Operations and Emergency Service 999 Officer, Central Operations Department Captain Ahmed Muhammed Al Mutawa
Doha, Qatar: Residents and citizens have been urged to know the details on their residential blue address plates and remain calm when calling the 999 emergency service to help authorities respond quickly and efficiently.
The advice was given today during a Ministry of Interior webinar titled “Services of Al Fazaa Police and Emergency Service 999 to the Public.”
During the session, callers were advised to provide accurate information about incidents and clearly state their location, including the zone, street and building or house number, to help emergency teams reach the scene quickly.
Operations and Emergency Service 999 Officer at the Central Operations Department, Captain Ahmed Mohammed Al Mutawa, said providing accurate location details is essential for coordinating emergency responses, security operations and preparations for major events.
He said the Emergency Services Section operates around the clock and is staffed by military and civilian personnel, including male and female employees who receive calls, reports and complaints related to accidents and emergencies before immediately referring them to the relevant authorities.
Captain Al Mutawa explained that the Emergency Services Section serves as a first responder and a link between the public and several authorities, including Emergency Police (Al Fazaa), the Traffic Department, Civil Defence, the Coasts and Borders Security Department, the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), ambulance services and other relevant agencies.
He encouraged callers to listen carefully to questions from emergency operators and provide clear and accurate answers, noting that this helps patrols and emergency teams reach the scene without delay.
Responding to questions, Captain Al Mutawa stressed that unnecessary calls can occupy emergency lines and delay assistance to people facing life-threatening situations.
He urged parents to prevent children from misusing the 999 emergency number, warning that false or unnecessary calls can disrupt emergency services and delay assistance to those in need.
Special arrangements are also available for people with hearing disabilities through the Deaf Emergency Service Branch (992), which allows emergencies to be reported through video systems, SMS and email.
Captain Al Mutawa said users of the service must be deaf or hard of hearing and are required to provide their name, membership number with the Qatari Social Cultural Center for the Deaf and the type of service required. This enables authorities to access the relevant information in the service register.
Professional translators are also available to receive emergency reports and complaints in several languages, including Arabic, English, Chinese, French, Filipino, Urdu, Farsi, Pashto, Bengali, Swahili, Turkish, German and Spanish.
He added that the department operates an Early Warning System connected with banks, shops, establishments and vital facilities across the country.
The automated system receives alerts and notifications when incidents or suspected crimes, including fires and thefts, are detected. It identifies the location of the alert and directs it to the appropriate authority for an immediate response.
Captain Al Mutawa urged the public to use the 999 emergency service only for its intended purpose and warned against submitting false or misleading complaints.
