficient-balance fines.
