Order your meal with a side of Salik

If you thought that you can escape the burden of paying for Salik by having your food delivered, think again.

Some restaurants in Dubai are now charging customers a Salik fee for crossing one or more toll gates when delivering food. The extra charge is added on to the customer’s bill in addition to a separate delivery charge.

A Gulf News reader who asked to remain anonymous said she was shocked to see an additional charge of Dh8 for two Salik trips on the bill after having food delivered to her workplace.

The Ministry of Economy in Dubai has confirmed that restaurants are required to inform customers in advance about Salik charges added to the bill – otherwise, it is the right of consumers not to pay for the full amount.

Like many others, the reader, who works on Shaikh Zayed Road, said she ordered a meal worth Dh40 from Lebanese restaurant Al Safadi. She claimed that she was not notified about the extra charge over the phone even after she inquired about the price of the meal she had ordered. “The receipt listed the price of the meal as Dh40, and an additional Dh8 below for passing two Salik toll gates