A small bump at a Dubai signal or in a mall car park is common — but getting the steps wrong can leave you without a police report, without a repair, or with a fine. Here is the right order.
After a minor car accident in Dubai with no injuries: stop, put the hazard lights on, check everyone is OK, take clear photos of both cars, the number plates and the road, then move the cars out of traffic. Report it through the Dubai Police app (or call 999 if anyone is hurt or the other driver won't cooperate). You'll get a report that shows who is at fault — you need it before any garage can repair the car. If the car can't be driven, call a recovery truck to take it to the garage.
Is your car really drivable? A car that "seems fine" after a front-end hit can have a cracked radiator or a bent wheel. If you see coolant on the ground, the steering pulls, or a tyre is rubbing, don't drive it to the garage — have it carried on a flatbed.
Once the cars are moved, the scene is gone. Thirty seconds with your phone protects you later with the police, the insurer and the garage:
Most reporting through the app also asks for photos, so having them ready makes the report much faster.
For a minor, injury-free accident inside Dubai, most drivers now report it through the official Dubai Police app instead of waiting for a patrol to attend. The app guides you through entering both vehicles, uploading photos and confirming the details, and the report is then issued digitally.
Call the police instead of using the app if:
Keep the report reference — your insurer and garage will both ask for it.
The UAE accident report has long been colour-coded, and drivers and garages still talk about it that way even though reports are now mostly digital:
| Report | Meaning | What it means for repair |
|---|---|---|
| Green | You were not at fault | The other driver's insurer normally pays for your repair. |
| Pink / Red | You were found at fault | Your own insurer handles it — your own car is only covered under comprehensive cover. |
Without either report, no garage can legally repair accident damage — which is why "let's just settle it with cash" usually ends badly for both drivers.
Once the report is done, the car needs to get to a workshop — your insurer's approved garage, the dealer, or a garage you trust. If it's not safe to drive, an accident recovery truck should carry it on a flatbed so nothing else gets damaged on the way.
When you call, tell the dispatcher:
We recover accident-damaged cars across Dubai 24/7 — call +971 56 297 1960. If the problem wasn't a collision at all, our guide to what to do when your car breaks down in Dubai covers the safety steps for a highway breakdown.
It depends on the report and your type of cover:
Some policies include free roadside recovery after an accident, but often only to an approved garage and with a waiting time. If you need the car moved quickly — for example out of a busy road at night — a direct recovery call is often faster and involves no extra claim.
Stuck on Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail or E311? The exact steps to stay safe, who to call, and how to get your car moved fast.
Temperature needle in the red at 47°C? Why cars overheat in the UAE summer, the safe way to pull over, and when driving on will wreck the engine.