British Embassy
Abu Dhabi

Part of:: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

The British Embassy Abu Dhabi maintains and develops relations between the UK and the United Arab Emirates.

We work closely with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in many areas of political and practical co-operation. In September 2021 the UK and the UAE launched a new ambitious Partnership for the Future framework that will strengthen the deep and historic relationship. The Partnership will ensure both countries work closely together on shared global challenges, promote prosperity and security in the region, and expand the exchange of knowledge, skills and ideas.

Find out more about our work on the UK and the UAE news page.

Getting help in the UAE

If you need urgent medical help or are a victim of crime, call the local emergency services on 112. Contact your insurance provider if you have one. They will tell you what your policy covers, and what you need to do to make a claim.

In many situations, you will be able to help yourself without needing to contact the British Embassy. Check our guidance on:

finding English-speaking lawyers, funeral directors and translators and interpreters in the UAE
dealing with a death in the UAE
being arrested in the UAE
getting help if you’re a victim of crime
what to do if you’re in hospital
travel advice for the UAE

Getting help

If you cannot get the support you need from local services, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can help British people abroad.

We prioritise emergencies and people who are vulnerable, for example, if someone’s:

ill, injured, or involved in a crime
with a British person who’s died

Get help from FCDO

If you cannot use your passport

You can apply for an emergency travel document if you need to travel urgently and cannot use your passport because it is lost, stolen or damaged.

If you are travelling in more than 3 weeks, check if you can get a new or replacement passport in time to travel.

If you do not need to travel urgently, you should still report a lost or stolen passport.

Getting a visa to the UK

The British Embassy does not provide visas and cannot advise on UK visas. If you have any questions about the application process or your visa status, contact UK Visas and Immigration.

A Schengen visa or residence permit does not entitle you to travel to the UK without a visa. You can check whether you need a visa and apply for one.

Official documents and services we provide

We provide a limited range of notarial and documentary services when local notary publics, solicitors, or lawyers cannot provide them. You will need to pay a fee for these services.

We do not provide legalisation services at the embassy (such as certifying a photocopy of a passport). Read the guidance for getting a document legalised in the UAE.

Support for British nationals living in the UAE

Read our guidance for living in the UAE for information on travelling to, living, working and studying there.

You can find a full list of UK help and services available in the UAE.

Other UK embassies and consulates in the UAE

You can also find a British embassy in Dubai.

Our people

Edward Hobart CMG

British Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates

Jonathan Knight LVO VR

Deputy Head of Mission, United Arab Emirates

Contact us