What to do when you get a flat tyre on Sheikh Zayed Road

Stay calm and keep control

A sudden flat or blowout at highway speed is frightening, but the right first moves keep you safe. Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands and keep the car straight. Do not brake hard. Ease off the accelerator and let the car slow down gradually.

Switch on your hazard lights as soon as you can so the drivers behind you know something is wrong.

Get off the live lanes

On Sheikh Zayed Road traffic moves fast and close together. Signal and move to the right-hand hard shoulder only when it is safe, or take the next exit if the car is still driveable at low speed. Avoid stopping in a live lane, on a bend, or just after a bridge where drivers cannot see you.

Stop as far from the traffic as possible, apply the handbrake and turn the wheels away from the road.

Make yourself safe

Keep hazard lights on. If it is safe, everyone should leave the car from the side away from traffic and wait behind the safety barrier — not between the car and the traffic. Place your warning triangle well behind the car if you can do so without walking in the lane.

Changing a wheel on a busy highway shoulder is risky. If traffic is heavy, the shoulder is narrow or it is dark, it is safer to call for help than to change it yourself. In an emergency where anyone is hurt or the car is in a dangerous spot, call the police on 999 first.

Call Jawwy Garage roadside help — 24/7

Jawwy Garage's emergency roadside help runs 24 hours a day, every day, including Fridays, across Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah. Call or WhatsApp +971 52 320 6777, or use the emergency page on our website to share your live location and a photo of the tyre.

Sharing your exact pin helps our team find you quickly on a long road like Sheikh Zayed Road, where nearby exits and landmarks can be several kilometres apart. Out-of-hours call-outs may charge extra, and we confirm any charge with you before starting.

After the flat

A space-saver spare is only for short distances at low speed — usually up to 80 km/h. Get the damaged tyre checked as soon as possible. A small puncture in the tread can often be repaired; damage to the sidewall or a tyre that was driven flat usually needs replacing.

If you replace one tyre, check that it matches the others in size and wear, and have the wheels balanced. Tyre fitting at our Ras Al Khor workshop starts from AED 30 per tyre and balancing from AED 60.

How to reduce the risk

Most highway blowouts in the UAE are linked to under-inflation, heat and old tyres. Check pressure monthly when the tyres are cold, replace tyres that are cracked or around five years old, and do not overload the car. A quick tyre check before a long drive takes minutes and can prevent a dangerous stop.

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