A dignified, fully-managed repatriation to the United Kingdom. We handle the paperwork, coordinate with the authorities in both countries, and bring your loved one home with care.
The final price depends on the emirate of departure, the airport routing and local charges, which vary. We confirm a firm quote at first contact.
*Estimated from when the death is registered. Our team does everything possible to complete the repatriation sooner.
Bringing a loved one home from the United Arab Emirates is a longer journey than a route within Europe, in distance and in paperwork, but it is a well-established one. Many British families have a relative living or working in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, and a death there brings sudden, unfamiliar formalities at a painful time. The process draws together the requirements of the emirate where the death occurred, the legalisation of documents for use in the UK, and the receiving arrangements at home. We coordinate all three so the family does not have to deal with UAE hospitals, police stations, government offices or airlines directly. If you are just starting, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.
Because the United Arab Emirates is not part of the European Union, there is no multilingual EU death certificate. UAE documents are issued in Arabic, and for use in the UK they are legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the UAE embassy, with the death certificate first attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a certified English translation prepared. We manage each of these steps.
A death is first reported and certified locally. The emirate health authority — Emirates Health Services, the Dubai Health Authority or the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi — issues the official death certificate (شهادة الوفاة). The UAE Ministry of Interior and police issue the dead-body transport permission, the permit that allows the deceased to be carried out of the country, and the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides a no-objection letter that accompanies the deceased. The certificate is attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the deceased is prepared for transport with embalming and freedom-from-infection certificates. We obtain these on the family's behalf.
The deceased is embalmed at an approved facility and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, with certificates of embalming and freedom from infection issued for the flight. Because of the distance, the journey is made by air freight from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to a UK airport. Our team collects the deceased, arranges carriage as documented cargo, and manages the journey through to the receiving funeral director in the UK.
Once in the UK, the family can arrange the funeral. For a burial, the attested and translated UAE death certificate is generally sufficient. For a cremation, the coroner in England and Wales must give authority first — this is the Cremation Form 6, issued once the coroner is satisfied there is no need for further investigation (in Scotland this role falls to the procurator fiscal; in Northern Ireland, the coroner). You can read more about the coroner's role in England in our resource centre. We liaise with the coroner's office so this is in place without delay. Many UAE families, particularly Muslim families, wish for burial to take place quickly in keeping with faith; where a swift burial is important we prioritise the paperwork and the first available flight, and advise honestly on what is realistic.
A repatriation from the United Arab Emirates typically takes 5–7 days from first contact, the deceased travelling roughly 5,470 km by air. The timing depends on how quickly the death certificate is issued and attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the certified translation, the police transport permission and the British Embassy no-objection letter, and the availability of a suitable flight. Where the police or public prosecutor order an examination after a sudden death, release can take longer.
This estimate is counted from when the death is registered, and our team does everything possible to complete the repatriation sooner.
We confirm a firm quote at first contact, with no hidden costs. The agreed price is settled once the flight is confirmed, with no deposit or advance required, before your loved one departs; we then stay with you through arrival, the final paperwork and registering the death. The final figure depends on the emirate of departure, the airport routing and local charges, which vary. A UK estate, travel insurance or a life-insurance policy may cover part of the cost, and some UAE employers provide repatriation cover for their staff — we are happy to talk this through openly.
We manage the UAE formalities, the attestation and translation, the airline logistics and the UK reception as one coordinated process, keeping the family informed at every stage and remaining contactable 24/7.
Last verified July 2026.
Common questions about bringing someone who has died abroad home to the UK — the paperwork, timescales, costs, and who arranges each step.
The deceased travels with the UAE death certificate — attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and translated into English — a dead-body transport permission with police no-objection certificate, a no-objection letter from the British Embassy, and embalming and freedom-from-infection certificates.
UK documents are legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the UAE embassy. We obtain everything on your behalf.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact, the deceased travelling roughly 5,470 km by air.
The timing depends on how quickly the death certificate is issued and attested, the certified translation, the police transport permission and the British Embassy no-objection letter, and flight availability. Where the police order an examination after a sudden death, release can take longer.
Yes. The death certificate is issued in Arabic and is first attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UK documents are legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the UAE embassy.
A certified English translation is then prepared so the certificate is accepted by the UK authorities. We arrange the attestation, the legalisation and the translation.
Yes. A burial can generally proceed on the attested and translated UAE death certificate. For a cremation in England and Wales, the coroner must first give authority using Cremation Form 6, once satisfied that no further investigation is needed (in Scotland, the procurator fiscal).
We liaise with the coroner's office so this authority is ready when the deceased arrives.
The quoted price covers the UAE documentation, the attestation and certified translation, embalming, a transport coffin suitable for the UK funeral, the transport permission, air freight to the UK and handover to your funeral director.
We confirm a firm quote at first contact with no hidden costs. The agreed price is settled once the flight is confirmed, with no deposit or advance required, before your loved one departs; we then stay with you through arrival, the final paperwork and registering the death.
When choosing, it was hard — we'd never done anything like this before. We definitely chose the right company; their whole ethos is built around caring. From start to finish, Sebastian and his team worked tirelessly for a smooth process and took all the stress away. Our family can't thank Funero enough.
I can't speak highly enough of Sebastian and the Funero team. I'll admit I was slightly worried about using them as they were far more competitive — but their service was impeccable, with regular, timely communication that was a huge comfort at a difficult time.
Funero truly stands out — caring staff, affordable prices and excellent communication. Their team goes above and beyond to make the process smooth and respectful, making a difficult time a little easier, and affordable without ever compromising on quality or care.
I'm from Sydney and lost my brother in London. I was lucky to find Funero to help with the repatriation. Sebastian was fast, helpful and available at all times — they made the whole process easy for me. Highly recommended!
Every colleague at Funero went over and above during the repatriation of our loved one, from the first moment to the end and beyond. They spared no effort to make it happen far sooner than usual, treated our loved one with outstanding respect, and their empathy made an unbearable time feel manageable. Your loved ones will be in the best of hands.
Considering the shock and our lack of knowledge, Sebastian and Mihai were absolutely amazing with their help and guidance. It was an emotionally draining time, but they are calm, polite, empathetic and warm — from practical advice to personal effort and so much patience. We can't thank them enough.
An exceptionally professional and compassionate team. During one of the most painful moments of my life they went above and beyond, offering genuine support and care. Thanks to their kindness and dedication, the burden of losing my mother was made a little easier. I am deeply grateful for their respect, empathy and humanity.
Our loved one died on holiday in Egypt and, as a family of modest means, what felt impossible was made possible. Funero was the only company that didn't ask for money upfront, which gave us time to fundraise — and their quote was more than reasonable. They kept us informed every step, translated everything, and their reps in Egypt worked so hard for us. We can't thank them enough for bringing our loved one home.
Speak to a repatriation specialist any time, day or night — we'll guide you through every step.
