What happens when an expat dies in the UAE? The family must register the death, obtain a death certificate, and complete embassy and residence-visa formalities.
Quick Answer
When an expatriate dies in the UAE, the family must complete the death registration process, obtain a death certificate and coordinate with the relevant embassy, immigration authority and other government departments.
Under Article 15(1) of the UAE Labour Law, an employer must pay the deceased worker’s family the wages and employment dues, including end-of-service gratuity, within 10 days of the death or the date the employer learns of it.
Bank accounts, tenancy agreements and estate assets may require separate legal steps. Joint-account holders have a 10-day bank notification requirement, while inheritance and fund release depend on the applicable succession process.
What happens when an expat dies in the UAE?
The family follows a set sequence, which the UAE Government portal describes.
- Report a death outside hospital to the police on 999. In hospital, the authorities file the initial report.
- Obtain the death notification and register the death to get the death certificate.
- Have the death certificate and its translation attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Cancel the residence visa with the immigration authority.
- Inform the embassy or consulate, which cancels the passport, registers the death and issues a no-objection letter for repatriation.
- Obtain the police letters needed for burial, cremation or repatriation.
Death Registration and Repatriation Checklist
Families can use the following checklist to keep track of the main administrative steps:
- Notify the relevant hospital or police authority.
- Obtain the death notification and official death certificate.
- Arrange the required translation and attestation.
- Contact the deceased’s embassy or consulate.
- Complete the relevant residence-visa formalities.
- Obtain the necessary documents for burial, cremation or repatriation.
Need Legal Assistance After a Family Member Dies in the UAE?
Leaders Advocates can discuss the legal and inheritance-related steps following a death in the UAE, including estate documentation, bank restrictions and questions about a deceased expatriate’s assets.
The employer, bank accounts and the home
The law protects the family’s financial position in several ways.
| Issue | Rule and conditions |
|---|---|
| Employer dues | The employer must hand the worker’s family his wages and dues, including end-of-service gratuity, within 10 days of the death or of the date the employer learns of it. Labor Law Art 15(1). |
| Repatriation costs | The employer bears the cost of repatriating the body if the family asks. Labor Law Art 15. |
| Joint bank account | The other holders must notify the bank within 10 days, and the bank stops withdrawals of the deceased’s share until a successor is appointed. CTL Art 379(4). |
| Individual bank account | Usually blocked until a court document or probate grant identifies who may receive the funds. Bank practice. |
| Tenancy in Dubai | The lease does not end on the tenant’s death and continues with the heirs, who may end it on 30 days’ notice or at expiry, whichever comes first. Dubai Law 26/2007 Art 27. |
Important: Employer and Bank Deadlines Are Separate
Article 15(1) of the Labour Law addresses the employer’s obligation to pay the deceased worker’s family within 10 days of the death or the date the employer learns of it.
The 10-day notification rule for surviving joint-account holders is a different requirement under Article 379(4) of the Commercial Transactions Law. Families should consider each obligation independently rather than assuming that completing one satisfies the other.
Having Difficulty Recovering a Deceased Employee’s Final Dues?
Discuss unpaid wages, end-of-service gratuity, employer obligations and relevant employment documents with Leaders Advocates to understand the applicable payment and dispute procedures.
The estate
The estate follows its own rules and court.
- A non-Muslim’s estate can follow the civil law or a registered will, and a Muslim’s estate the Personal Status Law.
Estate Documents Families May Need
The documents needed depend on the deceased’s circumstances, the applicable succession rules and the assets held in the UAE. Families may need to prepare:
- The death certificate and any required attestation or translation.
- The deceased person’s identification and relevant residence records.
- Identification documents of heirs or beneficiaries.
- A registered will, if one exists.
- Bank account details and other available asset records.
- Employment documents and final payment information.
- Property title documents or tenancy records.
- Relevant court documents establishing the heirs or authorizing estate administration.
Need to Start an Expat Inheritance Case in Dubai?
Discuss the deceased person’s assets, registered will, heirs, bank restrictions and the relevant court procedures with Leaders Advocates before beginning estate proceedings.
If you need help after the death of a family member, you can contact us on WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related reading
Legal sources
Need Legal Help After the Death of an Expat in the UAE?
Leaders Advocates can discuss expat inheritance matters, deceased employee dues, frozen bank accounts, tenancy issues, estate documentation and probate proceedings. The applicable legal steps depend on the deceased’s personal circumstances, assets, will and relevant UAE laws.
