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How-to · Dubai

Handle a car crash, step by step

Dubai's rule is simple once you know it, move for minor, freeze for serious.

Month 1

Time

30 min on the spot, longer if anyone's hurt

Cost

Free (your time only)

Difficulty

Medium

What to bring

Your driving licence and the car's Mulkiya (registration)

The Dubai Police app, installed before you need it

Your phone camera

×

Not needed: A lawyer, for minor no-injury cases

Prices checked June 2026

Do it

  1. 1

    Check for injuries first

    Dubai takes hit-and-run and leaving an injury scene seriously. Never drive off before you've established no one's hurt.

  2. 2

    Decide: move or freeze

    Minor damage, no injuries, both drivers agree? Move the cars out of traffic and report via the Dubai Police app. Injury, dispute, or major damage? Call 999 and leave everything exactly where it is.

  3. 3

    Get a reference number

    Whether it's the app or an attending officer, you need an official accident report number, no insurer will process a claim without one.

  4. 4

    Call your insurer the same day

    UAE insurers move fast once they have the report number, the longer you wait, the more questions you'll get.

Common questions

Is it true I'm not allowed to move my car after an accident in Dubai?

That was the old rule. Now, minor no-injury, no-dispute accidents should be moved out of traffic and reported via the app, serious ones still mean leave everything in place and call 999.

What if the other driver wants to settle it privately, no report at all?

Don't. Without a report number you have no claim if damage turns up later, or if their story changes.

Does the app process work for rental cars too?

Yes, just have the rental agreement and Mulkiya details ready, the rental company's insurance desk will also want the reference number.

Full checklist tracking and task completion live in the Settli app for Dubai.