Consular assistance
British Embassy contacts for the UAE: when someone dies abroad
If a British national dies in the UAE, the Embassy is usually the first official body to contact. This page lists the main and emergency numbers, explains what consular staff can and cannot do, and links to the resources you need.
Emergency numbers
FCDO 24-hour line (from UK)
+44 (0)20 7008 5000British Embassy in United Arab Emirates
+971 2 610 1100Always verify numbers before calling
Embassy phone numbers change. Confirm current details at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uae before a trip. The FCDO 24-hour line (+44 (0)20 7008 5000) is the most reliable point of contact in an emergency.
Contact details
British Embassy and consulates in the UAE
British Embassy
Abu Dhabi
Khalid bin Al Waleed Street (Street 22), PO Box 248, Abu Dhabi
+971 2 610 1100 Official websiteConsulate
Dubai
VERIFY all numbers before go-live. Dubai consulate is the primary contact for most British nationals.
What you need to know
What the British Embassy in the UAE can do
- Register the death of a British national under the Consular Deaths Act
- Provide a list of local funeral directors who handle international repatriation
- Help trace and notify next of kin
- Issue emergency travel documents if a family member needs to travel
- Liaise with local police, hospitals, or authorities if language is a barrier
- Advise on the local death certificate process in the UAE
Important limits
What the Embassy cannot do
- Fund or pay for repatriation (that is the family's or insurer's responsibility)
- Arrange or coordinate the repatriation itself
- Release the body from a hospital or morgue
- Override local death certificate processing timelines
- Provide legal advice on liability or criminal matters
Death registration in the UAE
The Embassy can register the death separately under UK law. This is optional and does not replace the local certificate, but some families find the UK death certificate useful for administrative purposes.
Typical timeline from the UAE
Need help coordinating repatriation from the UAE?
We can take over the arrangements from wherever you are in the process. Call us or leave your details and we will call you back.