National Ambulance reports operational performance for first half of the year
The National Ambulance reported that it provided emergency medical care to 58,781 patients during the first half of the year, according to operational statistics reviewed by Emirates Today. The agency said its teams responded to 73,624 emergency calls while the ambulance call centre handled 168,659 incoming calls, reflecting sustained demand for emergency medical services across five emirates.
Operational performance and key figures from National Ambulance
The statistics indicate cumulative achievements since the service began operations, with more than 356,109 patients transported to hospitals and a total of 575,646 patients assisted by ambulance teams to date. The report also states that the system has logged 1,242,639 incident reports since inception, underscoring the scale of emergency medical services delivery in the region.
Officials emphasized that those figures cover response activity in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Meanwhile, the National Ambulance highlighted that the emergency line 998 remains the primary access point for rapid response, staffed around the clock to ensure timely dispatch.
Services, fleet and staffing supporting pre-hospital care
The National Ambulance operates a modern fleet and specialised operations centres to deliver pre-hospital care across multiple locations. The fleet includes 60 ambulances, with approximately 30 percent held as reserve vehicles, 12 first-responder units, and four advanced incident response vehicles to manage complex scenes effectively.
Additionally, the organisation provides a range of pre-hospital services that include basic and advanced life support, event medical coverage for public and private gatherings, non-emergency patient transfers, and air ambulance operations in collaboration with the Interior Ministry’s air wing. These services reflect an integrated approach to emergency medical services delivery.
How National Ambulance manages calls and accelerates response
The call centre handled 168,659 calls in the first half of the year, the report shows. Operators follow established triage protocols and connect electronically to an intelligent incident command and control system (ICCC) to prioritise dispatch, coordinate resources and route crews efficiently to incident sites.
When contacting the emergency line 998, callers are advised to remain calm, provide clear location details, describe the patient’s condition and follow the dispatcher’s instructions until help arrives. These steps are intended to reduce delays and improve outcomes, since every second can affect survival in critical cases.
Partnerships, coverage and technology driving ambulance response
The National Ambulance said it works with government and private partners to strengthen response capacity and public safety. Collaboration with specialised operations centres, health providers and the Interior Ministry’s air wing helps expand reach and integrate ambulance response with hospital emergency departments.
Technological investments include electronic linkage of operations centres to the smart incident management system, which supports real-time tracking, resource allocation and data reporting. Furthermore, the service maintains 60 deployment locations across the five emirates to ensure immediate support at accident scenes and timely transfers to emergency departments.
Workforce composition and training
On the ground, the National Ambulance employs more than 480 clinical staff, including basic and advanced paramedics and physicians, supported by over 40 medical operations officers and a team of approximately 35 administrative and support managers. The organisation reported continuous training programmes to maintain competencies and align care with international protocols.
Such staffing levels and training initiatives are intended to sustain high standards of safety and care during pre-hospital interventions and critical transports, according to the operational report.
Implications for public safety and what to watch next
The figures underscore ongoing demand for emergency medical services and the need for resilient response systems as populations and event activity grow. Therefore, policymakers and health planners may focus on expanding coverage, optimising resource distribution, and enhancing public awareness of emergency access procedures.
Readers should watch for periodic updates from the National Ambulance and health authorities that may report quarterly performance, changes to deployment strategies, or further investments in air ambulance capacity and digital command systems over the coming months.
Conclusion and next steps
The operational statistics reviewed by Emirates Today provide a snapshot of National Ambulance activity and resource commitment across five emirates. Going forward, officials indicated continued emphasis on rapid response, strategic partnerships and technology-driven coordination. Citizens are encouraged to use emergency number 998 and follow dispatcher guidance to help ensure the fastest possible ambulance response.
