Guidance

Consular newsletter: February 2015

Updated 6 November 2018

1. Consular services in the UAE

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office is committed to providing support to British nationals abroad, focussing on those who need our help the most. To read more about what support we can offer, click here.

2. Some facts for 2014:

In 2014, our Consular team dealt with over 12,000 enquiries and assisted over 1,000 British nationals, including:

• 267 arrests
• 60 hospitalisations
• 161 advice cases
• 90 deaths
• and a range of other assistance work including sexual assault, child abduction, mental health and domestic violence.
• we also issued 405 Emergency Travel Documents (ETD) and the UAE issued the 3rd highest number globally of 1 year passport extensions.

3. Planning your holidays?

If you are planning your holidays for this year, check out the Know before You Go communications campaign run by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Know Before You Go (KBYG), is a public awareness initiative, promoting travel safety to the British public.

Check your Passport

With the holiday season fast approaching, remember to check your passport is valid and has enough room for Immigration stamps and visas before you travel. Check out out Top Tips for passports below:

• make sure your passport is valid; check its expiry date as certain countries need 6 months’ validity to enter
• you need at least 6 months’ validity on your passport to obtain a UAE residency visa.
• remember to fill in the emergency contact details on the back page of your passport.
• passport photograph advice. Click here for more details
• passport counter-signatures. Click here for more details
• if you are applying for a passport in the UK you need to pick up the application form from your local post office.
• all UK passport application from overseas both for renewals and first time applicants are now available online. Click here to start the online process.

4. Abu Dhabi Municipality

Abu Dhabi Municipality are handing out fines of AED 200 for washing your car in a public area. Drivers have been warned to take their vehicles to a professional car wash or clean their vehicle in an industrial area. Altogether the authority recorded 12,543 violations against people caught spitting, throwing cigarette butts, chewing gum in public places, washing cars on the streets and parking vehicles on pavements. The inspectors reprimanded residents violating hygiene regulations. Click here for more details.

5. The British Council

The British Council in the UAE connects people with learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK. Whether you want to learn or teach English, take an exam, study in the UK or find out about our forthcoming events, this is the place to start. For more details from the new website please Click here.

6. Bus lane regulations in Dubai.

Watch out for dedicated bus lanes in Dubai from the end of March. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have installed cameras on Naif Road. Motorists will have a grace period until the end of March after which a fine of AED 600 is incurred every time a vehicle other than RTA buses uses the dedicated bus lane. Click here for the full story.

7. Contact Numbers:

British Embassy

Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 610 1100

Dubai Tel: +971 4 309 4444

8. UKinUAE Website

Stay up-to-date with the UK and the UAE here: UKinUAE

9. Feedback

Have we provided you with a notarial and documentary service in the last 12 months? Tell us what you thought of the service by completing a short online survey. Go to

10. Social Media sites:

Facebook @UKinUAE Twitter Instagram