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If you’ve been pointed toward Al Raffa Police Station — whether by a friend, a landlord, an insurance agent, or a Google Maps pin near Al Souq Al Kabeer — you probably have one of two questions in mind: where exactly is it, and what happens once I walk in. This guide answers both, along with the practical details that most listings skip: which services actually need an in-person visit, what documents to bring, and when the Dubai Police app will save you the trip entirely.
Where Al Raffa Police Station Sits in Bur Dubai
Al Raffa Police Station is located on Al Raffa Street, in the Al Fahidi (Al Souq Al Kabeer) part of Bur Dubai — one of the oldest and busiest pockets of the city, a short walk from the Dubai Creek. The building sits behind the Golden Cinema area, in a district packed with textile shops, budget hotels, heritage houses, and a resident population that’s as international as any in Dubai. That mix is exactly why the station stays busy: it covers everything from shopkeeper disputes to tourist complaints to routine traffic paperwork.
Because Bur Dubai is dense and historic rather than laid out in wide modern blocks, first-time visitors sometimes struggle to find the entrance. Look for it near Al Ghubaiba, close to the metro and bus interchange — not deep inside the souq itself.
Quick Facts About Al Raffa Police Station
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Al Raffa Police Station |
| Area | Al Raffa, Al Fahidi (Al Souq Al Kabeer), Bur Dubai, Dubai |
| Nearest metro | Al Ghubaiba Metro Station (Green Line) |
| Nearest bus hub | Al Ghubaiba Bus Station |
| Typical listed contact | +971 4 393 7777 (also listed as +971 4 606 1600 on some directories — confirm current number via the Dubai Police app or website before relying on it) |
| Emergency number | 999 |
| Non-emergency police line | 901 |
| Working model | Reception open 24/7 for urgent matters; many administrative counters run standard government hours (roughly 7:30 am–3:30 pm Sun–Thu) |
| info@dubaipolice.gov.ae |
A note on the phone number: several aggregator sites list slightly different digits for Al Raffa Police Station. This happens often with government listings that get scraped and re-published without updates. If a call matters — reporting something urgent, confirming a document is ready — use the Dubai Police smart app or dubaipolice.gov.ae directly, or dial the general 901 line, rather than trusting the first number you find in a search result.
Operating Hours at Al Raffa Police Station
Government service counters and the emergency front desk don’t run on the same schedule, which is the part most listings blur together. Here’s how the hours typically break down:
| Service | Hours |
|---|---|
| Emergency response & front desk | Open 24 hours, every day |
| General complaints & reporting desk | 24/7 for urgent matters; walk-in administrative processing during standard hours |
| Administrative counters (clearance certificates, document verification) | Approximately 7:30 am – 3:30 pm, Sunday to Thursday |
| Friday counter hours | Approximately 7:30 am – 12:00 pm |
| Weekend (Saturday) | Emergency desk only; most administrative counters closed |
| Public holidays | Emergency desk only; check the Dubai Police app for holiday-specific updates |
If your matter isn’t urgent, calling ahead or checking the Dubai Police app before heading over will save you from arriving at a closed counter — this is one of the most common frustrations visitors report with government service centers in the area.
How to Get to Al Raffa Police Station
- By metro: Al Ghubaiba Station on the Green Line is the closest stop, roughly a five-minute walk or a short taxi ride.
- By bus: Multiple routes (including the 12, 29, 33, and 44) stop at Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, right by the entrance.
- By ferry/abra: The Al Ghubaiba Marine Transport Station is a few minutes’ walk away, useful if you’re coming from Deira across the Creek.
- By car: Street parking around Al Raffa can be tight during souq business hours; arriving early in the morning or after lunch makes finding a spot easier.
If you’re a tourist without local transport knowledge, this is one of the easier stations to reach precisely because it sits inside Dubai’s public transport backbone rather than a car-dependent suburb.
