Breaking down on a busy UAE highway is stressful — but what you do in the first five minutes decides whether it stays a minor inconvenience or becomes something worse. This Roadside Emergency Checklist for Drivers gives you a clear, step-by-step plan for the most common situations: breakdowns, flat tyres, minor accidents, overheating engines, and medical emergencies. Read it once now, and you will not have to think when it counts.
The checklist applies anywhere in the UAE, from city streets in Dubai to late-night drives between emirates. Before you rely on it, make sure your car is properly equipped — our guide on what to keep in a car emergency kit covers every item worth carrying.
Quick Answer
In any roadside emergency: (1) stay calm and slow down gradually; (2) pull as far off the road as possible, ideally onto the hard shoulder; (3) switch on hazard lights and apply the handbrake; (4) place a warning triangle at least 50 metres behind the car; (5) move yourself and passengers to a safe spot away from traffic; (6) call for help — police on 999 for emergencies, your insurer’s roadside assistance for breakdowns; (7) wait in a safe place, staying hydrated in the heat. Never attempt repairs in a live traffic lane.
Roadside Emergency Checklist for Drivers: First Steps
No matter what has happened — breakdown, flat, accident — the first five actions are always the same:
- Stay calm and signal. Grip the wheel firmly, take your foot off the accelerator, and indicate as you ease toward the shoulder. Sudden braking or sharp steering is the most common cause of secondary collisions.
- Get fully off the road. Stop as far from the traffic lane as the shoulder allows. On UAE highways the hard shoulder is wide — use all of it.
- Hazards on, engine decision. Switch on your hazard lights immediately. If the car is smoking, making strange noises or the temperature gauge is in the red, switch the engine off.
- Make yourself visible. Put on your high-visibility vest before stepping out, and place the warning triangle well behind the car so approaching drivers have time to react.
- Get everyone away from the car. Move behind the barrier (if there is one) or well clear of the road. Standing between your car and traffic is never worth the risk.
Checklist: Car Breakdown
A breakdown — loss of power, strange noises, sudden warning lights — is the most common roadside emergency. For a detailed walkthrough, see our guide on how to handle a car breakdown safely. The essentials:
- Follow the five first steps above.
- Try to identify the problem only if it is safe to do so — check for smoke, leaking fluids, or warning lights.
- Do not open a hot radiator cap; scalding steam can cause serious burns.
- Call your insurer’s roadside assistance number — most car insurance policies in the UAE include free towing.
- If you have no roadside cover, call a private towing company or the police non-emergency line.
- Stay with the car if it is safe, or move to shade nearby — in summer, the inside of a parked car becomes unbearable quickly.
Checklist: Flat Tyre
- Slow down gradually and stop on flat, firm ground as far off the road as possible.
- Hazards on, handbrake applied, engine off, first gear or Park engaged.
- Set out the warning triangle and put on your high-visibility vest.
- Only change the tyre if you are well clear of traffic — if the shoulder is narrow or traffic is heavy, call for assistance instead.
- Loosen the wheel nuts before jacking the car up; never crawl under a car supported only by a jack.
- If you are not confident, a 12V tyre inflator or sealant from your emergency kit may get you to the nearest petrol station — learn the full safe tyre-change steps before you need them.
Checklist: Minor Accident
- Stop immediately — leaving the scene of an accident is a serious offence in the UAE.
- Check whether anyone is injured. If yes, call 999 right away and do not move injured people unless they are in immediate danger.
- Move the cars to the side of the road if they are drivable and it is safe to do so — here is what to do after a minor car accident, step by step.
- Report the accident to the police — see our guide on how to report a road accident for the exact process.
- Exchange details with the other driver and take photos of the damage, positions and number plates before moving anything.
- Call your insurer as soon as practical; most require notification within a set period.
Checklist: Engine Overheating
Overheating is common in UAE summers, especially in older cars or in stop-start traffic:
- At the first sign — temperature gauge climbing, steam from the bonnet — pull over safely and switch the engine off.
- Do not open the bonnet immediately if steam is escaping; wait for it to settle.
