What to Do When a Citizen of Egypt Dies in United Arab Emirates: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Medical Certification of Death and Police or Forensic Clearance in the United Arab Emirates

   • Death in a hospital: When your family member dies in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates, the attending physician issues an electronic Medical Notification of Death and arranges transfer of the deceased to a government mortuary [1][2].
   • Death at home, in a hotel, or at a workplace: Immediately call the police on 999 and the ambulance service on 998 [1]. The local police command (such as Dubai Police, Abu Dhabi Police, or the police force of the relevant emirate) attends the scene, transfers the deceased to a forensic medicine department, and coordinates with the Public Prosecution if an investigation or forensic examination is required [1].
   • Police No Objection Certificate (NOC): Before the government mortuary can release the body for embalming, local burial, or repatriation, the police issue a stamped declaration and Police NOC (along with a Public Prosecution clearance for non-natural, sudden, or workplace deaths) [1][3].
2. 2

   Repatriation Coverage, Funeral Coordination, and Egyptian Consular Support

   • Employer and insurance coverage: Check whether the deceased held travel or medical insurance with a repatriation clause or was employed in the UAE. Under UAE federal labour rules enforced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (phone: 600590000), the employer is responsible for covering the cost of repatriating the remains of a deceased employee to the home country or point of recruitment when requested by the family [1][6].
   • Appointing funeral and repatriation coordinators: In the UAE, an authorised family representative, employer sponsor, or licensed repatriation coordinator arranges mortuary preparation through the government embalming unit (such as Dubai Health in Dubai, the Department of Health via TAMM Abu Dhabi, or Emirates Health Services in the Northern Emirates) and books air cargo transport [2][3][4]. In Egypt, coordinate with a licensed international mortuary and funeral operator in Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, or Sharm El-Sheikh to handle airport customs and quarantine reception and transport to the family cemetery [9].
   • Egyptian diplomatic mission: Contact the Consular Section of the Embassy of Egypt in Abu Dhabi (for deaths in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain) or the Consulate General of Egypt in Dubai (for Dubai and the Northern Emirates), operating under the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to obtain the Egyptian consular NOC and register the death [9][10].
3. 3

   Civil Death Registration, Visa Cancellation, and Egyptian Recognition

   • Official UAE Death Certificate: Using the hospital notification, Police NOC, and the deceased's passport and Emirates ID, the family's representative or employer obtains the official bilingual (Arabic and English) Death Certificate from the health authority of the emirate where the death occurred: TAMM Abu Dhabi (Department of Health - Abu Dhabi) [3], Dubai Health / Dubai Health Authority (DHA) [2], or Emirates Health Services (EHS / MOHAP) in Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah [4]. Request multiple copies in Arabic and English [1][3].
   • Residency visa and Emirates ID cancellation: Cancel the deceased's UAE residency visa and Emirates ID through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai as part of the official exit and registration process [1][3].
   • Attestation and Egyptian Civil Status registration: Have the UAE Death Certificate attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) [1][5]. Submit the attested UAE Death Certificate and the deceased's Egyptian passport and National ID card to the Egyptian Embassy or Consulate, which issues an Egyptian consular death record, cancels the passport, and forwards the registration to the Civil Status Organization (الأحوال المدنية) under the Ministry of Interior in Egypt so the family can obtain the computerised Egyptian Death Certificate [8][9][10]. (Where a death or direct burial registration is processed locally in Egypt, it is reported to the local Health Office / Maktab El-Seha within 24 hours and recorded by the Civil Status Organization, with foreign documents legalized by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs [8][9].)
4. 4

   International Repatriation to Egypt vs. Local Burial or Cremation in the UAE

   • International repatriation of human remains to Egypt: Repatriating a body from the UAE to Egypt requires government mortuary embalming, an Embalming Certificate, a Certificate of Non-Contagious Disease (Freedom from Infection), hermetic sealing in a zinc-lined coffin, a Police NOC for export of human remains, and UAE MoFA attestation [1][2][3][5]. The Egyptian Embassy or Consulate then issues a Consular Mortuary Certificate and No Objection Permit for shipment [9][10]. Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport or a regional Egyptian airport, the Preventive Medicine / Airport Quarantine authority (under the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population) verifies the embalming, sealing, and consular certificates before releasing the coffin for burial (with Public Prosecution / Niyaba clearance required if the death involved unnatural circumstances or a foreign national inquiry) [9][10]. If next of kin are in Egypt without a relative in the UAE, they execute an attested Power of Attorney (Tawkil) authorising the employer or representative in the UAE to complete the export formalities [3][9].
   • Local burial or disposition in the UAE: Families who choose local burial in the UAE can obtain a municipal burial permit once the Police NOC and health authority death registration are completed; Muslim burials are arranged through municipal cemetery administrations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or the Northern Emirates, while non-Muslim cemeteries and municipality-licensed crematoria are available for non-Muslim residents [1][3].
5. 5

   Post-Death Benefits, End-of-Service Settlements, and Estate Administration in Both Countries

   • UAE end-of-service gratuity, insurance, and estates: Under UAE labour law, the employer must pay all unpaid salary, accrued leave, and statutory end-of-service gratuity (for workers with at least one year of continuous service), along with any applicable workplace death insurance, overseen by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation or the relevant free-zone authority [6]. Because UAE bank accounts are frozen upon notification of death, releasing local bank balances or assets requires a formal succession decree or probate order from the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (including the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court), Dubai Courts (Personal Status Court or Non-Muslim Estate Court), or the DIFC Wills Service Centre if a registered will applies [7].
   • Egyptian survivor pension and funeral grant: Once the computerised Egyptian Death Certificate is issued, eligible dependents can claim the statutory funeral expenses grant and monthly survivor pension from the National Organization for Social Insurance (NOSI) by submitting the death certificate, family registry extract (Qayd A'aely), and beneficiary civil status documents [11]. The Consular Sector of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also assists families in following up on overseas employment dues and insurance settlements transmitted through diplomatic channels [9].
   • Egyptian inheritance declaration: To transfer bank accounts, real estate, or estate funds in Egypt, the heirs apply to the competent Egyptian Family Court (Mahkamat Al-Usra) for an official Inheritance Declaration (I'lam Al-Waratha / إعلام الوراثة) determining the legal heirs and their statutory shares [8][9].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Handling a death in the UAE - Official Portal of the UAE Government — UAE Government (u.ae)
2. [2]
   Embalming and Repatriation of the Deceased — Dubai Health
3. [3]
   Issue a Death Certificate and Request for Deporting and Embalming the Deceased — TAMM Abu Dhabi Government Services
4. [4]
   Issue of Death Certificate Service Directory — Emirates Health Services (EHS)
5. [5]
   Ministry of Foreign Affairs Official Services — UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA)
6. [6]
   MOHRE eServices Portal — Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
7. [7]
   Abu Dhabi Judicial Department eServices — Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD)
8. [8]
   Ministry of Interior Civil Status Directory Services — Egyptian Ministry of Interior (MOI)
9. [9]
   Consular Services and Citizens Abroad Guidance — Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
10. [10]
    Registration of Deaths of Egyptian Citizens Abroad and Repatriation Requirements — Consulate General of Egypt
11. [11]
    Pension and Funeral Expenses Services — National Organization for Social Insurance (NOSI)