Al Raffa Police Station Map
Emergency vs. Non-Emergency Channels: Which One to Use
This is where a lot of people waste time — either calling 999 for something that isn’t urgent, or driving to Al Raffa Police Station in person for something that a phone call would have resolved in two minutes. The distinction matters because each channel is staffed and prioritized differently.
| Situation | Right Channel | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Active crime, immediate danger, medical emergency | Call 999 | Routed to the fastest possible response, including patrol units near Bur Dubai |
| General questions, non-urgent complaints, guidance | Call 901 | Dubai Police’s non-emergency line, staffed to redirect you to the right station or service |
| Filing a report after the fact (theft, fraud, minor accident) | Visit Al Raffa Police Station in person or use the Dubai Police app | Needs a formal statement, documentation, or case number |
| Paying a fine, requesting a certificate, digital lost-item report | Dubai Police app or website | No physical visit needed for most of these |
| Tourist in distress (scam, harassment, lost documents) | Call 901 or visit the station directly | Staff are equipped for multilingual tourist support |
A simple rule of thumb: if someone is in danger right now, 999 is the only correct answer. If you’re documenting something that already happened, Al Raffa Police Station — or its digital equivalent — is where that documentation gets created.
Core Functions and Responsibilities of Al Raffa Police Station
People often assume a neighborhood police station only takes crime reports. In practice, Al Raffa Police Station functions more like a community service hub, covering law enforcement, traffic, documentation, and outreach under one roof. Here’s the full breakdown.
| Function | What It Covers | Who Uses It Most |
|---|---|---|
| Crime prevention & investigation | Theft, assault, fraud, cybercrime complaints, evidence gathering | Residents and shop owners in Bur Dubai |
| Traffic management | Accident reports, road safety patrols, vehicle-related complaints | Drivers, commuters, insurance claimants |
| Lost & found | Recovery and logging of lost documents, phones, wallets | Tourists and daily commuters through the souq |
| Document & clearance services | Police clearance certificates, verification letters | Job seekers, visa applicants, residents |
| Tourist assistance | Multilingual support, scam and theft reporting for visitors | Tourists staying in Old Dubai / Bur Dubai hotels |
| Dispute mediation | Informal resolution of landlord-tenant or shop-customer conflicts | Residents and small business owners |
| Community outreach | Awareness campaigns on road safety, cybercrime, domestic issues | General public, schools, local businesses |
| Emergency coordination | First response and handoff into Dubai’s integrated emergency system | Anyone facing an active incident nearby |
Each of these is worth a closer look, since the day-to-day experience differs quite a bit depending on why you’re walking in.
Crime Reporting and Investigations
Theft, assault, fraud, and cybercrime complaints all start here. Officers take statements, open a case file, and — for scams or financial fraud — can coordinate directly with the business or account involved. Several visitors have reported recovering stolen money within days after filing a complaint at Al Raffa Police Station, particularly in cases involving local shop disputes, which reflects how tightly the station works with the surrounding commercial area.
Traffic and Accident Reports
Given how much vehicle and pedestrian traffic passes through Bur Dubai, accident documentation is a routine part of the workload. You can get an official accident report here, which insurers typically require before processing a claim.
Lost and Found
Wallets, phones, and documents lost in the souq or nearby hotels are frequently reported and recovered through the station. If you’ve lost something in the area, this is the first place to check before assuming it’s gone for good.
Police Clearance Certificates and Document Verification
Employment visas, background checks, and some insurance processes require a police clearance certificate. Al Raffa Police Station can process these requests, though for straightforward cases, the Dubai Police app now handles much of this digitally — worth checking before you make the trip.
Tourist and Visitor Support
Because Old Dubai draws heavy foot traffic from visitors, the station works alongside Dubai’s tourist police function. If you’re scammed, lose documents, or need a report for travel insurance while visiting, staff here are used to handling cases involving people who don’t speak Arabic or English as a first language — multilingual support is one of the more consistently praised aspects of the service.
Mediation for Minor Disputes
Landlord-tenant disagreements, shopkeeper-customer conflicts, and similar low-level civil issues are sometimes resolved through informal mediation rather than a full legal process, saving both sides time and cost.
Filing a Report at Al Raffa Police Station: What to Actually Expect
- Bring identification. Emirates ID for residents, passport for visitors. Without it, even simple requests stall.
- Go to the front desk first. Staff triage cases and direct you to the right counter — you won’t need to guess which department handles your issue.
- Bring supporting documents. For accidents: vehicle registration and, if possible, photos of the scene. For fraud: transaction records, screenshots, or receipts. The more concrete evidence you arrive with, the faster the process moves.
- Expect a statement, not an instant resolution. Serious cases get investigated over days or weeks, not minutes. Simple administrative requests (like collecting a report copy) are usually quick.
