Your car is sitting in a flooded parking in JLT or on a waterlogged stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road. Here is everything you need to do, in order.
Dubai does not do rain quietly. When it comes, it floods basement parkings in Jumeirah, turns underpasses on Al Khail into temporary rivers. And mostly leaves hundreds of cars either stalled mid-road or sitting axle-deep in standing water by morning. If your car was damaged in the recent rains, the first thing you need is a TWIMC certificate from Dubai Police. Before you call your insurer, before you arrange a garage, before anything else. Getting this vehicle damage certificate from Dubai Police is what starts your entire insurance claim. Without it, nothing moves. The good news is that you no longer need to take your damaged car to a police station. The whole TWIMC certificate Dubai Police process runs through the app or website, and takes about ten minutes to submit. And costs AED 95. Here is exactly what to do, what to watch out for, and where claims typically go wrong.
What is a TWIMC Certificate Actually?
TWIMC stands for To Whom It May Concern. It is an official document issued by Dubai Police confirming that your vehicle was damaged due to weather conditions. Your insurer will not move your claim forward without it. It is not optional; it is the first thing they ask for.
Previously, getting this certificate meant taking your car to a police station and waiting for a physical inspection. That process is now changed. You can now apply for the TWIMC certificate from the Dubai Police app or website entirely online, with no station visit required.
Before You Apply: Check Your Insurance Type First
This step catches a lot of people off guard. Open your insurance documents before you fill out anything.
Third-party liability (TPL) insurance is the minimum legal requirement in the UAE. It does not cover rain damage or flood damage to your own vehicle. It only covers damage you cause to others. If you are on TPL, a TWIMC certificate will not help you, because your policy excludes the damage category you are claiming for.
Comprehensive insurance generally covers rain-related damage, but not always. Some comprehensive policies explicitly carve out natural disasters under specific clauses. Call your broker and ask directly: Does this policy cover rain damage and engine flood damage? Get it confirmed before you apply for anything.
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How to Get the TWIMC Certificate: Dubai Police App Step-by-Step
Download the Dubai Police app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). You can also complete this on the website at dubaipolice.gov.ae. Both routes lead to the same form.
- Open Services
In the app, tap the Services tab. On the website, click Certificate Services from the homepage.
- Select TWIMC Certificate
Choose the ” To Whom It May Concern ” certificate from the list. Then tap Access Service to open the application form.
- Fill in the Form
You will need to provide:
1. Emirates ID number
2. Certification type: select Natural Disasters from the dropdown
3. Disaster type: select Rain
4. Location: Pin the area on the map where the damage occurred
5. Date the damage happened
6. Car plate number, plate source, category and code
7. Your email address
8. Required by: select Motor Insurance
9. A brief description of the damage in plain language
Be specific when describing the damage. “Water entered engine bay, car stalled in basement parking at [building name], [area]” is more useful than “rain damage.” The certificate is a legal document. Write it like one. - Upload Photos
Attach clear photos of the damage. Accepted formats: PDF, GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG. Include exterior damage, waterline marks on the bodywork, interior water damage if water entered the cabin, and the location, if you have it. Upload more than you think you need. Your insurer will see these photos.
- Pay and Submit
The fee is AED 95. Pay by card or Apple Pay. Once submitted, you receive a transaction number via SMS and email to track your application.
- Receive the Certificate
The certificate arrives within one to two working days at your registered email. During heavy rain events, when applications surge, processing can take slightly longer. Submit as early as possible — the date on the certificate must match the date the damage happened.
What Actually Gets Rain Damage Claims Rejected
Even with a valid TWIMC certificate and the right coverage, claims still get denied. These are the specific reasons insurers use:
- You drove through a visibly flooded road. If water entered your engine because you pushed through standing water, insurers treat that as driver negligence, not a weather event. The claim is usually refused.
- You tried to start the car after flooding. Attempting to start a water-damaged engine causes hydro-lock, which significantly increases repair costs and gives insurers grounds to reduce or deny the payout.
- Your wipers were damaged before the incident. Inspectors check. Degraded wipers are used as evidence that the vehicle was not roadworthy going into the rain event.
- Your car was parked in a submerged area. If you left it in a known flood-prone basement parking during an active weather alert, some policies treat that as a failure of reasonable care.
If your car flooded while parked and you had it towed not driven to a garage for inspection, that is your strongest position. Towing is covered. Attempting to drive it out is where rain damage insurance claims in the UAE get complicated.
After You Get the Certificate
Send it to your insurer immediately, along with your damage photos, incident description, and policy number. Most UAE insurers have a dedicated claims portal or app — use that rather than WhatsApp or an individual agent’s email. It creates a timestamped claim record that protects you.
If the car is not drivable, arrange towing to a workshop approved under your insurance policy. Going to a non-approved garage can complicate reimbursement even if the repairs are legitimate. Check your policy documents or call your insurer before you choose a garage.
Do not attempt to start the vehicle again until a qualified mechanic has assessed it. The insurer’s assessor will inspect the car in the condition it arrived.
FAQs
No. The entire process for getting the TWIMC certificate from Dubai Police runs online through the app or dubaipolice.gov.ae. You do not need to bring your car anywhere for the application.
You can apply, but it will not help your claim. Third-party liability insurance does not cover rain damage to your own vehicle in the UAE. The certificate is only useful if your policy includes comprehensive coverage with natural disaster or rain damage provisions.
One to two working days is the standard timeline. During heavy rain events across Dubai, when application volumes increase significantly, it can take a little longer.
It depends on the circumstances. If the road flooded while you were already on it and you stopped the car rather than pushing through, your insurer is more likely to treat it as a weather event. If you drove deliberately through standing water despite visible flooding or official warnings, the claim faces more scrutiny.
Yes. The certificate covers the incident, not individual damage items. List all visible damage in your description when you apply. Your insurer’s assessor will itemise the repairs separately during their inspection.
For official service information, visit Dubai Police (dubaipolice.gov.ae) and the Insurance Authority UAE (ia.gov.ae).
Images: Canva
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