Consular Information for Expatriates in Dubai

UK, US, Australian, Canadian and South African consulates provide services for citizens in need, including replacement of lost or stolen passports and help and advice in difficult situations...

Citizens of the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and South Africa living in Dubai can access information from the Consular sections of their relevant Embassies.

Click on the appropriate link below to access the home page of each of these five organisations in the United Arab Emirates.

Consular Help for EU Nationals

Under EU law, an EU citizen is entitled to consular help from any EU consular representation abroad if their own country is not represented locally. This applies outside the EU to EU citizens who are either residing or travelling abroad. Any EU Embassy or Consulate must provide help to an EU citizen under the same conditions as they would their nationals.

Information on the type of help available and details to foreign consulates and Embassies can be found on the European Commission's website, Consular Protection for EU Citizens.

  • For further information from the European Commission: Click here
  • For information the situations in which a Consulate or Embassy should provide help: Click here

US Citizens

The US Citizens Service consular section provides passport services, registration of births, information on visas, Federal benefits, notary services, voting information, as well as offering emergency assistance to American citizens in distress.

  • For comprehensive information about the services that the Embassy provides: Click here
  • Embassy of the United States of America
    At: Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi
    Tel: 02 414 2200 from 09:00-12:00
    Emergencies Tel: 02 414 2500
    email

The website of the US Consulate in Dubai has useful information for American citizens on living in Dubai, notary services and passport services.

US citizens living or travelling abroad are encouraged to register with their nearest Embassy or Consulate in order to receive up-to-date travel and security information and to make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of an emergency.

UK Citizens

The GOV.UK UK and UAE subsite has up-to-date news on matters relating to Emirati-UK relations, as well as much information on trade and investment between the United Arab Emirates and the UK.

The British Embassy and Consulate offers many services to British citizens in Dubai. These include:

  • Registering births and deaths and issuing certified copies of certificates
  • Certification of documents
  • Providing information about transferring funds
  • Providing help for those who are victim of a crime or in hospital
  • Providing contact details of lawyers, interpreters and translators
  • British Embassy Dubai
    At    : Al Seef Road, Dubai
    Tel: 04 309 4444
    Fax: 04 309 4257
    Open: Sunday to Thursday 08:00-11:00
    email

UK passports are not issued by the UK Embassy. Applications for first passports and renewals must be sent to HM Passport Office in the UK at the following address:

  • Her Majesty's Passport Office
    OVS-L
    101 Old Hall Street
    Liverpool
    L3 9BP
    United Kingdom
  • To apply for a UK passport while overseas: Click here

Canadian Citizens

The Canadian Embassy website has information for Canadian citizens on living and travelling in the United Arab Emirates and on doing business. The Embassy can provide information on assistance for Canadians, services for Canadian companies and studying in Canada.

  • Canadian Embassy
    At    : Abu Dhabi Trade Towers (Abu Dhabi Mall), West Tower, 9th & 10th Floors, Abu Dhabi
    Tel: 02 694 0300
    Emergencies Tel: 800 014 0145
    Fax: 02 694 0399
    email

The Canadian Consulate in Dubai provides assistance to Canadians. It does not provide immigration and visa services, these are dealt with at the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

  • Consulate General of Canada
    At    : Bank St. Bldg, 7th floor, Khalid bin Waleed St., Dubai
    Tel: 04 314 5555
    Fax: 04 314 5556
    email
  • For information about the services that the Canadian Consulate General in Dubai provides: Click here

Australian Citizens

Services provided by the Australian Embassy for Australian citizens in the UAE and Qatar include:

  • Issuing emergency passports
  • Providing travel advice
  • Witnessing and certifying signatures
  • Providing a list of doctors and lawyers

The UAE Embassy does not have a visa or immigration department. Visa applications are dealt with by the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. The Consulate-General processes visa applications for residents living in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (the Gulf States) and Yemen.

  • Australian Embassy, Abu Dhabi
    At    : 14th Floor, Al Muhairy Centre, Sheikh Zayed the First Street, Abu Dhabi
    Postal Address: PO Box 32711, Abu Dhabi
    Tel: 02 634 6100
    Fax: 02 639 3525
    email
    Open    : Sunday to Thursday from 08:00-16:30
  • Australian Consulate-General Dubai
    At    : Australian Consulate-General, Level 25, Burjuman Business Tower (Trade Centre Road), Dubai
    Postal Address: PO Box 124400, Dubai
    Tel: 04 355 1958, Visa Enquiries Tel: 04 508 7200
    Fax: 04 355 0708
    email
  • For information from the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Australia: Click here

The Southern Cross Group is a global organisation that exists to "Promote mobility in the Global Community", and communicate with expatriated Australians throughout the world. Its work includes lobbying for changes in laws that improve or simplify the life of Australians abroad. The website has detailed information on the legal and practical aspects of: citizenship, voting, visas, health insurance, taxation and more.

South African Citizens

The South African Embassy to the UAE is based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The South African Consulate-General in Dubai (Consular Section) provides a full range of services to South Africans in the Emirate.

Services include:

  • Passport issue and renewal
  • Issue of Police Clearance Certificates
  • Issue of confirmation letters needed by the local Traffic Department when converting a RSA credit card format driving licence to a UAE driver's licence
  • Issue of ID book, birth and marriage certificates
  • Preparation of the letters required to get married in the UAE
  • Registration of births
  • Services of a Commissioner of Oath (only available by appointment on Mondays and Thursdays)
  • Facilitating legal processes and services (and contact details of lawyers)
  • Document certification
  • Guidance and help in the event of being detained or arrested, and in of death of a family member and the repatriation of their remains
  • Emergency consular services (only available in the case of distress, serious illness or death, natural disasters and evacuation)

The website details additional Consular services, and has information on various matters relevant to a South African living in Dubai.

  • South African Consular General
    Post    : PO Box 34800, Dubai 
    At: 3rd floor, New Sharaf Building, Khaleed Bin Al Waleed St. (or Bank Street)
    Open: Sunday to Thursday, 08:30-12:30
    Map of directions: Click here
    Tel: 04 397 5222 (ext. 103 - Consular Clerk)
    Fax: 04 397 9602
    email