Dubai International Airport Embraces Smart Parking with Salik E-Wallet
Your next trip from Dubai International Airport (DXB) promises a much smoother start. Dubai Airports and Salik Company PJSC have signed a landmark 10-year agreement. This partnership aims to eliminate paper tickets and long queues at payment machines forever.
A Seamless Drive-Through Experience
The new system brings the same convenience you experience on Dubai's highways directly to the airport parking lots. Drivers will pay for parking using the Salik E-Wallet across all paid car parks at DXB. This move completely removes the need for physical tickets or separate payment machines.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai Airports and Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of Salik, attended the signing ceremony. They highlighted this as a significant step towards smarter and more efficient parking management at one of the world's busiest airports.
Massive Rollout Across Key Terminals
This is not a limited pilot project. The initiative represents a massive technological upgrade covering the core of Dubai International Airport. The system goes live from January 22, 2026.
It will cover an impressive 7,400 parking spaces at the following locations:
- Terminal 1
- Terminal 2
- Terminal 3
- The Cargo Mega Terminal
Whether you are dropping off family at Terminal 3 or collecting a shipment from the cargo area, you can now drive in and out without stopping at a manual payment booth. The process becomes completely automatic.
Salik's Expanding Digital Footprint
This airport partnership builds on Salik's broader strategy to digitize services across Dubai. The company is actively expanding its e-wallet system beyond just road tolling.
Salik has been integrating its technology with private parking operators and smart parking systems throughout Dubai and the wider UAE. This gives drivers more convenient, cashless payment options.
For instance:
- Salik's integration with Parkonic already offers ticketless parking at multiple locations. The system scans license plates, eliminating physical barriers and barcode tickets.
- Similar automated systems operate at major destinations like Dubai Mall, where parking fees charge directly to the driver's Salik account.
These efforts reflect a city-wide push to modernize urban mobility. Dubai aims to reduce friction in everyday services, from parking and tolls to future integrations like fuel and EV charging payments through a unified digital wallet.
Vision for a Smarter City
Top leaders, including H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Mattar Al Tayer, emphasized that this move supports Dubai's goal to become the world's smartest city. Integrating Salik into airport infrastructure achieves multiple benefits.
The system reduces traffic congestion at terminal exits. It also helps the environment by cutting down on paper waste and minimizing engine idling time. This change represents a win for both passenger convenience and planetary health.
Simplifying Your Travel Day
The impact on your travel experience is straightforward: you save valuable time. Since payment happens automatically through your pre-funded account, you no longer need to worry about losing a ticket or waiting in line at the exit gate.
As long as your Salik account has sufficient balance, you are ready to go. This innovation is set to redefine the passenger experience at DXB, making the journey from your car to the check-in desk faster and more efficient than ever before.
