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. The local emergency number is 999. This page lists the numbers you need and what the post can do.
Emergency numbers
FCDO 24-hour line (from UK)
+44 (0)20 7008 5000British Embassy in United Arab Emirates
+971 2 610 1100Handling a death in the UAE
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/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 post in the UAE can and cannot do
The British post covering the UAE 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 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
What the Embassy can and cannot pay for
Consular staff in the UAE 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 UAE involvesNeed 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.