Salik’s variable road toll pricing in Dubai will begin on January 31 this year, the company announced on Friday.

During weekdays, the toll will be Dh6 during morning peak hours (6am to 10am) and evening peak hours (4pm to 8pm). For off-peak hours, between 10am and 4pm, and from 8pm to 1am, the toll will be Dh4.

On Sundays, excluding public holidays, special occasions, or major events, the toll will be Dh4 throughout the day and free from 1am to 6am.

The above rates are applicable for all days of the year, except during Ramadan when there will be different variable pricing timings.

Salik rates during Ramadan

During Ramadan the rates will be: Dh6 during weekday peak hours from 9am to 5pm; and Dh4 during weekday off-peak hours from 7am to 9am, and 5pm to 2am the following day.

Tariif is free between 2am and 7am Monday to Saturday during Ramadan.

On Sundays (except during public holidays and major events), Salik fee will be Dh4 throughout the day from 7am to 2am; and free from 2am to 7am.

Salik noted there is no change to the charges method when passing through Al Safa North and Al Safa South toll gates, as well as Al Mamzar North and Al Mamzar South toll gates when passing the toll gates in the same direction within one hour.

Currently, Salik is charging a fixed fee of Dh4 every time a vehicle passes any of the 10 toll gates across the city.

Changes in parking fees

Meanwhile, the Variable Parking Tariff Policy is scheduled for implementation by the end of March 2025. The policy sets fees at Dh6 per hour for premium parking spaces and Dh4 per hour for other public paid parking spaces during morning peak hours (8am to 10am) and evening peak hours (4pm to 8pm). The tariffs will remain unchanged during off-peak hours, from 10am to 4pm, and from 8 pm to 10pm. Parking will be free at night, from 10pm to 8am, and all day on Sundays.

The Congestion Pricing Policy for event areas introduces a fee of Dh25 per hour for public paid parking spaces near event zones. This policy will be rolled out initially around the Dubai World Trade Centre during major events starting February 2025, according to Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Fakhar Zaman lit up the Dubai International Stadium with a stellar knock of 67 runs in 52 deliveries to secure a five-wicket victory for the Desert Vipers against the MI Emirates.

Fakhar Zaman and Alex Hales’ knock of 34 runs gave the Vipers a strong start in the run chase. Zaman and Sam Curran then erected a 65-run stand through the middle overs while Sherfane Rutherford powered his way to 21 runs in eight balls to chase the target of 160 in 19.1 overs.

Electing to bat first, the MI Emirates had a promising start but could not extend it into the middle overs. However, the MI Emirates scored 34 runs in the last two overs, with Kieron Pollard and Romario Shepherd hitting two sixes apiece to finish at 159/6.

In response, the Desert Vipers’ opening combination of Alex Hales and Fakhar Zaman coasted through the powerplay to post 51 runs.

Alex Hales had made his way to 34 runs in 22 balls when he was cleaned up by a ripper from Waqar Salamkheil in the eighth over. Dan Lawrence was dismissed soon after, caught and bowled by Dan Mousley in the ninth over. Mousley scalped Azam Khan in the same manner in his next over to bring the score to 71/3 in 10.1 overs.

With wickets falling on one end, Fakhar Zaman limited his risks until he unleashed two sixes off Salamkheil in the 14th over. Zaman brought up a 44-ball half century studded with four sixes and three fours.

Zaman creamed two more boundaries in the next over, while Sam Curran joined in with a huge six to complete a second consecutive 16-run over. The pair’s 50-run stand in 31 balls shifted the momentum toward the Desert Vipers.

Zaman was finally dismissed by Zahoor Khan in the 17th over, with the Vipers chasing 24 runs in 18 balls.

The next batter, Sherfane Rutherford hit two boundaries while Zahoor Khan picked up his second wicket through Sam Curran (28 runs) in the penultimate over. The Vipers needed six runs in six balls and Rutherford smoked AM Ghazanfar over deep square leg to seal the win in 19.1 overs.
In the first innings, the MI Emirates started well with Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera striking seven fours and a six to finish the powerplay at 48/0.

The runs dried up in the next phase of the innings as Wanindu Hasaranga picked up the first wicket of the night, trapping Waseem LBW for 18 runs. Kusal Perera also failed to convert a good start of 33 runs in 29 balls, falling to Dan Lawrence in the 10th over.

Nicholas Pooran and Tom Banton combined for a brief 22-run partnership but both batters fell in the 13th over. Skipper Lockie Ferguson dismissed Nicholas Pooran while Tom Banton was run out, leaving the MI Emirates at 86/4.

Kieron Pollard and Dan Mousley took the innings further with a 37-run stand. Mousley was dismissed by David Payne after a near run-a-ball knock of 15 runs.

