Emergency Services in the UAE

In a medical emergency in the UAE, call 998 for ambulance services (or 999 for police and general emergencies). The national ambulance service operates across all seven Emirates, and response times in urban areas like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are among the fastest in the region. Dubai also operates the DHA-run Rashid Hospital Trauma Centre, one of the leading trauma facilities in the Middle East, specialising in road accident injuries, burns, and critical care.

Emergency departments at government hospitals are open 24/7 and are required to treat all patients regardless of insurance status or nationality. Treatment costs may be billed after stabilisation, but no patient can be turned away in an emergency. Major private hospitals also operate 24-hour emergency departments, though they may require insurance verification for non-emergency follow-up care. If you are unsure whether your situation is a true emergency, you can call the DHA hotline (800 342) in Dubai or the DOH hotline in Abu Dhabi for guidance.

For non-life-threatening urgent care, many private clinics and hospital chains operate walk-in urgent care centres with extended hours. These are often faster and less crowded than hospital emergency departments for conditions like minor injuries, high fevers, or acute pain. Know when to go to the ER vs a clinic: chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, and suspected stroke or heart attack always require an emergency department. Pharmacies in the UAE also provide basic health advice and over-the-counter medications — many are open 24 hours in major cities.