What To Do If Your Car Breaks Down on Dubai Highways

Whether for business or leisure, a private car (self-owned or rental) is the best mode of commuting in Dubai. However, with luxury and convenience comes rare breakdowns, which can be daunting, especially if you don’t have a clue about handling such an unfortunate situation. This stressful instance can ruin your travel experience, or worse traffic fines on top. This guide is the solution to such frustrating instances. Stay calm, safe, and know exactly what to do if your car breaks down on Dubai highways. Understand the step-by-step guide & handle any such circumstance like a pro.

What to do if your car breaks down on Dubai highways: 

• Ensure Your Safety First

• Assess the Situation

• Contact Emergency Services or Roadside Assistance

• Stay Safe While Waiting for Help

• Follow Up with Repairs and Insurance

1. Ensure Your Safety First

Car breakdowns are sudden, occurring anywhere on the road, requiring your absolute calmness and proactive thinking to ensure your safety. Don’t panic. Immediately check your right shoulder, activate your right turn signal (indicator light), followed by your hazard lights (emergency flashers). Gradually slow down while steering to an emergency lane (if available) or the right-most side of the road. Your primary intent must be to get yourself to a safe spot and avoid creating a traffic blockade, which can worsen your situation and lead to traffic fines of up to AED 500.

With your hazard lights on, park the car in a safe spot on the right-hand side, and alight the vehicle from the passenger side door, ensuring all occupants exit safely. It’s crucial to be completely safe. Next, place a warning triangle at least 45-60 meters behind your car. This is a mandatory step, as per UAE law.

Stay out of traffic – don’t stay in the vehicle despite the UAE’s extreme heat – your safety matters the most, especially on Dubai highways. Stay aware of the incoming traffic and act accordingly. If you possess any reflective gear, you should wear it for optimal visibility, which can be very helpful, especially at night. Remember, your personal safety is paramount!

2. Assess the Situation

Once you are safely parked, try assessing the actual reason behind the breakdown. Identify if it’s a flat tire, dead battery, engine overheating, coolant level drops, or some other issue. If you can fix it yourself, proceed—but, only if the traffic flow is absolutely safe. If you prioritize complete safety and no risks, do not attempt to fix it yourself, especially on busy highways like Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. Instead, simply note down the issue.

If possible, document the situations on time-stamped photos and videos. Again, remember to do this only if it’s safe to do so—lookout for incoming traffic. These documents will come in handy for insurance claims. After that stay clear of the highway and your broken vehicle. Pick a safe spot, ensure everyone is in a secure spot away from the traffic, and contact Dubai emergency services.

3. Contact Emergency Services or Roadside Assistance

Calling Dubai Police is your next step. Dial 999 and report the incident, especially if your car is in a dangerous position, like the blind spots or curves. They will immediately rush in to secure the area. After that you can call your car insurance provider for towing and repair services. Most comprehensive insurance policies offer this benefit. If you only have third-party liability insurance, you might need to call the UAE recovery service (800 4435) or private services like AAA UAE.

If your vehicle is a rental, you should immediately call your agency. They will send roadside assistance with an optional replacement if your vehicle has major issues, taking more time to fix.

To request emergency services and roadside assistance, you will need to provide clear and precise information about your current location, breakdown causes (assessed earlier), car details, and your personal information.  

Note: Dubai laws require you to file (even the smallest) breakdown issues (roadside breakdowns) to the authorities, especially if you want to claim insurance. Don’t forget to inform them.

The following are some very useful emergency Services & roadside assistance contacts in Dubai:

4. Stay Safe While Waiting for Help

After contacting the authorities and roadside assistance (private, insurance provider, or car rental agency), you just need to wait for the help to arrive. Move outside the highway area, possibly to the unpaved land. Get your water bottles and make sure everyone stays hydrated until help arrives. Daytime temperatures can be extreme, so use reflective windshield sun shades if you have them in your vehicle.

In Dubai, the authorities respond very quickly, so you don’t have to wait long. As soon as the authorities arrive, explain the situation, and they will help you with your situation accordingly. From towing your car to filing a police report, this can be done without much stress. Your car will be taken to the repair center, and you might have to get a cab back home.

5. Follow Up with Repairs and Insurance

If you have a car insurance benefit, you can leave it to the insurance company to take care of your car. However, you must request them to take your car to a reputable and company-approved workshop for repair. If it’s a rental, you don’t need to worry about such aspects as the agencies handle this themselves. You can simply take the next car and carry on with your journey.

You need to be more cautious and insightful if it's your own car with only third-party insurance.Make sure you meet the Dubai  Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) guidelines, which may require a report for breakdowns causing traffic issues.

It may take a few days to repair and get going again. In such cases, you can rent cars from your local agency to commute to work or run daily errands. Follow up with the repair and insurance until you settle the issues and get your car back fully repaired and ready to hit the road.

Legal and Safety Regulations in Dubai

While you’ve basically covered all the fundamental aspects of handling a car breakdown on Dubai’s highways, let’s recap a few legal and safety regulations you must adhere to in such unfortunate circumstances.

• Report vehicle accidents and major breakdowns to Dubai Police. It’s a must, especially if you plan to claim insurance or the car is blocking the traffic flow.

• Traffic blockades can result in a traffic fine in Dubai (AED 500), even if it's due to an unintentional vehicle breakdown.

• Always carry a warning triangle in your car for such unfortunate situations. Placing it at least 45 meters away from the broken vehicle to alert incoming traffic is mandatory in the UAE.

• Inform your insurance agency asap (within 24 hours of the incident) for claims. Late information and insufficient documentation might lead to out-of-pocket repairs due to claim rejection. 

Tips to Prevent Car Breakdowns in Dubai

While understanding the Dubai car breakdown recovery steps and its related safety and legal regulations is crucial for a seamless tackling of any unfortunate situation, preventing breakdowns is better. Take a look at some insider tips to prevent car breakdowns in Dubai.

• Maintain your vehicle regularly (3-6 months) with a trusted workshop. Have them assess everything from coolant levels to tire pressures to prevent any instantaneous incidents on the road. Don’t miss your car maintenance appointments.

• The summer heat in Dubai is extreme, usually reaching around 50°C, so implement techniques to beat the heat. From parking in shaded regions to using custom-fit windshield sunshades, ensure a proper safety net for your car.

• Always carry emergency kits in your vehicle, from first-aid to warning triangle and safety vest. You never know when you need them.

• Make sure you plan and know your travel routes very well for refueling and ease in case of emergencies. Familiarize yourself with Dubai’s major highways like Sheikh Zayed and Al Khail.

• Opting for comprehensive car insurance is an ideal way to create a financial safety net in cases of emergencies, like breakdowns and accidents. Don’t hesitate to subscribe to full insurance from top insurance companies.

• If you’re renting cars to explore Dubai, choose reputed agencies with the latest (car models) fleets, transparent policies, and clear pricing structures. Make sure their customer service is impeccable, especially during breakdowns.

Conclusion

Car breakdowns on Dubai Highways can be truly frustrating as they completely ruin your travel or business plan for the day. But you can prevent it from further worsening the situation with proper what to do if your car breaks down. Remain calm, follow the above-mentioned processes to get out of the situation seamlessly. Stay aware of the Emirate’s safety and legal regulations and incorporate the preventive measures to stay ahead of the curve while driving in the Emirates. Think positively, take proactive approaches, and make your everyday driving a flawless experience.