After a car accident in Dubai, call 999 if anyone is hurt or the situation is unsafe; for a minor collision with no injuries, take photos, move the cars out of the traffic lane if it is safe, and report it through Dubai Police's digital service. Federal traffic law requires every accident to be reported within three hours unless there is an acceptable excuse, and you will need the police report for repairs and any insurance claim.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for drivers in Dubai who have been in a road accident, whether they caused it, were hit, or found their parked car damaged by an unknown driver. It also helps people driving a rental or company car.
Rules and channels differ between emirates; this guide focuses on Dubai.
What the law says
The main law is Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on Traffic Regulation. According to the UAE Legislation platform, it took effect on 29 March 2025. Points that matter after an accident:
- Report within three hours. Article 5 requires drivers to report an accident to the police, or to a body approved by the traffic authority, within three hours unless the authority accepts an excuse for the delay.
- Help the injured. Article 5 also requires drivers to give first aid to people injured in an accident involving them, if they have the medical knowledge to do so.
- Do not flee. Article 38 makes it an offence to fail to stop, without an acceptable excuse, after an accident that injures people. The penalty can include up to one year in prison and/or a fine of AED 50,000 to AED 100,000.
- Repairs need a permit. Article 28 says a repair centre may not repair a vehicle with accident damage without a repair permit from the traffic authority or its delegate.
- Keep the road clear. Article 7 bans stopping in the carriageway and requires road users not to obstruct traffic.
Separately, Article 44 of the UAE cybercrime law makes it an offence to take or publish photos of accident victims without their consent. Photograph the vehicles and the scene, not injured people.
Minor accident or call 999?
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Anyone is injured, even slightly | Call 999 and wait for instructions |
| A vehicle cannot be moved safely, or there is fire, fuel or a hazard | Call 999 |
| The other driver leaves, refuses to share details or is aggressive | Call 999 |
| Minor damage, no injuries, both drivers present with valid documents | Report through the Dubai Police digital minor-accident service |
| Your parked car was damaged and the other driver is unknown | Use the Ministry of Interior report against an unknown person |
Dubai Police's minor-accident service, offered through its app and through DubaiNow, asks for the plate numbers, both drivers' licence numbers and photos of the vehicles. The report is then sent by text message or email. If the two drivers cannot agree on what happened, contact Dubai Police and follow their instructions rather than forcing the digital route.
Step by step
- Stop safely and turn on your hazard lights. Check yourself and others for injuries.
- Call 999 if anyone is hurt or the scene is dangerous. Stay at the scene unless the police tell you otherwise.
- Photograph before moving anything. Capture both cars from all sides, the plates, the road position and any road signs.
- Move the cars out of the traffic lane if the accident is minor and safe to move. Wait at a safe distance away from the traffic.
- Exchange details calmly. Note the other driver's name, phone, licence number, plate number and insurer.
- Report the accident within three hours. Use the Dubai Police minor-accident service for injury-free cases, or follow police instructions.
- Save the police report and reference number. The garage and insurer will ask for it.
- Tell your insurer promptly. Follow the claim steps in your policy and send the report, photos and documents.
- Arrange repair only through the proper route. Use the garage your insurer approves or your policy allows, with the report in hand.
- Keep a claim log. Record every call, email, survey visit and promised date.
The evidence checklist builder can help you keep photos and documents in one ordered file.
Hit-and-run and unknown drivers
If someone damaged your parked car and left no details, the Ministry of Interior offers a service to issue a minor accident report against an unknown person. Its conditions say the responsible person's details must be unavailable and there must be no cameras at the location. You will need photos of all four sides of the vehicle, including the damage.
As of September 2026, per the Ministry of Interior service page, the fee is AED 400, plus AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation fees in Dubai. The report is valid for three months. If someone was injured, or you saw the other vehicle, call the police instead so they can investigate.
Rental and company cars
Tell the rental company or your employer straight away and follow their accident procedure. You still need a police report. Check the contract for any excess you may have to pay.
Insurance claims and complaints
Your insurer will usually need the police report, your licence, the vehicle registration and photos. If the other driver was at fault, the claim may be made against their insurer. Check your policy for deadlines and garage rules.
If your insurer delays or refuses a claim, first use its formal complaints process and keep the reference number. If the problem is not solved, you can complain to Sanadak, the financial and insurance ombudsman set up under the Central Bank of the UAE. Sanadak may reject a complaint if you did not first complain to the insurer and wait 15 calendar days.
Documents checklist
- Emirates ID and driving licence
- Vehicle registration card (mulkiya)
- Insurance policy or certificate
- Police accident report or reference number
- Photos of both vehicles, plates, damage and road layout
- The other driver's name, phone, licence, plate and insurer
- Dashcam footage and witness contact details, if any
- Rental contract or company authorisation, if relevant
- Repair estimates, garage invoices and insurer emails
- Medical reports and receipts, if anyone was injured
Common mistakes
- Leaving without a report. Without a report, getting repairs done and making a claim becomes much harder, and you may miss the three-hour reporting rule.
- Agreeing to "sort it out privately". A promise to pay later is hard to enforce without a police record.
- Blocking the road for a minor bump. Once you have photos, move out of the traffic lane if it is safe.
- Photographing or posting injured people. This can be an offence under the cybercrime law.
- Missing the insurer's deadlines. Check your policy and notify the insurer early.
When to speak to a licensed lawyer
Consider a licensed UAE lawyer if anyone was seriously injured or died, if you have been asked to attend the police station or the prosecution, or if the insurer rejects a large claim. The same applies if you want to claim compensation for injury or loss of income, or if the fault finding seems wrong.
CaseDaleel can introduce you to an independent licensed professional, but only if you choose that. You can start with the free case check, and use the UAE authority navigator to see which official body to approach first.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to call 999 for every accident in Dubai?
No. Call 999 if anyone is injured or the scene is unsafe. Minor, injury-free accidents can be reported through the Dubai Police digital minor-accident service.
How long do I have to report an accident?
Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 says within three hours, unless the traffic authority accepts an excuse for the delay.
Can a garage repair my car without a police report?
Article 28 of the traffic law says repair centres may not repair accident damage without a repair permit from the traffic authority. Get the report first.
Someone hit my parked car and drove off. What can I do?
You can apply to the Ministry of Interior for a minor accident report against an unknown person, if the conditions are met. If anyone was hurt, call the police.
Is Saaed used for accidents in Dubai?
Saaed is a traffic services company that handles minor accidents in Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi Police announced in 2021 that it would also cover Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain. In Dubai, use Dubai Police channels unless the police tell you otherwise.
Can I get an official certificate about the accident later?
Dubai Police offers a To Whom It May Concern certificate that sets out the facts of a recorded traffic accident for use with insurers and courts.
My insurer is not paying. Where can I complain?
Use the insurer's complaints process first. After 15 calendar days without a solution, you can complain to Sanadak, the ombudsman under the Central Bank.
Official sources
- UAE Legislation — Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 On Traffic Regulation
- Ministry of Interior — Issue an accident report against an unknown person
- Digital Dubai — Minor accident reporting on the DubaiNow app
- Dubai Police — Services (including TWIMC certificate)
- Sanadak — Complaint eligibility
- Abu Dhabi Police — Saaed services in Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain
General information, not legal advice. CaseDaleel is not a law firm.