Dubai’s toll gate operator Salik reported total revenue of AED751.6 million ($204.6 million) for Q1 2025, a 33.7 percent YoY increase. EBITDA for the quarter rose 37.9 percent YoY to AED519.6 million ($141.5 million), according to a financial results statement.
In Salik’s core tolling business, total chargeable trips reached 158.0 million following the introduction of variable pricing at the end of January 2025 and the launch of the two new toll gates in November 2024.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the Board of Directors of Salik, said: “Our exceptional Q1 performance reflects a continued focus on delivering long-term value to shareholders and our ambition to become a global leader in providing smart and sustainable mobility solutions. Dubai’s robust economic growth – driven by the visionary leadership of the emirate, has played a key role in fueling our positive momentum and creating a strong foundation for long-term sustainable growth.”
“We are pleased to build on the growth momentum we achieved in 2024, with robust top and bottom-line performance across both the core tolling business and our growing ancillary revenue streams, which continue to gain traction. We expect total revenue to grow 28-29 percent by the end of 2024 driven by the launch of operations in geographies outside of Dubai and the exploration of new partnerships to further enhance user experience and support both short and long-term earnings growth,” Al Tayer further added.
Continued momentum and revenue growth
Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad, chief executive officer of Salik, commented: “We’ve entered 2025 with strong momentum, with our core tolling business continuing to thrive, bolstered by the opening of two new toll gates in late 2024. We have also maintained progress in our ancillary revenue streams, with both the Dubai Mall and Parkonic parking partnerships seeing good traction with users in the first quarter. Total chargeable trips, accounting for the new variable pricing, reached 158 million, with total revenue growth exceeding 30 percent. Profitability is also robust, with EBITDA growth of more than 35 percent, delivering an industry leading EBITDA margin of 69.1 percent.
A healthy first quarter positions us well for the year ahead and we are pleased to reiterate our full year guidance, with total revenue expected to grow 28-29 percent, and an EBITDA margin of 68-69 percent as we continue to strengthen our non-core offering while tapping new opportunities.”
Trip growth driven by new pricing structure
The total number of trips, including discounted trips, made through Salik’s toll gates grew 35.1 percent YoY in Q1 2025, driven mainly by the introduction of two new toll gates which became operational in November 2024. The strong growth was further supported by Dubai’s continued attraction of tourists and residents, growth in commercial activities, the implementation of structural reforms, and strategic, targeted investment to drive economic diversification. Total chargeable trips reached 158.0 million in Q1 2025, supported by the introduction of variable pricing at the end of January 2025 and the launch of the two new gates in November 2024.
Chargeable trips during the peak period (AED 6) totaled 39.3 million, while trips in the off-peak period (AED 4) reached 107.5 million. The growth in total trips during the period is due to the use of Salik roads during the past midnight period (AED 0), which totaled 11.2 million in Q1 2025.
Revenue performance from toll usage fees
Revenue performance from toll usage fees was strong during the first quarter, increasing 35.5 percent YoY to AED 665.6 million. This was primarily due to the introduction of variable pricing at the end of January 2025, the introduction of the two new gates, and Dubai’s high levels of tourism in the first three months of the year. Revenue from fines increased 16.2 percent YoY to AED 68.4 million in the first quarter, with the number of net violations (accepted minus dismissed violations) growing 15.0 percent YoY in Q1 2025, reaching approximately 786,000, representing 0.4 percent of net toll traffic. Revenue from fines contributed 9.1 percent to total revenue in Q1 2025. Tag activation fees grew strongly in the first quarter, with revenue increasing 17.4 percent YoY to AED 11.5 million, contributing 1.5 percent of total revenue in Q1 2025.
Ancillary revenue streams expand
Total revenue from Salik’s parking partnerships with Emaar Malls and Parkonic reached AED 2.8 million in Q1 2025. The strong performance was mainly driven by a continued high number of transactions at Dubai Mall in the Q1 period. The barrier-free parking payment solution at Dubai Mall processed 100 percent seamless transactions, in line with Salik’s ambitions to deliver a seamless paid parking solution to enhance guest experience, improve parking availability, and streamline the payment process. Salik has also seen good traction in its partnership with Parkonic since the launch of the partnership in mid-February, with a gradual roll-out plan in place, where Salik expects to expand across all Parkonic locations during Q2 2025. Salik’s partnership with Liva Group to provide a streamlined vehicle insurance renewal process has gained good traction with consumers, delivering AED 0.5 million of revenue in Q1 2025.
Salik reaffirms its confidence in expanding its ancillary revenue streams over the medium to long term, following good progress made in 2024, including the successful collaboration with Emaar Malls, its partnership with Parkonic to integrate Salik’s e-wallet system across 107 locations in the UAE, and its collaboration with Liva Group to streamline the vehicle insurance renewal process. These partnerships reflect Salik’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions that enhance user experience and enable Salik to grow and diversify its revenue streams, contributing to the long-term sustainability of the business.
