A low-speed bump in a car park or a gentle rear-end knock in traffic happens to almost every Dubai driver eventually. When nobody is hurt and the cars can still move, the process is calmer than most people expect: you do not usually need to wait at the roadside for a patrol. Dubai Police lets you report minor accidents through its app, and that report is what your insurer needs to handle repairs. Knowing the steps in advance turns a stressful twenty minutes into a routine formality.
First, Make the Scene Safe
Stop, switch on your hazard lights and check that everyone in both cars is unhurt. If anyone is injured, if there is a fire or fuel leak, or if the other driver leaves the scene or becomes aggressive, call the emergency services and Dubai Police straight away and follow their instructions; app reporting is only for genuinely minor incidents. Assuming everyone is fine, move the cars out of the traffic flow if it is safe to do so, for example into a parking bay or side road nearby. Leaving cars blocking a live lane creates a second, more serious accident risk, and Dubai guidance is to clear the road for minor collisions.
Stay polite and factual. Exchange names, mobile numbers, plate numbers and insurance details, and take clear photos before the cars are moved if you can do it safely: both plates, the damage, and the wider scene. Do not agree to cash settlements or sign anything you do not understand at the roadside. What looks like a scuffed bumper can hide a bent sensor that costs far more to fix.
Reporting Through the Dubai Police App
For a minor accident in Dubai where both drivers are present and agree on what happened, the standard route is the Dubai Police app or website, using the minor accident report service. In some cases the report is completed through the Rafid service linked from official channels, so follow the route the Dubai Police app presents at the time. You will typically work through steps like these:
- Open the Dubai Police app, choose the minor traffic accident report service and confirm your location.
- Enter the details of both vehicles and drivers, including plate numbers and licence details.
- Describe how the accident happened and indicate which driver accepts fault, if that is agreed.
- Upload the photos you took of the damage and the scene.
- Submit the report and save the report number and the coloured report or notification sent to you.
If the two drivers disagree about who was at fault, do not force an agreed report. In that case, contact Dubai Police through the app’s options or the non-emergency channel and let an officer determine responsibility. The resulting report indicates fault, which is what insurers rely on. A small service fee for the report may apply, typically a modest amount; the app will show the current fee before you submit, so confirm it there rather than relying on figures quoted elsewhere.
Dealing With Insurance and Repairs
With the police report in hand, contact your insurer promptly, ideally the same day. The driver found at fault normally claims through their own policy for the other car’s damage under third-party cover, while damage to your own car is covered only if you hold comprehensive cover. Your insurer will open a claim, ask for the police report, licence, Mulkiya and photos, and direct you to an approved garage for assessment. Many insurers now accept documents through their own apps, which speeds things up.
Do not start repairs before the insurer approves them, or you may struggle to be reimbursed. Ask whether your policy includes a courtesy car, whether an excess applies, typically a set amount confirmed in your policy schedule, and how agency versus non-agency repairs affect where the car can go. Keep every receipt and message until the claim is closed.
If the Other Driver Has No Insurance or Disappears
If the other driver cannot produce insurance details, or drives off, note the plate, keep your photos and dashcam footage, and report it to Dubai Police directly rather than using the agreed-report route. Your insurer can then advise how your cover responds.
A minor accident handled calmly rarely takes long. Make the scene safe, report it properly in the app, and let the insurers do the rest, so a small bump stays a small story rather than a long saga.