The loss of such personal things as a phone, wallet, and passport can turn into a nightmare, particularly when you are in a rush in a big city. But when you are in Dubai, then you are lucky. The city has one of the best transport economies.
In fact, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is so effective in the process of reuniting the passenger with his or her belongings; in 2025 alone, the RTA has received well over 104000 lost property claims in taxis, and this speaks volumes on how serious the city is in ensuring that the passenger is safe.
How to Recover Your Items Quickly
In case you have left something behind then follow these few steps to see the possibility of retrieving it even more:
- Contact the RTA: The fastest one is to call 800 90 90. This is a 24/7 toll-free number. Get the agent to know what you lost and provide them with trip details.
- Use the S’hail App: You may use your phone, in which case, there is a Feedback section in the S’hail app where you can report lost items. It goes as far as to allow you to follow the progress of your request.
- Provide the “Side Number”: Each car in Dubai is taxis with its own number that is printed on the side or back of the car. By remembering this, the RTA will be able to locate the precise driver within a few seconds.
- Keep Your Receipt: This is a taxi receipt, which includes the vehicle number, the date of the ride, and the contact of the taxi driver. This sheet of paper is your only friend when you are lost and found.
Comparison of Reporting Methods
| Method | Contact Detail | Best For… |
| Call Center | 800 90 90 | Immediate help and urgent items (phones/wallets). |
| S’hail App | Mobile Application | Tech-savvy users who want to track their case. |
| ask@rta.ae | Non-urgent items or detailed descriptions. | |
| Hala (Careem) | Careem App | Trips booked specifically through the app. |
How to Avoid Losing Items in the Future
The RTA is very good at locating things, but it is always preferable to prevent the loss of the items first. The following are some of the pro tips that you should use the next time you ride:
- The “Look Back” Rule: Turning back and checking before closing the taxi door is necessary to always look at the seat and the floor. It saves some hours of stress, and means two seconds.
- Request a Receipt: Although you may pay with a card or an application, you should never leave out the printed receipt. It contains all the information which is used to trace the car.
- Keep Your Phone in Your Bag: Do not keep your phone on your next seat. It can readily slide through the interstitial spaces between the seats in a moving car.
- Use the Careem/Hala App: When you order a taxi using an application, it automatically stores the history of the journey. You will never need to remember the number of the car since it is in your phone.
Pro Tip: When you lose your phone, make an effort of calling it as soon as possible using the phone of another person. You will find lots of honest drivers in Dubai that will pick you up and wait till you can come back.
Conclusion
Dubai is a trust-based and high-tech city. When you lose something in a taxi, there are high chances of retrieving it back, as long as you do that in time and give the appropriate information. With the help of the RTA hotline or the S hail application and writing a note on your ride, you can transform a traumatizing error into a success story. The next time you jump into one of those famous cream-colored cars, do not forget to make a quick check before you get out!