Pollard gave the run-rate an injection with two fours and three sixes including two maximums of Lockie Ferguson in the 19th over. Ferguson had the final say though, dismissing Pollard in the same over after the West Indian had put on 36 runs in 23 balls.

The final over saw Romario Shepherd come out with all guns blazing, he scored an unbeaten 16 runs, smashing two sixes off David Payne as the MI Emirates finished at 159/6 in 20 overs.

On the thought process behind his innings, Player of the Match Fakhar Zaman said: “I think the fast bowlers were easy, but we were struggling against spinners. We just planned to play out their overs and take the game deep. It was because of the way the bowlers were bowling and the leg-side boundary was big, so I was looking for runs on the shorter boundary.”

MI Emirates skipper, Nicholas Pooran added: “I felt we were in the game; we were happy with 160, the way the pitch was playing, it seemed to be very tricky. It’s still young in the tournament, Mousley got us two wickets, we went searching for another, but we didn’t get it. Credit to Fakhar Zaman and Sam Curran, they played really well.”

Brief Scores
Desert Vipers bt MI Emirates by five wickets

MI Emirates 159/6 in 20 overs (Kieron Pollard 36, Kusal Perera 33, Muhammad Waseem 18, Lockie Ferguson 2 for 23, Wanindu Hasaranga 1 for 21, Dan Lawrence 1 for 21)

Desert Vipers 161/5 in 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 67, Alex Hales 34, Sam Curran 28, Sherfane Rutherford 21 not out, Zahoor Khan 2 for 24, Dan Mousley 2 for 27, Waqar Salamkheil 1 for 29)

The Desert Vipers defeated the Gulf Giants by six wickets in a low scoring affair to complete their second consecutive victory in the ILT20 at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday.

An unbeaten knock of 42 runs from all-rounder Sam Curran orchestrated a comfortable run chase for the Desert Vipers. He was assisted by Sherfane Rutherford who finished with 40 runs in 18 balls to bring the Vipers home in 17.4 overs.

The Vipers’ pacers ruled the first innings as skipper Lockie Ferguson and Mohammad Amir ran through the Giants top and middle order with three and two wickets respectively. Leading from the front, James Vince waged a lone battle, putting on an unbeaten 76 runs in 62 balls to steer the Giants to 119/9 in 20 overs.

The Desert Vipers’ were rattled in the second over of their run chase as Mark Adair accounted for Fakhar Zaman and the in-form Dan Lawrence. The English duo of Alex Hales and Sam Curran saw the Vipers through the powerplay, delicately placed at 22/2.

While Hales was the more reserved of the two, Curran broke the shackles in the seventh over with a six over extra cover and a four off Daniel Worall. Curran and Hales steadied the ship, combining for 49 runs before Blessing Muzarabani got the all-important breakthrough of Alex Hales. Hales scored 20 runs in 30 balls.

Azam Khan miscued Tymal Mills’ shorter one to depart for seven runs and leave the score at 66/4 in 12.2 overs. Every time the pressure built; Curran found a boundary to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Sherfane Rutherford joined the run chase as the Vipers cruised towards the target. The pair put on 55 runs in 32 balls as Rutherford struck two sixes and a four in the 18th over to chase down the target of 120 in 17.4 overs. Curran remained unbeaten on 42 runs in 43 balls including four fours and a six.

Earlier in the evening, the Gulf Giants lost early wickets with Amir tapping Adam Lyth, LBW, as early as the first over. Soon after, Ferguson scalped Rehan Khan, while Jordan Cox was dismissed by Curran to leave the Giants in hot water at 32/3 in six overs.

Opener James Vince played a measured innings, taking few chances and frequently rotating the strike. However, he struggled to find support with wickets tumbling around him.

Wanindu Hasaranga cleaned up Ollie Robinson for a duck in the sixth over while Ferguson returned to the attack to pick up the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer and Mark Adair for single figures.

At 50/6, Vince found brief support in UAE’s Aayan Afzal Khan, who scored 15 off 18 and launched Hasaranga for the first six of the game during a 36-run stand.

However, Khan’s dismissal in the 15th over by Luke Wood further dented the Giants’ efforts. Amir then picked off Saghir Khan with a clever slower delivery, leaving Vince to fight a lone battle.

In the 18th over, James Vince took down Luke Wood for 15 runs, bringing up a 47-ball half century in the process.

Vince retained strike for the final two overs squeezing a couple more boundaries to place the Giants at 119/9 in 20 overs.

Brief scores

Desert Vipers beat Gulf Giants by six wickets

Gulf Giants 119/9 in 20 overs (James Vince 76, Aayan Afzal Khan 15, Lockie Ferguson 3 for 22, Mohammad Amir 2 for 23)

Desert Vipers 121/4 in 20 overs (Sam Curran 42 not out, Sherfane Rutherford 40 not out, Mark Adair 2 for 12, Tymal Mills 1 for 23

Player of the Match: Sam Curran