Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in Bahrain and bringing ashes home

For some families, arranging cremation locally and carrying ashes home is the right choice, and it can be quicker than full repatriation. This page sets out what Bahrain requires, and what to check before you decide.

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Bahrain

Cremation in Bahrain

Can you cremate someone in Bahrain?

Cremation arrangements in Bahrain depend on local facilities and on whether an investigation is open. Contact us and we will confirm the current position before you make any decision.

Weighing cremation abroad against bringing your loved one home intact? How families decide between the two.

Who must release the body

Salmaniya Medical Complex, Forensic Medicine Department, Manama

Treaty position

Not a signatory to the Strasbourg Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

Departure airports: BAH (Bahrain International Airport, Muharraq)

Carriers serving the UK: Gulf Air; British Airways (via connections); Emirates (via Dubai)

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Bahrain

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case. For Bahrain the things that move it are:

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether Salmaniya Medical Complex, Forensic Medicine Department, Manama has to release the case first
Whether you carry the ashes yourself or need them shipped

Considering full repatriation instead?

Some families decide they want their loved one brought home intact. The full Bahrain guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Bahrain

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Bahrain

The step-by-step first response guide covers the first 24 hours in Bahrain.

Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Bahrain

Talk to us about cremation in Bahrain

We deal with Salmaniya Medical Complex, Forensic Medicine Department, Manama and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.