Salik profit falls 8.6% to Dh1.05 billion despite 6.5% rise in fines revenue to Dh220 million

Detailed summary

Lower toll traffic weighs on earnings during the first nine months of 2026, while revenue from violations increases despite a decline in overall trips.

Salik reported an 8.6 per cent decline in net profit to Dh1.05 billion during the first nine months of 2026, as lower traffic volumes weighed on earnings, even as revenue from toll violations rose 6.5 per cent to Dh220.1 million.

The Dubai-listed toll gate operator said fines revenue increased from Dh206.7 million in the corresponding period last year. During the third quarter alone, revenue from violations rose 4.6 per cent to Dh75.7 million, accounting for 10.7 per cent of the company's quarterly revenue.

Despite the increase in fines revenue, Salik's total revenue declined 6.9 per cent to Dh2.12 billion, compared with Dh2.28 billion a year earlier, as fewer vehicles passed through its toll gates following regional developments earlier in the year.

Revenue from toll usage fees fell 10.1 per cent to Dh1.81 billion, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) dropped 8.5 per cent to Dh1.45 billion.

The company's net profit margin narrowed to 49.4 per cent, compared with approximately 50.3 per cent a year earlier.

Total trips through Salik's toll gates fell 8.1 per cent to 577.8 million during the nine-month period, compared with 628.4 million in the same period of 2025.

Chargeable trips declined 10.9 per cent to 419.3 million, reflecting changes in traffic patterns following regional developments that began in late February.

However, traffic showed signs of recovery during the third quarter, with total trips increasing 4 per cent compared with the previous quarter to 194 million.

Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad, Chief Executive Officer of Salik, said September was the company's busiest month for traffic since February.

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