DUBAI: The initiative, launched to save lives during urgent hospital calls, ensures safer and quicker access for doctors responding to emergencies.

Introduced in July 2020 under the directive of Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ‘Bin Wariqa Service’ allows registered emergency doctors to exceed speed limits by up to 40km/h, use hard shoulders and bus lanes, and receive real-time assistance from traffic patrols—all with the goal of reducing emergency response times.

The service is not a free-for-all; it comes with stringent requirements. To qualify, doctors must belong to one of 13 designated emergency specialities, hold a valid medical license, complete certified emergency driving training, and secure approval from the Ministry.

Once an emergency call comes in, the doctor activates the service via the Ministry’s smart app (moiuae). Their vehicle, marked with a green triangular device known as a lawah, is tracked live by the operations room, which coordinates with traffic authorities to clear the way.

Colonel Dr. Saeed Mohammed Al Dhahouri, Director of Service Development at the Ministry, explained on their official podcast that while the service benefits doctors, it’s ultimately the patients who gain the most.

Ministerial Resolution No. 248 of 2020 provides the legal backbone for the initiative, ensuring regulated and safe use of these privileges. With a 97% registration rate among eligible doctors and a targeted 30% reduction in emergency response times, the service is already proving its worth.

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