Consular assistance
British Embassy contacts for the United Arab Emirates: when someone dies abroad
If a British national dies in the United Arab Emirates, the Embassy is usually the first official body to contact. A death must be registered with the local authorities in the United Arab Emirates before a body or ashes can leave the country. Consular staff will register the death with UK authorities, issue consular documents and give you a list of local funeral directors. They cannot meet any cost, arrange the repatriation, or authorise release of the body. If the person who died was not British, contact the embassy or consulate of their own country instead. The local emergency number is 999.
Emergency numbers
FCDO 24-hour line (from UK)
+44 (0)20 7008 5000Handling a death in the United Arab Emirates
Local emergency number: 999
Documentation language: Arabic (official). English is widely used as the de facto business and daily language.. English: Very widely spoken. English is the working language of most businesses, hospitals, and government services that deal with expatriates. Documentation available in both Arabic and English in many cases.
Healthcare: Excellent modern healthcare facilities, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. World-class private hospitals. Healthcare costs are covered by mandatory health insurance for residents. Tourist healthcare costs can be high.
British community: ~120,000-240,000 British residents in the UAE (primarily Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
Most common causes of British deaths here: Natural causes (elderly visitors and residents); Road traffic accidents (high-speed driving culture); Cardiac events (heat stress, particularly in summer); Drowning (beach swimming, hotel pools); Construction and industrial accidents (more relevant for South Asian workers); Heat-related illness (summer temperatures exceed 50C)
Areas needing extra care: Dubai: Largest British population. Road accidents, natural causes, construction.; Abu Dhabi: Second largest British community.; Northern emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, RAK): Less developed infrastructure.; Desert areas: Heat exposure, off-road accidents.
Always verify numbers before calling
Embassy phone numbers change. Confirm current details at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/united-arab-emirates 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 United Arab Emirates
Consulate
Dubai
Both British Embassies (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) are contacted through the FCDO online form or the 24-hour line +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
What you need to know
What the British post in the United Arab Emirates can and cannot do
The British post covering United Arab Emirates registers the death and can give you a list of local funeral directors. It cannot pay any repatriation cost, arrange the repatriation itself, release the body, or shorten a local timeline.
The full list of what consular staff can and cannot do applies in every country.
Death registration in the United Arab Emirates
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 United Arab Emirates
What the Embassy can and cannot pay for
Consular staff in the United Arab Emirates cannot pay repatriation costs, funeral director fees, or any local charges, and cannot lend money to cover them.
They can give you a list of local funeral directors, contact next of kin, and help you reach an insurer. If there is no insurance and no family funds, they can explain what limited options exist.
What repatriation from the United Arab Emirates involvesNeed help bringing someone home from the United Arab Emirates?
We can take over the arrangements from wherever you are in the process, and bring your loved one home to the UK, Ireland or any other country. Send us the details and we will come back to you with a quote.