How to repatriate a body to your home country


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When a death occurs in Abu Dhabi, many expatriate families choose to have the funeral in their home country.

Relatives or sponsors of the deceased must visit one of the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi's mortuaries, where the process of repatriation will be explained.

If the death does not have to be investigated, all that is required is a letter of no objection from the embassy of the destination country and a letter from the airline handling transport.

Should the police be involved, the process will require more paperwork, said Marwan Saeed Al Marzouqi, the section head of mortuary services.

"If the case is investigated by police [people need] a letter from the police station investigating the death, stating a no objection to the release of the deceased for burial or transfer," he said.

"[Other paperwork] includes a death notification from a medical examiner or forensic doctor stating the cause(s) of death."

You will also need the original passport of the deceased and reliable identification for the relative or sponsor who is responsible for the repatriation. Fees will be charged for the issuance of the death certificate (Dh50), the preparation of the body in the coffin (Dh1,000) and for transport from the mortuary to the airport (Dh100).

A Dh50 fine will also be issued for each day the body is delayed in leaving the morgue. Help is available from Al Foah Funeral Services or Middle East Funeral Services, both of which carry out the process for an agreed fee.

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