What should you do straight after a car accident in the UAE?

Stop, check for injuries, and call 999 if anyone is hurt. If nobody is hurt and the cars can still be driven, move them out of traffic and report the accident yourself through an app.

Do you have to stop after an accident?

Yes. Federal Decree-Law 14 of 2024 makes it a crime to drive on without an acceptable excuse after an accident in which people are injured.¹ The Arabic text, which prevails, sets prison of up to one year and a fine of AED 50,000 to AED 100,000, or one of the two. The English translation gives up to two years.²

The same law tells every driver involved to give first aid to an injured person if the driver has the medical knowledge to do so.¹

Stop in a safe place close to the scene, even if you think you did nothing wrong.

When should you call 999?

Call 999 when anyone is injured or killed. The UAE Government says to call the police on 999, tell them what happened and wait for instructions.^3,4 The Ministry of Interior’s reporting app asks first whether anyone is hurt, and sends injury cases to 999.⁵

Abu Dhabi Police also tell drivers to call 999 for any accident with injuries, and to use the Saaed app or Saaed’s operations room on 80072233 for minor accidents.⁶

Should you move your car after a minor accident?

Yes, if nobody is hurt and the car can be driven. The UAE Government’s emergency guidance says to move to the shoulder lane after a minor accident and wait at least 15 metres from the car. After an accident with injuries, leave all vehicles in place until the ambulance arrives.³

Abu Dhabi Police say moving off the road does not affect who is found at fault.⁷ Their notice of 31 July 2024 says a driver who does not move the car to the nearest safe spot is fined under the offence of stopping in the middle of the road without reason: AED 1,000 and 6 black points.⁶ Gulf News reported a AED 500 fine in October 2024.⁷ Dubai Police posted on 23 March 2026 that minor accidents “do not require waiting for a police patrol”.⁸

Photograph the scene before you move the cars, then drive to the nearest safe spot.

How do you report the accident?

You must report it to the police, or to the body the traffic authority approves, within 3 hours.¹ For a minor accident you can usually do this by app. The channel depends on the emirate.

The UAE Government lists five apps for reporting a minor accident online: MOI UAE, Saaed, Abu Dhabi Police, Dubai Police and Rafid.⁹ Dubai Police’s On the Go desks were at 167 ENOC, ADNOC and Emarat petrol stations on 20 October 2026, according to Emirates 24|7.¹⁰

The full steps for each app, and what to do if the other driver will not agree, are on the minor accident page. Fees and copies are on the accident report page. In Sharjah, Rafid’s app route needs no ambulance, no dispute and only two vehicles; anything else goes through Rafid on 80092.¹¹

What happens if someone was injured or killed?

The police attend, and the case becomes a criminal traffic case. The Ministry of Interior opens traffic reports for accidents in its criminal systems and refers them to the public prosecution.¹² A driver who causes a death by fault faces prison and a fine of at least AED 50,000, or one of the two. The minimum rises to one year and AED 100,000 where the driver ran a red light, was under the influence, was driving on a suspended or cancelled licence, or drove into a valley in flood.¹

Compensation for the injured person or the family follows separately. See compensation after a road injury and blood money.

Can a garage repair your car without a police report?

No. A repair centre may not repair a vehicle with signs of an accident or damage without a repair permit from the traffic authority or the body it authorises.¹ The accident report is what opens that permit and any insurance claim. How the claim itself works is on carinsurance.ae’s claims guide.

Keep the reference number from your report until the car is repaired and any claim is paid.

The small print

The reporting duty is Article 5(1)(c) of Federal Decree-Law 14 of 2024 on Traffic Regulation, in force since 29 March 2025. First aid is Article 5(1)(b). Repairs are Article 28. Not stopping after an injury accident is Article 38. Causing death by fault is Article 40.¹ The portal says the Arabic text prevails where the English differs.

Cabinet Resolution 174 of 2026, the law’s executive regulation, takes effect on 1 January 2027. It requires a driver to take the vehicle off the road as fast as possible after any incident that affects safety or traffic flow (Article 7(6)), and sets conditions for giving first aid (Article 13). It is published in Arabic only.¹³