The first minute: get out of the traffic
Most battery failures give a little warning: flickering lights, a battery warning on the dashboard or the engine cutting out at low speed. Abu Dhabi Police advise drivers with a mechanical breakdown to move the vehicle off the road to the nearest safe location. Use whatever momentum you have to reach the hard shoulder, an exit or a service road. Stopping in a running lane is the most dangerous outcome, and the UAE fines schedule lists stopping in the middle of the road without a justified reason as a violation.
- Switch on the hazard lights as soon as you lose power.
- Signal and steer onto the hard shoulder or the nearest exit while the car is still moving.
- Stop as far from the traffic lane as you safely can.
- Put the car in Park, apply the handbrake and switch off non-essential electrics.
Getting everyone to a safe spot
A stopped car on a fast road can be hit from behind, so the car is not a safe place to wait. Get passengers out on the side away from traffic and move behind the crash barrier or well up the verge. For accidents, the UAE Government portal advises waiting at least 15 metres away from the car, and the same distance is sensible for a breakdown. Keep children close and away from the road edge.
Never stand between your car and the traffic lane, and never walk along a live lane to reach the front of the car. If there is no safe place to stand, stay belted in with the hazard lights on and call 999.
Placing a warning triangle
If you carry a warning triangle and can reach a point behind the car without stepping into traffic, place it well back so approaching drivers see it before they see your car. On a fast road that means a long way behind, not next to the bumper. If walking back means standing in or beside a running lane, skip it: your hazard lights and your own safety come first. The official fines schedule lists failing to take the necessary road safety measures after a breakdown as a violation, so use the hazard lights and triangle when you can do so safely.
When to call 999 and when to call a service
The number depends on what has happened, not on what is wrong with the car. The UAE Government portal lists 999 for police and 998 for an ambulance, and Abu Dhabi Police direct drivers with breakdowns to call 999 for assistance when they need help on the road. InstaBattery does not provide towing, recovery or accident help.
| Situation | Who to call |
|---|---|
| Car stopped in a running lane, or you cannot reach a safe spot | Police: 999 |
| Anyone injured, or feeling unwell in the heat | Ambulance: 998 |
| Collision, however minor | Police: 999 |
| Car needs towing, or the problem is not the battery | Police, your insurer or a recovery provider |
| Car safely off the road and the battery is flat | A jump start or battery replacement service |
Waiting safely in summer heat
In the UAE summer, the heat is a real risk while you wait. With the engine off, a closed car heats up quickly, and standing in full sun on asphalt is not much better. Abu Dhabi Police stress never leaving children or elderly people alone in a vehicle, even for a minute.
- Keep water in the car all year, and drink it while you wait.
- Look for shade behind the barrier, such as a sign gantry or bridge, but stay off the carriageway.
- Wear a hat or use an umbrella or sunshade if you have one.
- Call 998 if anyone becomes dizzy, confused or unwell.
- Keep your phone charged; a power bank in the glovebox helps.
Is it the battery? Quick signs at the roadside
Once everyone is safe, the symptoms help you decide who to call. A battery problem usually shows up as a slow or clicking crank, dim or dead dashboard lights, or a car that was fine yesterday and is silent today. A battery warning light while driving more often points to the charging system, which a battery service can test but not repair at the roadside. Steam, smoke, a burning smell or a flat tyre are not battery problems; see our guide to car battery warning signs for more detail.
Jump start or replacement at the roadside
If the car is safely off the road and the battery is the issue, there are two options. A jump start gets the engine running, and the technician then tests the battery and charging output so you know whether it will hold. If the battery fails that test, it can be replaced at the car: we test first, fit the new battery and take the old one away. Read jump start or battery replacement to see which usually makes sense. Where the shoulder is too narrow or busy to work on safely, the car should be moved by a recovery provider first.
Jumping a car yourself on a hard shoulder means standing beside traffic. If you are not well clear of the lanes, wait for help instead. Our guide on how to jump start a car covers the safe method for when you are.
Lowering the odds before a long highway drive
Most roadside battery failures follow warning signs that were easy to miss in town. A few checks before a long run between emirates, or a desert trip, make a flat battery on the shoulder far less likely. None of them takes long.
- Pay attention to a slower crank than usual, especially on the first start of a hot day.
- If the battery has been through two or more UAE summers, have a battery test before a long trip.
- Do not ignore a battery warning light that comes on while driving; get it checked before the journey, not during it.
- Carry water, a charged phone and, if you have one, a warning triangle and a portable jump pack.
- Save the numbers you would need: 999, 998, your insurer and a jump start service.
How InstaBattery can help
We cover Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi 24 hours a day, including nights, Fridays and public holidays, with typical arrival in 25 to 40 minutes. Our work is limited to batteries: 24/7 car battery replacement in Dubai and the other emirates we cover, and jump starts. Fitted battery prices start from AED 180, with a warranty of up to 24 months depending on the battery, and you can pay by cash, card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Tabby or Tamara. For an accident, towing or a fault that is not the battery, contact the police or a recovery provider.