Dubai International Airport to go ticketless as Salik brings E-Wallet parking to 7,400 spaces
More than 4.7 million registered vehicles to benefit from cashless access
DUBAI – Dubai International Airport is set to introduce a ticketless parking system across all its terminals later this month after Dubai Airports and Salik signed a 10-year partnership to deploy Salik’s E-Wallet payment solution.
The agreement was witnessed by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, alongside Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of Salik. The move will allow motorists to pay parking fees automatically through their Salik accounts, removing the need for paper tickets or payment kiosks at exit barriers.
From 22 January 2026, the Salik E-Wallet will be activated across 7,400 designated parking spaces serving Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3 and the Cargo Mega Terminal at Dubai International. Parking charges will be deducted directly from a driver’s existing Salik account once the vehicle exits, creating a fully digital and contactless parking experience across the airport.
Digital parking
Under the agreement, Salik will integrate its E-Wallet system with the car park management platforms used by Dubai Airports’ appointed car park concessionaire. The integration allows vehicles to be recognised automatically on entry and exit, with no requirement for physical tickets, cash payments or card transactions at machines.
Salik will be responsible for the integration, operation and ongoing maintenance of the E-Wallet system. Dubai Airports will continue to offer multiple payment channels, ensuring that travellers who do not use Salik still have access to the car parks, while the E-Wallet becomes a seamless digital option for those already registered with the toll operator.
The system is designed to increase vehicle throughput and reduce congestion around terminal exits, particularly during peak travel periods when car parks experience high volumes of short-stay and pick-up traffic.
Traffic growth
The introduction of the E-Wallet system comes as Dubai International continues to handle record passenger volumes. In the third quarter of 2025 alone, the airport processed 24.2 million guests, its busiest quarter in 65 years. For the first nine months of 2025, total traffic reached 70.1 million guests, underlining the growing pressure on landside infrastructure such as parking, drop-off zones and access roads.
With millions of vehicles moving through the airport’s parking facilities each year, digital payment and automated exits are expected to play a key role in keeping traffic flowing smoothly and reducing queues during busy periods.
Salik said the partnership also supports Dubai’s wider smart mobility ambitions by extending its digital tolling and payment network beyond roads and highways into major transport hubs.
Smart mobility
For Salik, Dubai’s exclusive toll-gate operator, the DXB agreement represents a major expansion of its business beyond toll collection. The company is positioning its E-Wallet as a broader digital payments platform for mobility and parking across the emirate.
More than 4.7 million vehicles in the UAE are already linked to Salik accounts, providing a ready-made user base for the DXB parking system. Drivers who already use Salik on Dubai’s toll roads will be able to access airport parking without registering for a separate service or downloading a new application.
The partnership is also expected to strengthen Salik’s ancillary revenue streams as the company continues to develop a wider smart mobility ecosystem covering parking, payments and transport-related services.
Operational model
The agreement outlines a clear division of responsibilities between the two entities. Salik will handle the technology, including the software, systems integration and operational management of the E-Wallet platform. Dubai Airports will work with its car park concessionaire to ensure the technical integration is completed across all terminals and that the new payment option is promoted within airport premises.
The E-Wallet will serve all paid parking areas at Dubai International, including those at the Cargo Mega Terminal, ensuring that commercial operators, logistics firms and passengers all have access to the same digital payment option.