- Once it has cooled, check the coolant reservoir level only. Never open the radiator cap while the engine is hot.
- If you have spare water, you can carefully top up the coolant reservoir once cool — but this is a temporary fix, not a repair.
- Do not keep driving an overheating car; you can turn a small repair into a destroyed engine within minutes.
- Call roadside assistance and have the car towed to a workshop.
Checklist: Medical Emergency on the Road
- Stop the car safely and call 999 immediately — describe your location as precisely as you can (road name, nearest exit or landmark).
- Give basic first aid only if you know how; do not move someone with a possible neck or back injury.
- Keep the person comfortable and shaded while you wait for the ambulance.
- If another driver stops to help, ask them to warn oncoming traffic or fetch help if your phone has no signal.
- After any serious incident, consider reviewing your personal accident insurance cover so you understand what protection you have.
Who to Call: Key Numbers and Services
| Situation | Who to Call |
|---|---|
| Emergency — injury, fire, danger | 999 (police) — they coordinate ambulance and civil defence |
| Breakdown with insurance cover | Your insurer’s roadside assistance number (keep it saved in your phone) |
| Breakdown without cover | A private towing service, or ask the police for guidance |
| Minor accident, no injuries | Police accident reporting (via the official app or nearest station), then your insurer |
| Stuck in the desert | 999 — police coordinate desert rescue operations in the UAE |
Save these numbers in your phone now, before you need them. Roadside help details are also listed on the RTA website for Dubai and on the UAE government portal for other emirates.
Common Mistakes Drivers Make at the Roadside
- Stopping in a live lane. Always get fully onto the shoulder, even if the car is barely running — a car in the lane is a crash waiting to happen.
- Skipping the warning triangle. Hazard lights alone are not enough at night or in dust; the triangle buys you critical reaction time.
- Standing in front of or behind the car. If another vehicle clips your car, the area around it is the danger zone.
- Attempting repairs in traffic. A tyre change inches from fast-moving lorries is not worth it — call for help instead.
- Driving on after a warning light. A red warning light means stop; an amber one means get checked soon. Ignoring either can be expensive — or dangerous.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What should I do first if my car breaks down on a UAE highway?
Slow down gradually, pull fully onto the hard shoulder, switch on your hazard lights, and place a warning triangle behind the car. Then move yourself and any passengers away from the traffic lane before calling for help.
Should I call 999 for a simple breakdown?
No — 999 is for emergencies involving injury, fire or immediate danger. For a simple breakdown, call your insurer’s roadside assistance or a towing company. You can call 999 if the breakdown has left you in a dangerous position, such as a blind curve or a narrow shoulder with fast traffic.
Is it legal to change a tyre on the hard shoulder in the UAE?
Yes, if you can do it safely and well clear of traffic. However, if the location is unsafe — narrow shoulder, heavy traffic, poor visibility — the safer and often correct choice is to call roadside assistance and wait behind the barrier.
What information will the police or tow service ask for?
Your exact location (road, direction, nearest exit or landmark), your car’s make, model and colour, your plate number, what happened, and whether anyone is injured. Having your registration details handy speeds everything up.
What if I break down in an area with no phone signal?
This is rare in the UAE but possible in remote desert areas. Your options are to wait for passing traffic and flag help, walk toward the main road only if it is safe and close, or — best of all — prevent it by telling someone your route before a desert trip and carrying extra water.
The Bottom Line
A roadside emergency is won or lost in the first five minutes. Pull over fully, make yourself visible, get clear of traffic, and call the right number — those four actions cover almost every scenario in this checklist. Print or save this page, keep the emergency numbers in your phone, and pair it with a proper car emergency kit so you are equipped as well as informed. Calm, visible and off the road: that is the whole checklist in six words.
Last Updated: 8 October 2026
About the author: Zaviyar Sultan is a UAE-focused writer at Paxi, covering driving, visas, banking, insurance and everyday UAE life. His guides are researched from official UAE government and regulator sources and updated regularly.
Paxi is an independent informational website, not affiliated with the UAE government or any agency mentioned; content is general information only, not legal, immigration or financial advice; verify critical details with official sources before acting.