DUBAI // A British family of five was rescued after they became stranded in the desert outside the city, police said yesterday.

The location of the family vehicle was identified by a helicopter belonging to the Dubai Police air wing after the father called the force's general headquarters.

Police received the report at about 11am on Friday. It was unclear how long the family was stranded.

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Police said the father indicated they were lost in the desert and their car was stuck in the sand. The family could not find any signs pointing to the motorway.

Police found the family in the Margham area, on the outskirts of Dubai. There were five family members in the vehicle, but no children.

The police helicopter identified the family's location by tracking the father's mobile phone signal. Police extracted the car and guided the family to the road.

Maj Ahmed al Marri, of the air wing, who flew the helicopter that rescued the family, said the air wing's work was a "national duty" and a humanitarian mission.

Maj al Marri called on members of the public to carry GPS devices at all times to keep track of their location, allowing security services to reach them quickly in case of an emergency.

kshaheen@thenational.ae