Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in the United Arab Emirates
This guide explains what happens after a death in the United Arab Emirates, who to contact, and how to arrange for your loved one to be brought home, to the UK, Ireland or any other country. Facts for British nationals come from FCDO and government sources. Every situation is different, and if you would like us to take over the arrangements, send us the details.
Typical timeline
7-21 days
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
The Police Report Comes First. Everything Else Waits.
In the UAE, every death – in hospital, at a hotel, on the road, anywhere – must be reported to the police. The police attend, investigate, and issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) before any subsequent steps can happen. There is no way to begin hospital release, documentation, or funeral arrangements before the police NOC is in hand. This is not bureaucratic friction; it is the legal foundation of the entire process.
In straightforward natural deaths, the NOC can be issued within 24-48 hours. In cases involving investigation – accidents, unclear circumstances, or any suspicion of an offence – the process takes longer. Dubai Police, Abu Dhabi Police, and Sharjah Police all operate the same basic framework but with slightly different processes. Know which emirate your loved one died in and ensure you are contacting the right authority.
MOFA Attestation: The Additional Step
Once the death certificate is issued, it must be attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). This gives it international legal validity and is required before UK authorities will accept it. MOFA processing times are typically one to three days in normal circumstances. During Ramadan and around Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, government offices reduce hours significantly and processing slows. If the death falls near a major Islamic holiday, build extra days into every timeline estimate.
UAE Zero-Tolerance Drug Policy
The UAE applies zero tolerance to any controlled substance. If a death involves drugs – including prescription medications that are restricted under UAE law, or recreational substances – a full police investigation will follow. Investigations of this type can extend the process by weeks. Families should report all facts accurately to their repatriation coordinator at the outset. Withholding information about circumstances rarely shortens the process and can complicate it further.
Why the UAE Is Actually Well-Equipped for Repatriation
Despite the police-first requirement and attestation steps, the UAE handles a very high volume of international repatriations. Emirates SkyCargo and Etihad Cargo between them operate multiple daily flights to Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham. Funeral services in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are professional and experienced with the precise documentation UK funeral homes need. English is widely spoken at every stage. The typical 7-21 day timeline reflects the police investigation uncertainty more than any institutional slowness in the overall system.
Sources: FCDO UAE guidance (updated February 2026); Dubai Health Authority regulations; UAE MOFA attestation procedures; British Embassy Abu Dhabi guidance.
First things first
What to do in the first 24 hours
The immediate period after a death abroad is disorienting. Here are the steps in the order they normally need to happen.
Contact local emergency services
Call 999 for police or 998 for ambulance. In Dubai, call Dubai Police (901). A doctor must certify the death. All deaths must be reported to the police, who issue a police report. This police report is essential for all subsequent steps. Contact the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the British Consulate in Dubai.
Local emergency number: 999 (police), 998 (ambulance)
Contact the embassy or consulate
Tell the embassy or consulate of your loved one's own country as soon as possible. It can register the death, give you a list of local funeral directors and explain what the local authorities will need.
For British nationals, that is the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
British nationals, FCDO 24hr: +44 (0)20 7008 5000
Appoint a local funeral director
A local funeral director in the United Arab Emirates will take care of the body, arrange embalming, obtain the necessary documents, and coordinate with airlines. The embassy can recommend accredited directors. You can also contact a specialist UK repatriation company, who will coordinate with a local partner on your behalf.
Contact your travel insurer
If your loved one had travel insurance with repatriation cover, contact the insurer immediately. They will often have an emergency assistance line and may appoint their own funeral director. Many policies cover the full cost of repatriation, subject to the limit set out in the policy schedule.
Gather the required documents
Repatriation from the United Arab Emirates requires specific paperwork before a body can be transported. Your local funeral director will handle most of this.
- UAE death certificate, stamped and signed by MOFA
- Police no objection letter (copies go to airport police, the embalming facility and the mortuary)
- British Embassy no objection letter
- Embalming certificate (embalming is required for repatriation)
- Passport of the deceased
- Seven photocopies of each document
- Airline cargo documentation
Documentation typically takes 5-14 days to complete.
Official support
British Embassy in Abu Dhabi
The embassy can provide information and a list of local funeral directors, but they cannot arrange or pay for repatriation. Contact them early to register the death with consular services.
Al Hisn Street, Al Markaziyah West, PO Box 248, Abu Dhabi
What the embassy can do
What the embassy cannot do
What to expect
How long does it take?
Factors that can extend the timeline
- Police investigation (all deaths investigated, clearance needed)
- Forensic examination by UAE authorities
- Islamic law considerations (Sharia courts may be involved for Muslim deceased)
- MOFA attestation processing time
- Ramadan and Eid holidays (government offices operate reduced hours)
- Outstanding visa or employment issues for the deceased
- Drug-related deaths (zero tolerance: investigation can be prolonged)
- Death during custody or legal proceedings
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for the United Arab Emirates alone. Our cost page sets out the ranges repatriation firms publish, each named and dated. What you pay turns on the specifics of the case.
| Where the death happened | Distance to the departure airport, and any island or overland transfer, changes the freight arrangement |
| Whether a post-mortem is ordered | An investigation holds the release and adds mortuary time |
| Documentation required | United Arab Emirates paperwork, translation, and any legalisation step |
| Coffin and preparation | Airline and destination rules dictate what is needed |
| Flight availability | Direct services cost less to arrange than multi-leg cargo routing |
| Insurance | Whether a policy covers repatriation, and up to what limit |
Send us the details and we will give you a figure for your case, with no obligation.
Common questions
Questions families ask about deaths in the United Arab Emirates
We do not publish a figure for the United Arab Emirates, because the cost turns on the specifics of the case. What moves it is where the death happened, whether an investigation must conclude first, the documentation the United Arab Emirates requires, and the flight routing available. Send us the details and we will price your case, with no obligation.
Repatriation from the United Arab Emirates typically takes 7-21 days. The fastest cases complete in 5-7 days where nothing is contested. Cases involving a post-mortem or a police investigation can take 4-12 weeks.
Cremation is available in the United Arab Emirates. Hindu cremation facilities available in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Not available for Muslim deceased under UAE law. Where cremation has taken place, ashes can usually be carried to the UK in hand luggage with the cremation certificate, which is the least costly way to bring someone home. Do NOT cremate abroad if a UK coroner may need to hold an inquest. Cremation destroys evidence.
UAE bureaucracy is efficient by regional standards but requires multiple steps. The police clearance/NOC is essential and can be delayed if any investigation is pending. Islamic weekend (Friday-Saturday in some emirates, though many shifted to Saturday-Sunday) affects office hours. MOFA attestation is a required step for international validity.
The hospital issues a notification of death. This must be taken to the local health authority (DHA in Dubai, HAAD in Abu Dhabi) for the official death certificate. A police report is required before the death certificate is issued. Death certificates are issued in Arabic. An English translation may be available from the health authority or must be arranged separately. The death certificate requires attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for international use.
Contact the insurer before anything is arranged, because most policies require authorisation first and many appoint their own funeral director. Look for repatriation of remains as a named benefit in the policy schedule. Where there is no insurance, the family meets the cost directly, and we can talk you through the options.
Full repatriation guide for the United Arab Emirates
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
View full guideCremation in the United Arab Emirates
If local cremation is the right choice for your family, our country guide covers the documentation, airline rules, and costs.
Cremation guideSend us the details
If you need someone to take over the arrangements, tell us what has happened. We arrange repatriation from the United Arab Emirates to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in the United Arab Emirates
Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing your loved one home, to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guidance, official embassy contacts, and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from the United Arab Emirates · Frequently asked questions