First week
Time
10 min to read and save the numbers
Cost
Free
Difficulty
Easy
What to bring
Your phone, with the numbers below saved
Not needed: Arabic. Operators and most hospital staff speak English
Our pick
Compare all 4 →Prices checked June 2026
Do it
- 1
Check for danger and injuries
Move somewhere safe if you can, especially clear of traffic before doing anything else.
- 2
Call 998 for medical, 999 for police or fire
Give your location first, Dubai addresses can be confusing, so a nearby landmark or a dropped map pin helps a lot.
- 3
Stay on scene until told otherwise
Dubai treats leaving an accident scene seriously. Don't go before responders or police clear you.
- 4
Use the hospital app for anything non-urgent
Most UAE insurers run a same-day GP network, save the ER for genuine emergencies, private ER bills add up fast without a referral.
Common questions
Do emergency operators speak English?
Yes, fluently, English is effectively Dubai's working emergency-services language.
What number do I call for a medical emergency that isn't a crime?
998 (ambulance) directly, you don't need to go through 999 first.
Is a private ER visit expensive without insurance?
Yes, noticeably, that's the strongest argument for sorting visa-compliant insurance in week one, see the insurance how-to.
Read more
Health insurance in Dubai is mandatory
Full guide · 3 min read
Full checklist tracking and task completion live in the Settli app for Dubai.