Strong profitability
Salik generated EBITDA of AED 519.6 million in Q1 2025, up 37.9 percent YoY from AED 376.9 million in Q1 2024, marking its strongest quarterly EBITDA performance since the company’s inception. The EBITDA margin reached 69.1 percent in Q1 2025, compared to 67.1 percent in Q1 2024, representing a 210 basis points expansion YoY, supported by strong revenue growth in the period. The EBITDA margin also improved in comparison to 68.9 percent in FY24. Salik’s net profit before taxes totaled AED 407.2 million in Q1 2025, marking a strong 33.6 percent YoY increase, despite higher finance costs in the period. Net profit before tax increased 8.2 percent compared to Q4 2024. Salik generated net profit after taxes of AED 370.6 million in Q1 2025, a 33.7 percent YoY increase, and net profit after taxes increased 8.2 percent compared to Q4 2024.
Balance sheet and cash flow
Salik recorded a net working capital balance of AED -681.2 million as of March 31, 2025, equating to -22.7 percent as a percentage of annualized revenues, in line with FY 2024 performance. The growth in net working capital compared to prior quarters is mainly due to the RTA concession fees associated with the toll rights fee for the new toll gates, in addition to higher provisions for the corporate tax introduced in January 2024. As of March 31, 2025, net debt stood at AED 4,648.8 million, a 10.6 percent decrease from AED 5,198.6 million at the end of 2024, which was slightly higher due to a payable relating to the concessionary rights due to RTA for the two new toll gates. This translates to a trailing twelve-month net debt/EBITDA ratio of 2.7x in Q1 2025, significantly below the company’s debt covenant of 5.0x.
Salik generated free cash flow of AED 626.7 million in Q1 2025, up 77.8 percent YoY, with a free cash flow margin of 83.4 percent, a significant improvement from 62.7 percent in Q1 2024. Compared to Q4 2024, free cash flow improved 55.7 percent, with the free cash flow margin improving from 61.8 percent in Q4 2024.
Strategic pricing and gate introductions
As instructed by the RTA, based on the traffic studies and analysis, Salik introduced variable pricing on January 31, 2025. The variable pricing aims to enhance traffic flow across Dubai’s road networks and improve transportation efficiency across the city. Salik continues to make progress on its updated strategy, having introduced two new toll gates in Dubai. The Business Bay and Al Safa South gates have been in operation since November 24, 2024. This follows the combined valuation of the two new toll gates at a total of AED 2.734 billion, with the Business Bay Gate valued at AED 2.265 billion and the Al Safa South Gate valued at AED 469 million to be paid in equal installments, every six months over a six-year period.
Read more: Dubai’s Salik posts $626.2 million in revenue for 2024, 8.7 percent YoY increase
Innovations in parking solutions
Salik commenced seamless parking operations at Dubai Mall, marking Salik’s first barrier-free parking payment solution, in partnership with Emaar Malls, across the Fashion, Grand, and Cinema parking zones of Dubai Mall, where operations commenced on July 1, 2024. Salik collaborated with Parkonic, one of the largest private parking operators in the UAE, to enhance parking payment experiences across the UAE by integrating Salik’s advanced e-wallet system. The partnership is based on a five-year contract, during which Parkonic will integrate Salik’s e-wallet into the 107+ locations it operates and any future locations it may operate in the UAE. The agreement also marks the first time Salik has expanded its service offering outside of the Emirate of Dubai.
Strategic partnerships for enhanced services
Salik partnered with LIVA (formerly RSA), a leading multi-line insurer in the GCC, to offer its customers access to market-leading insurance solutions. The partnership offers bespoke insurance solutions to drivers in the UAE, streamlining the renewal process for greater convenience and efficiency. Salik leverages its comprehensive database to provide value-added services to customers by sending timely renewal reminders to mitigate insurance coverage lapses. These notifications include a link directing customers to a LIVA landing page, where the motor insurance policy can be renewed in a few simple steps at a competitive price. Salik is also in the process of launching an innovative Customized Tags initiative, allowing corporate customers to personalize Salik tags with unique designs and messages, reflecting Salik’s commitment to enhancing customer experience and embracing innovation.
Enhancing customer experience with smart solutions
Under a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ENOC, Salik will introduce smart payment solutions that enhance the customer experience at ENOC petrol stations. Under the agreement, Salik and ENOC customers will enjoy a seamless experience when paying for fuel and other services including Autopro, Tasjeel, and Zoom, with the option for deducting the transaction value from the customer’s balance in their Salik e-wallet. This is enabled through the use of cameras with technology for Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), the same proven technology now employed at parking locations including Dubai Mall and those operated by Parkonic.
Commitment to workforce growth and Emiratization
In Q1 2025, Salik expanded its full-time workforce by 29 percent YoY to 54 personnel, representing 13 percent growth compared to year-end 2024, with the number of nationalities represented at 12. Salik continues to progress on Emiratization, attaining a level of 29.6 percent in Q1 2025, with the female-to-workforce ratio at 20.4 percent at the end of the first quarter.
Total revenue growth in FY25 is expected to be in the range of 28-29 percent year-on-year, including the impact of the two new gates introduced in November 2024 and the implementation of variable pricing on January 31, 2025. On a normalized basis, excluding the contribution from the two new gates, Salik expects total revenue to increase 4-5 percent YoY in FY25. The EBITDA margin is expected to be in the range of 68-69 percent.
