UAE ambulance services explained: Which number to call, who pays and what to tell the operator

Dubai: In a medical emergency, every second counts. Knowing which number to call and what information to provide can help emergency responders reach you faster. Whether you're a UAE resident or visiting the country as a tourist, here's what you need to know about using ambulance services in the UAE. Which number should you call? If you need an ambulance anywhere in the UAE, call 998 . Another number that you can call for all emergencies is 999 , and the operations room will coordinate the response to your location. The emergency line is available 24 hours a day across all emirates. In serious cases, emergency authorities may also deploy an air ambulance if it is medically required, according to the United Arab Emirates' Government Platform. Can residents and tourists both use the ambulance service? Yes. Ambulance services are available to everyone in the UAE, including UAE citizens, residents and tourists. Will I be charged for an ambulance? According to the UAE government's official portal, hospitals provide the initial emergency care required to stabilise the patient. If necessary, the patient may later be transferred to another hospital that is better equipped to provide specialist treatment. For residents, ambulance services are covered under UAE health insurance, including basic health insurance plans. However, the emergency response is provided for free to any individual, regardless of whether or not you have an insurance, according to the United Arab Emirates' Government Platform. Once the emergency stabilisation phase is complete, any further treatment, will need to be paid for. This can either be covered by your insurance, or if you are not insured, you would need to pay for any subsequent treatment and medication you receive. Information you should provide to emergency responders Because time is of the essence in any medical emergency, it is important for a person to provide all the critical details emergency responders need to reach you as early as possible. Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS) advises people to follow the C-LINE method to ensure they give all the necessary details to the operations room. But before you begin, remember, it is extremely important to stay calm so that you can report the exact situation accurately. This doesn’t just allow paramedics to reach your location on time, it also enables the right kind of ambulance and medical support to be sent. The authority also offers a free online course that you can take to educate yourself on how to respond to incidents of emergency, whether at home or outdoors. You can take the course by downloading the ‘Dubai Ambulance’ app, which is available for Appe and Android devices, and selecting the option for the ‘Estijaba’ service. What is C-LINE? C – Chief complaint: Explain why you are calling. Is the person unconscious, having chest pain, struggling to breathe or seriously injured? L – Location: Give your exact location, including area, building or villa name, apartment or villa number, nearby landmarks and floor number. I – Incident: Describe exactly what happened – for example, is there a road traffic accident, a fall or a fire? N – Number of casualties: How many people have been injured? This helps emergency services determine how many ambulances and medical personnel to dispatch. E – Extent of injuries: Explain how serious the injuries appear to be and mention any important medical information, such as whether the person is conscious, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, burns or any existing medical conditions that you may be aware of.