- Ask for a reference or case number before leaving. This is what you’ll need for follow-ups, insurance claims, or visa processes.
Al Raffa Police Station vs. Handling Things Online
Not every interaction requires a physical visit to Al Raffa Police Station. The Dubai Police smart app and website now cover:
- Filing certain complaints and minor incident reports
- Paying traffic fines
- Requesting some clearance certificates
- Reporting lost items digitally
What still generally needs an in-person visit: serious criminal complaints, disputes requiring mediation, cases needing physical evidence handover, and situations where an officer needs to verify your identity or documents directly. If you’re unsure which category your situation falls into, a quick call to the 901 line will tell you faster than guessing.
A Station With History in Bur Dubai
Al Raffa Police Station isn’t a recent addition to the neighborhood. It grew alongside Dubai Police’s expansion from the 1950s, as Bur Dubai shifted from a small trading port into a dense commercial and residential district. That history matters practically: the station’s staff and processes have been shaped by decades of handling exactly the kind of multicultural, high-foot-traffic caseload that still defines the area today — expat tenancy disputes, tourist scams, souq-related theft, and routine traffic incidents near the Creek.
Al Raffa Police Station and Community Safety
Beyond individual complaints and reports, Al Raffa Police Station plays a quieter but steady role in how safe Bur Dubai actually feels day to day. A few things stand out:
- Visible patrols in high-traffic zones. Given the density of the souq, hotels, and pedestrian streets, officers maintain a regular presence rather than only responding after something happens.
- Multilingual outreach. Bur Dubai’s population spans dozens of nationalities, so awareness campaigns — on road safety, cyber fraud, and domestic issues — are run in multiple languages rather than Arabic and English alone.
- School and business engagement. The station periodically works with local schools and shop associations on safety briefings, which matters in an area where small business fraud and petty theft are common concerns.
- Fast turnaround on scam cases. Because the surrounding market is compact, officers can often walk to a shop involved in a dispute the same day a complaint is filed — something that’s harder to replicate in larger, more spread-out districts.
- A trusted first stop for tourists. Old Dubai’s hotel density means visitors are more likely to need police assistance here than in most other neighborhoods, and the station’s familiarity with tourist cases (lost documents, scams, minor disputes) reflects that.
| Community Safety Angle | Practical Effect |
|---|---|
| Foot patrols in Al Raffa/Al Souq Al Kabeer | Faster informal response to petty theft or disputes |
| Multilingual awareness campaigns | Better reach across Bur Dubai’s expatriate population |
| Coordination with tourist police | Smoother handling of visitor complaints and scams |
| Local business relationships | Quicker resolution for shop-related fraud or disputes |
| Integration with Dubai’s emergency network | Seamless handoff for incidents needing broader response |
This is less about headline-grabbing enforcement and more about a station that’s embedded in the rhythm of a specific, busy part of the city — which is arguably why residents describe it as approachable rather than intimidating.
Common Questions About Al Raffa Police Station
Is Al Raffa Police Station open 24 hours?
The front desk and emergency response function operate around the clock. Specific administrative counters — clearance certificates, document verification — tend to follow standard government working hours, so it’s worth calling ahead if your request isn’t urgent.
Can tourists file a report at Al Raffa Police Station?
Yes. Tourists frequently use this station given its location in Old Dubai, and staff are accustomed to assisting visitors, including with language support.
What documents do I need to file a complaint?
At minimum, a passport or Emirates ID. Bring anything else relevant to your case — receipts, photos, contracts, or correspondence — since it speeds up the process considerably.
Does Al Raffa Police Station handle traffic accidents?
Yes. Accident reporting and documentation for insurance purposes is one of its routine functions, alongside general traffic management for the surrounding area.
How do I contact Al Raffa Police Station before visiting?
Directory-listed numbers vary between sources, so the safest route is checking the current contact details on the Dubai Police app or dubaipolice.gov.ae, or calling the general non-emergency line at 901.
Is there parking near Al Raffa Police Station?
Street parking exists nearby but fills up during souq business hours. Arriving via the Al Ghubaiba metro or bus station is usually more reliable than driving in.
If your situation is urgent — an active emergency, immediate danger, or a crime in progress — call 999 rather than planning a visit to any station.
