What to Do When Someone Dies in United Arab Emirates: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Medical Notification of Death and Police Forensic Clearance

   Every death in the UAE must first be medically certified and cleared by the police before burial, cremation, or repatriation permits can be issued [1][2].

   • Death in a hospital or healthcare facility: The attending physician certifies the death, issues the official electronic Medical Notification of Death (death declaration), and arranges the transfer of the deceased to a government-approved hospital or municipal morgue [1][2].
   • Death at home, in a hotel, at a workplace, or in a public place: Call the Police immediately on 999 and the National Ambulance on 998 [1]. Do not move the deceased. The police and forensic medical team (such as Dubai Police Forensic Medicine or Abu Dhabi Police Forensic Evidence) examine the scene and transfer the deceased to the government morgue to establish the cause of death [1][2].
   • Police No-Objection Certificate (NOC): Whether the death occurred in a hospital or outside, you or your authorized representative must submit the Medical Notification of Death, along with the deceased person's original passport and Emirates ID, through the local police portal or smart app (Dubai Police, Abu Dhabi Police, or the Ministry of Interior in the Northern Emirates). Once any Public Prosecution or forensic investigation is cleared, the police issue the official No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for local burial, cremation, or international repatriation [1][4].
2. 2

   Checking Employer/Insurance Coverage and Appointing an Authorized Mortuary Coordinator

   Check whether the deceased held private life or repatriation insurance, and if the person was employed in the UAE, notify the employer or sponsor immediately [1]. Under UAE Labour Law, the employer is legally responsible for covering the costs of preparing and repatriating a deceased employee's remains to their home country (or place of recruitment) if requested by the family [1].

   Next, coordinate with the municipal mortuary and funeral unit or appoint an authorized funeral and repatriation cargo provider in the emirate where the death occurred [1][2][4]:

   • Local burial or cremation: For Muslim burials, municipal cemetery services (such as Dubai Municipality or the Abu Dhabi municipal mortuary service via the TAMM platform) coordinate ritual washing (ghusl), shrouding (kafan), funeral prayers, and burial at designated public cemeteries, normally within 24 hours once permits are issued [1][2]. For non-Muslim burials or cremations, municipal authorities issue permits for designated non-Muslim cemeteries or licensed crematoria in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, or other emirates [1][2].
   • International repatriation: If the remains are being transferred abroad, an authorized funeral coordinator or cargo agent arranges official embalming through the preventative medicine unit of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DOH), Dubai Municipality / Dubai Health Authority, or Emirates Health Services (EHS) (formerly under the Ministry of Health and Prevention - MOHAP), sealed zinc-lined coffin preparation, and air cargo booking [1][3][4]. Clarvia provides public-source information for orientation and does not endorse, recommend, or rank specific providers.
3. 3

   Registering the Death and Obtaining the Official Bilingual Death Certificate

   With the hospital's Medical Notification of Death and the Police NOC, register the death with the competent health authority in the emirate of death to obtain the official bilingual (Arabic and English) Death Certificate [1][2][4]:

   • Abu Dhabi: Submit the application digitally through the Abu Dhabi Government Services Portal (TAMM) under the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DOH) using UAE PASS [2][3].
   • Dubai: Apply through the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or the integrated bereavement service channels in Dubai [1].
   • Sharjah and the Northern Emirates: Apply online or at a customer happiness centre of Emirates Health Services (EHS), which operates the federal preventative medicine centres across Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah [1][4].

   To complete registration, you must surrender the deceased person's original passport and Emirates ID so that the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) (or GDRFA in Dubai) cancels the residency visa and identity record [1][2]. If the Death Certificate will be used outside the UAE, have it attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and registered with the deceased's embassy or consulate [1][2].

4. 4

   Claiming End-of-Service Gratuity, Workplace Insurance, and Survivor Pensions

   Financial entitlements depend on whether the deceased was a UAE national or an expatriate resident, as well as their employment sector [1]:

   • Private-sector and free-zone employees: Notify the employer and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) (or the relevant free-zone authority such as DIFC or ADGM) [1]. Under UAE Labour Law, the employer must settle all unpaid wages, accrued leave, and statutory end-of-service gratuity within 10 days of the date of death, paying them to the family member designated in writing by the employee or into the competent court's treasury for distribution to legal heirs [1]. Also check for any group life or workman's compensation insurance policy held by the employer [1].
   • UAE nationals and GCC public/private insured workers: Surviving family members of insured UAE citizens can apply for a monthly survivor pension and lump-sum death grant through the General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) or the Abu Dhabi Pension Fund, depending on the employer's registration [1].
5. 5

   Bank Account Freeze Clearance and UAE Court Estate Succession / Probate

   In the UAE, banks are legally required to freeze both individual and joint bank accounts, safe deposit boxes, and local investment accounts as soon as they are notified of an account holder's death, pending an official succession or probate order from a competent UAE court [1][5][6]:

   • Registered Non-Muslim Wills (DIFC or ADJD): If the deceased was a non-Muslim who registered a will with the DIFC Courts Wills Service (covering Dubai and UAE-wide assets) or the Non-Muslim Wills Registry at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), the named executor applies directly to that court for a Grant of Probate and estate distribution orders [5][6].
   • Civil Personal Status and Inheritance Courts: If no registered local will exists, legal heirs must apply for an official Legal Heirs / Succession Certificate (Hasr Irth) and estate distribution order through the Personal Status Court (such as the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court under the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) or Dubai Courts) [1][6]. For non-Muslim expatriates without a registered will, Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status generally provides default civil intestacy rules (typically allocating 50% to the surviving spouse and 50% equally among children, or to parents/siblings if there are no children), unless an heir successfully petitions to apply the law of the deceased's nationality or a valid home-country will [6]. For Muslim estates, Sharia inheritance principles (Faraid) apply unless otherwise governed by specific statutory provisions [1][6].
   • Tax and Liabilities: The UAE does not levy personal income tax or inheritance/estate tax on individuals, though court filing fees, translation costs, and outstanding UAE debts (such as mortgages, credit cards, or personal loans not covered by credit life insurance) must be settled from the estate before remaining funds and real estate are released to the heirs [1][5][6].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Handling death in the UAE (u.ae) — UAE Government Portal (u.ae)
2. [2]
   Request to Issue a Death Certificate — Abu Dhabi Government Services Portal (TAMM)
3. [3]
   Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DOH) Services — Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DOH)
4. [4]
   Issue of a Death Certificate — Emirates Health Services (EHS)
5. [5]
   Wills and Probate Registry — DIFC Courts
6. [6]
   Abu Dhabi Judicial Department - Civil Family Court and Inheritance Services — Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD)