Ambulance Service in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is an ambulance service?
An ambulance service brings medical care to the patient and then carries them safely to the right place for treatment. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah operates its own ambulance service, staffed by trained paramedics, and it covers two quite different kinds of journey.
The first is emergency response. When someone is suddenly and seriously unwell, the paramedics assess them where they are, start treatment, continue care on the road and alert the hospital's emergency department so the team is ready on arrival.
The second is a planned transfer: a journey arranged in advance, between home and hospital or between hospitals. A patient may need to reach a specialist service, move to a hospital within their insurance network, or travel lying down with a trained crew beside them. The treating team matches the crew and any clinical escort to the patient's needs, and the move goes ahead once the receiving team is ready to take over.
Who needs it
Emergency response is the right choice when the journey itself could be dangerous, such as chest pain with sweating, stroke signs, severe breathing difficulty, heavy bleeding, collapse, or a possible neck or spine injury. The full list of warning signs is on the Emergency page.
In a life-threatening emergency, call the hospital's emergency number, 06 599 7777, straight away and keep the person still until help arrives.
A planned transfer suits several situations:
- A patient with limited mobility who needs a stretcher or close monitoring on the way to an admission or procedure
- A patient already in hospital who needs a treatment, a bed or a specialist team at another centre, or who wishes to be nearer family or within their insurance network
- An older or frail person travelling home after a hospital stay when a car is unsuitable
For critically ill patients moving between hospitals, the extra steps are set out on the inter-hospital transfer page. For a routine clinic visit, a private car or taxi with a companion is usually the simplest option, and the clinic team can advise if you have mobility needs.
What happens
When the paramedics arrive, they check breathing, pulse, blood pressure and oxygen level, ask what happened, and start any urgent treatment. Short, clear answers help: when the problem started, any long-term conditions, current medicines and allergies. They then move the patient onto a stretcher or carry chair in the safest position for the injury or illness.
On the road, the paramedics keep monitoring the patient and pass key details ahead to the emergency department, so the right team and equipment are waiting.
On arrival at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, the paramedics hand over to the emergency team in person, sharing what they found and what they gave. This direct handover saves time, and the order in which patients are then seen is set by how urgent each condition is. The process is explained on the triage and assessment page.
For a planned transfer, the treating doctor agrees the move with a senior doctor at the receiving hospital, makes the patient as steady as possible for the journey, and prepares a written summary with test results and copies of scans. The paramedics collect the patient at the agreed time, and any escort stays until the receiving team has taken over.
Preparing for it
A few things make any ambulance journey smoother:
- Share your location clearly. In the UAE, a map pin from your phone, plus the building name, villa or flat number and a nearby landmark, helps the crew find you quickly.
- Unlock the door and clear a path for a stretcher, and send someone to meet the crew at the entrance or lift if you can.
- Gather the essentials: Emirates ID or passport, insurance card, a list of current medicines or the boxes themselves, and any recent reports or discharge letters.
- Bring a phone and charger, and the number of one family member who will act as the main contact.
- Keep valuables at home where possible.
In the summer heat, wait for the crew indoors or in shade, and keep the patient cool and still.
For a planned transfer, the treating team explains the reason for the move, the destination and ward, and when the ambulance is expected. Families usually travel separately, so note the receiving hospital's address and contact number. During Ramadan, mention fasting to the team when the journey is booked, so medicines and meals can be planned around it.
Afterwards
After an emergency journey, care continues in the emergency department at the pace your condition needs. After a planned transfer, the receiving team takes over your care and becomes the main point of contact for updates. Relatives abroad can stay informed through the one family contact.
If new or worsening symptoms appear at home, such as chest pain, trouble breathing, confusion, fainting or heavy bleeding, call the hospital's emergency number, 06 599 7777, or go to the nearest emergency department straight away. To arrange a planned journey with the ambulance service at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, or to ask about one already booked, call 06 599 7777.
Cost and insurance
Charges for an ambulance journey depend on the type of journey and your insurance plan, and the team explains them when the journey is arranged. In an emergency, treatment comes first and the paperwork follows. For a planned transfer, most UAE insurance plans cover a clinically needed move, and the insurer usually gives approval before the journey, both for the ambulance and for admission at the receiving hospital. The insurance office at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help with the paperwork on 06 599 7777.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Does Dar Al Kamal Hospital have its own ambulance service?
Yes. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah operates its own ambulance service with trained paramedics, covering emergency response and planned transfers between home and hospital or between hospitals.
How do I call the ambulance?
In a life-threatening emergency, call the hospital's emergency number, 06 599 7777, straight away. For a planned journey, such as a transfer between hospitals or travel to an admission, call Dar Al Kamal Hospital on 06 599 7777 to arrange it.
Should I call an ambulance or drive to the emergency department?
Call an ambulance if the person has chest pain with sweating, stroke signs, severe breathing difficulty, heavy bleeding, collapse or a possible neck or spine injury, because driving could make things worse. For less serious problems, being driven by someone else to the nearest emergency department is often reasonable.
What are the risks of moving a patient by ambulance?
The main risks of any ambulance journey are that the patient's breathing, blood pressure or heart rhythm can change on the way, and that moving someone with a spinal injury can worsen it. Paramedics reduce these risks by assessing and steadying the patient before moving them, monitoring them throughout, and using the right equipment for the injury.
Will I be seen faster if I arrive by ambulance?
Arriving by ambulance means the paramedics hand over to the emergency team directly, but the order in which patients are seen depends on how urgent each condition is. A patient with a less urgent problem who arrives by ambulance may wait while sicker patients are treated first.
What should I bring in the ambulance?
Bring an Emirates ID or passport, an insurance card, a list of current medicines or the medicine boxes, recent medical reports, and a phone with a charger. Leave jewellery and other valuables at home where possible.
Can a family member travel in the ambulance?
Whether a family member can ride in the ambulance depends on space and the patient's needs, and the crew decides at the time. For planned transfers, families usually travel separately and meet the patient at the destination.
Does insurance cover an ambulance transfer?
Most UAE insurance plans cover a planned transfer when it is clinically needed, but the insurer usually has to approve it in advance. The insurance office at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help confirm cover on 06 599 7777.
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