Dubai airport lost and found: how to report an item and get it back

To report an item lost at Dubai International, fill in the lost item form on the Dubai Airports website with the flight date, your ID and a clear description. Checked bags go to your airline. For a Dubai taxi, call the RTA on 800 9090 or use the S'hail app. For an Assure ride, message us on WhatsApp.

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Updated 17 October 2026

Kgbo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

On this page

Which route fits what you lost?
How do I report an item lost at Dubai Airport?
What if the bag was checked in?
Which terminal did I lose it in?
What if I left it in a Dubai taxi?
What if I left it in a chauffeur car?
When should police be involved?
Before you leave the airport
Photos in this guide
The drive, on the map

By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 17 October 20264 min read

Which route fits what you lost?

Where you lost the item decides who you contact. There are four routes, and they do not overlap.

Where you lost it	Who to contact	How
Inside Dubai International (any terminal) or on board	Dubai Airports	Online lost item form
Checked bag that did not arrive	Your airline	Airline baggage desk or customer support
A Dubai taxi	RTA	800 9090 or the S’hail app
A chauffeur car you booked	The company that ran the trip	WhatsApp or phone

How do I report an item lost at Dubai Airport?

Dubai Airports runs a lost item form for anything lost on board or inside the airport. The form asks for:

Flight date (required) and flight number (optional).
Your name, email and phone number with the country code, for example +971.
Document type, Emirates ID or passport, and the document number.
A category: bags, books, laptops, mobile phones, passport, keys, watches or other.
A description of the item and the date you lost it.
One optional photo or PDF, up to 5 MB.

Write the description like a label. Give colour, brand, size, a lock or tag, and what is inside. Leave out symbols such as angle brackets, which the form rejects. The form page can show a service notice at times. If it is down, try again later and contact your airline in the meantime.

What if the bag was checked in?

Checked baggage is handled by the airline, not the airport. If your bag did not come out at the belt, go to the airline’s baggage desk before you leave the arrivals hall.

The baggage reclaim hall at Dubai International Airport — DearEdward / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Our guide to the Dubai airport arrival process shows where baggage reclaim sits relative to customs. If the bag is only delayed and you need to drop other luggage, see luggage storage at Dubai airport.

Which terminal did I lose it in?

Dubai International has three terminals. Emirates uses Terminal 3. Most other international airlines use Terminal 1. flydubai is based in Terminal 2. Put the terminal and the nearest gate or shop in your form description, because staff search the area you name.

If your last stop was a chauffeur meeting point, our pages on Terminal 3 arrivals and Terminal 1 arrivals name the car parks and halls to mention.

What if I left it in a Dubai taxi?

Two ways, both run by the RTA:

A queue of RTA Dubai taxis outside Dubai International Airport Terminal 2 — Ravi Dwivedi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Call 800 9090 and ask for a lost item report.
Use the S’hail app: More, then Feedback, then Taxi Lost and Found. You get an SMS to track the report.

Have the trip time, the pickup and drop-off points, the roof colour and the plate number. The RTA handled 104,162 taxi lost property reports in 2025. It says customers are usually contacted within two hours, and handover needs identity verification.

If you booked a taxi in the Careem app, the ride details under Activities help you find the plate and time. Our comparison of Uber, Careem and taxis in Dubai shows which app holds the trip record.

What if I left it in a chauffeur car?

A booked chauffeur ride has a named driver, a booking and a WhatsApp thread, which makes the search short. Message the company straight away with the date, pickup, drop-off and what you left.

For an Assure trip, send those details to WhatsApp at +971 56 684 8148. We answer 24/7, and the dispatcher can then check with the driver. For how this differs from a taxi, see chauffeur and limousine terms explained. To book a ride with a driver on a record, see our chauffeur service or airport pickup at Dubai International.

When should police be involved?

For lost documents, money or other valuables, ask Dubai Police for a lost item certificate. You can apply through the Dubai Police app, its website or a Smart Police Stations kiosk, and its call centre is 901. Fees and validity change, so confirm them with Dubai Police.

Before you leave the airport

Check the seat pocket, overhead bin and your pockets before you leave the aircraft.
Photograph your bag tag and boarding pass.
Keep the driver’s number or WhatsApp thread until you reach the hotel.
Take the trip details from your booking message.

The UAE airports guide covers the other airports, and our airport transfers page lists each one.

Photos in this guide

The main concourse of Dubai International Airport Terminal 3, with the golden palm tree sculpture and duty free shopsKgbo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The baggage reclaim hall at Dubai International Airport, with carousels and trolleys between rows of white columnsDearEdward / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
A queue of cream and red RTA Dubai taxis outside Dubai International Airport Terminal 2Ravi Dwivedi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Questions and answers

How do I report a lost item at Dubai Airport?

Use the lost item form on the Dubai Airports website for anything lost on board or inside the airport. It asks for the flight date, your name, email, phone with country code, Emirates ID or passport number, an item category, a description and the date of loss. You can attach one photo or PDF up to 5 MB.

What if my checked bag is missing?

Dubai Airports says checked baggage is managed by your airline, so the airport form is the wrong route. Go to your airline's baggage desk in the arrivals hall before you leave the terminal, or contact the airline afterwards. Bring your boarding pass and baggage tag.

How do I report something left in a Dubai taxi?

Call the RTA call centre on 800 9090, or use the S'hail app under Feedback, then Taxi Lost and Found. Have the trip time, pickup and drop-off points, the taxi's roof colour and the plate number ready. The RTA says customers are usually contacted within two hours of a report.

How long does it take to get an item back from a taxi?

The RTA says it usually contacts customers within two hours of the report. S'hail's own guidance gives three to 10 days for the full follow-up, and some passengers have their item back within hours. You are texted when the item is found, and the driver returns it for the metered fare to reach you.

I left something in a car I booked with Assure. What now?

Message Assure on WhatsApp at +971 56 684 8148 as soon as you notice, with your name, the date, the pickup and drop-off points and what you left. The line is answered 24/7. Do not wait until you reach your next stop, because the car may already be on its next job.

Does the airport keep my item if I have already left Dubai?

The form takes a flight date and a phone number with country code, so it is built for travellers who have gone home. Give a clear description and a photo if you have one. For documents, Dubai Police offers a lost item certificate you can apply for through its app or website, and its call centre is 901.

Can Dubai Police help with a lost passport or Emirates ID?

Dubai Police issues a lost item certificate for documents, and you apply through its app, website or a Smart Police Stations kiosk. You still need your embassy for a replacement passport. Report quickly and confirm the current steps and fees with Dubai Police on 901, because we cannot confirm them here.