UAE Vehicle Accident Reporting & Insurance Guide
What to do after a UAE road accident, which emergency number to call, how accident reporting works, what insurers require, and how fault and hit-and-run liability are treated.
Based on current Dubai Police, Abu Dhabi Police, SAAED, CBUAE insurance and UAE traffic-law information checked for 2026.
Seven critical steps after an accident
Switch on hazard lights and protect the scene. If the vehicles can be moved safely and there are no serious injuries, move them to a safe position where the applicable police guidance permits it. Do not put yourself or other road users at additional risk.
Emergency & accident contact numbers
Dubai: digital accident reporting
Dubai Police provides digital traffic and accident-related services through its official channels. For a qualifying minor accident, a driver can use the current Dubai Police app or website service available for that accident type.
SAAED traffic-accident services
SAAED for Traffic Systems is a national UAE traffic-safety and road-services organisation. Its current official website publishes 800-SAAED (72233) as its toll-free number and provides accident/traffic services through its operating channels.
International Money Transfer & FX Rates
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Insurance notification and claim requirements
Notify the official authority
The current unified motor-insurance policy requires the insured/driver to notify the concerned official authorities after an accident that may give rise to a claim.
Notify the insurer promptly
The policy requires prompt notification to the insurer without unjustifiable delay; it does not create one universal 24-hour statutory deadline for every policy.
Do not admit liability privately
The unified policy says the insured should not declare acceptance of liability, offer, promise or payment without the insurer’s written consent.
Deductibles can apply
The unified motor policy permits deductibles in specified cases. The actual amount depends on the policy and circumstances.
Documents commonly requested for an insurance claim
| Document | Typical purpose |
|---|---|
| Official accident report/reference or digital accident record, where issued for the accident type | Official accident report/reference or digital accident record, where issued for the accident type. |
| Vehicle registration card (Mulkiya) | Vehicle registration card (Mulkiya). |
| Driving licence / identity documents requested by the insurer | Driving licence / identity documents requested by the insurer. |
| Insurance policy or policy number | Insurance policy or policy number. |
| Photographs or videos of the accident and vehicle damage where available | Photographs or videos of the accident and vehicle damage where available. |
| Repair estimate, vehicle inspection or garage documents requested by the insurer | Repair estimate, vehicle inspection or garage documents requested by the insurer. |
Fault determination: common scenarios
These are examples, not automatic liability rules. The competent authority determines responsibility from the actual circumstances, evidence, road markings, statements and applicable law.
| Scenario | How fault is assessed | Insurance consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-end collision | Often points toward the following driver, but the authority determines the actual liability from the circumstances. | Settlement depends on the official accident determination and the applicable insurance cover. |
| Red-light violation | A confirmed signal violation can strongly affect fault and may create separate traffic/criminal consequences. | Insurance consequences follow the official determination and policy terms. |
| Unsafe lane change | The authority assesses the lane-change manoeuvre, road position and evidence rather than using a blanket automatic rule. | Liability follows the official assessment and the applicable policy. |
| Parking-lot / private-property collision | Fault can depend on the evidence, road markings, signs, right of way and the authority handling the report. | Civil and insurance issues can continue even where the accident is not a normal road collision. |
| Shared responsibility | The competent authority may assign responsibility according to the facts rather than relying on a fixed “50/50” presumption. | The settlement follows the official determination and policy wording. |
| Uninsured at-fault driver | Fault and recovery are separate from whether the at-fault vehicle has valid insurance. | The affected driver’s own cover, the policy wording and available legal recovery routes become important. |
Important current legal distinctions
Hit-and-run: current federal penalty
Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, Article 38, provides a materially more serious penalty than older AED 10,000 summaries. For the specified deliberate conduct—including deliberately failing to stop after an accident causing injury, failing to provide relevant information in specified circumstances, or fleeing from police—the law provides imprisonment for up to two years and a fine of AED 50,000 to AED 1,000,000, or one of those penalties.
Related UAE Tools & Guides
2026 VerifiedFrequently Asked Questions
Official accident and insurance sources
These links are supplied for direct verification. Their inclusion does not mean this webpage is certified or approved by the relevant authority.