What to Do if You Get Into a Minor Car Accident in Dubai

I recently got into a minor rear-end car accident and had no time to stop. We were coming down from the bridge, and the lead driver in front of me stopped abruptly. The law says that the rear driver in a rear-end collision is at fault for the accident, so I was the one who caused it, technically. 

If you ever get into a minor car accident, I would like to add the following convenient step. All it took was 10 minutes! First, go on Dubai Police's website using your phone: 

https://bit.ly/3Ev3KnI

According to Dubai Police, the "Simple Accident Report" service allows drivers of damaged vehicles (due to a collision with another car or object) to obtain a simple traffic accident report or medium with no injuries. The accident should not be a result of being under the influence of alcohol, so the individual could review with the insurance company and continue the rest of the procedures. All you need is your driver's license number and vehicle ownership number. Remember that reports can't be from outside Dubai, and in case of dispute among the drivers of damaged vehicles, the competent police station should be visited. You also need a valid email ID.

The steps are straightforward: 

1) Fill up the application form 

2) Identify the damages on the vehicle and attach photos 

3) Submit the request

4) Receive a transaction number via SMS and an email to follow up on the request 

The police will immediately call you to verify the accident's details and confirm who is at fault. I was delightfully surprised at how efficient Dubai Police was during the process.

Thank you, Dubai Police! 

As for fees, I was surprised to find out that the person who caused the accident would pay a 520 Dhs fine for the service. I realized that amount was later added to my fines list on the RTA app. Keep in mind that this service is available only on smartphones, and you can only browse the website from your mobile phone to access the service.

I recommend using this service for instant access and peace of mind, especially if the accident is minor. Otherwise, calling the police would take more time, and the process would become unnecessarily complicated (and stressful). Make sure both parties pull over and move to a safe location first. Create a safety zone, avoid obstructing traffic, and ensure that all passengers stay away from traffic (I was concerned that a car would run over the guy as we were standing in the middle of the central divider line on the bridge).

I loved the streamlined application process, especially considering we were in the scorching sun. What a relief that was! We both received SMS notifications containing a link to download the accident report in PDF format. How convenient is that? There is no need to wait for a police officer to arrive and fill out all the paperwork by hand, which would take more time. 

Good luck, and stay safe!