When someone dies in Oman
The process when a British national dies in Oman, including registering the death, funerals and cremations, and bringing the person’s body to the UK.
Contacting the insurance company
If the person who died had insurance, contact their insurance company as soon as possible. Read the general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad if you’re not sure if they had insurance.
The insurance company should appoint a funeral director in Oman and the UK. They may also cover the cost of bringing the person’s body to the UK (repatriation) and help with any medical, legal, interpretation and translation fees.
If the person who died lived and worked in Oman, it is common for their employer or sponsor to bear the costs associated with their death. Under Omani regulations they should give you their insurance details.
Registering the death
The death must be registered at the civil status office of the Royal Oman Police. Your funeral director can normally do this for you.
You will need information and documents about the person who has died, including their:
- full name
- date of birth
- religion
- official identity document – for example, British passport, or civil ID if they were resident in Oman
The Royal Oman Police will photograph the body for identification purposes and transport it to the police mortuary in Qurum. This is the only time the authorities will provide transport for the body.
If the person died in a hospital, the hospital will issue a notification of death. If they died somewhere else, the Royal Oman Police will issue the notification of death. The Royal Oman Police countersign, stamp and authorise all notifications.
The notification will give the cause of death and say whether a post mortem is to be carried out.
Getting a death certificate
After registering the death, you will need the following documents to get a death certificate:
- the notification of death, which you get when you register the death
- a no objection certificate from the British Embassy in Muscat
To issue a no objection certificate, the embassy needs the:
- notification of death
- passport of the person who died
Once you have applied for a death certificate, the Omani authorities issue it in Arabic and English. You can collect it from the civil status office of the Royal Oman Police. It’s worth asking for extra copies, as you might need them to show to people later.
Omani death certificates do not give the cause of death.
Post mortems in Oman
A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. Post mortem examinations are not routinely carried out when a British national dies in Oman. However, the next of kin has the right to ask for a post mortem if they think there are any unusual circumstances surrounding the death. The Royal Oman Police Coroner will consider such requests and decide whether to authorise a post mortem.
The Royal Oman Police will need to be told if the person suffered from any infectious diseases, such as hepatitis or HIV, so they can take precautions against infection.
The coroner may decide to carry out a post mortem even if this is against the wishes of the next of kin. They do not need consent and often do not notify the next of kin.
In Oman, organs are not routinely kept during post mortem exams.
Post mortem reports are not usually given to the next of kin. Next of kin can ask the Royal Oman Police for the report through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, it is at the police’s discretion to issue the report, and it can sometimes be difficult to get. If the UK Coroner (England and Wales) or Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (Scotland) is involved, they may also request a copy of the report following the same procedure.
Post mortem reports are in Arabic. You can get it translated for a fee.
Post mortems are carried out at the Police Mortuary, a department within Royal Oman Police.
Burying or cremating the body in Oman
You need a local funeral director to arrange a burial or cremation in Oman. Your funeral director can give you advice.
There are 2 authorised burial grounds for non-Muslims in Oman.
In Muscat, non-Muslims can be buried at the PDO Cemetery, which is supervised by a local cemetery committee. Contact them directly for the required burial forms and a copy of their guidelines:
PDO Cemetery
Contact: Salim Alrawahi
Telephone: +968 9393 3933
In Salalah, the Protestant Church can help with inquiries about burying deceased British nationals at the non-Muslim cemetery in the area.
To arrange a church service, contact the Protestant Church in Oman or the Catholic Church either in Muscat or Salalah.
To arrange a burial in Oman, you will need the:
- death certificate from the Royal Oman Police
- for burial in Oman
- no objection certificate from British Embassy
- release of the body letter from the Royal Oman Police
- notification of death from the Royal Oman Police
Cremation is available in Oman, but it is not necessarily to the same standard as cremation in the UK. In Oman there are western-style cremations (only offered in Sohar) and Hindu-style cremations (offered in Sohar and Salalah).
To arrange a cremation in Oman, you will need the:
- death certificate from the Royal Oman Police
- for cremation in Oman
- no objection certificate from the British Embassy for cremation in Oman
- release of the body letter from the Royal Oman Police
- notification of death from the Royal Oman Police
Crematoriums:
Sohar (around 250km from Muscat)
Key Lash Hindu Temple
Contacts: Dhiral Thakkar +968 9956 6810 or Kailash Joshy +968 9261 3069
Management office: +968 2479 2170
Salalah (around 1,000km from Muscat)
Contact: Mr Nilesh
Telephone: +968 9949 1045
Both cremation options allow for collection of ashes after the procedure. The crematorium will ask next of kin how they wish to receive the remains (for example, ashes only and removal of bones). Unless the family provides the urn in which they wish to receive the cremated remains, they will most likely be placed in a metal tin.
There are no local charities available in Oman that can help fund funeral costs.
There is no option to donate a body for medical research.
Bringing the body to the UK
Ask your funeral director about options for bringing the person’s body to the UK from Oman.
When taking the person’s body to the UK from Oman, you will need to give the airline the:
- death certificate
- certificate of embalming
- certificate confirming remains are free from infectious diseases
- certificate of coffin sealing
International regulations require the body to be embalmed and be stored in a zinc-lined coffin for transportation.
Upon arrival in the UK, an appointed representative, usually a funeral director, will meet the coffin. They will take the body to a funeral home chosen by the next of kin. Unless the UK Coroner (England and Wales) or Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (Scotland) has requested a post mortem, normal funeral procedures will then follow.
Bringing the ashes to the UK
Ask your funeral director about the rules for bringing ashes to the UK.
Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself
If you are taking the ashes with you when you leave Oman, you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- show the cremation certificate
- follow Omani regulations about leaving the country with ashes – your funeral director can give you more information
- tell the airline in advance
Arranging for the ashes to be taken to the UK
Ask your funeral director for advice if you cannot take the ashes yourself. You may not be able to send them by post or courier. Ashes can be shipped by air freight, although this can be expensive.
Getting the person’s belongings back
Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to you or the Royal Oman Police. The British Embassy in Muscat cannot take responsibility for the personal belongings of any British national who has died in Oman.
If you bring the person’s body to the UK, you can ask your local funeral director to collect all the belongings and transport them together.
If they were a resident in Oman, you may not be able to take valuable belongings such as cars, motorcycles and boats. These need to be sold locally and may be part of their estate. This can be a lengthy and complicated process. It’s best to get legal advice if this happens.
Belongings may be kept as evidence if there is an investigation into the death. They will only be returned when the court case is over.
Finding an Arabic translator
You may need a translator to help you understand Omani rules or get documents translated. Check official translators in Oman. The embassy or consulate in Oman cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.
Finding an Omani lawyer
You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Omani legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Oman. The embassy or consulate in Oman cannot give you legal advice or pay for legal costs.
Telling the UK authorities
Although you do not have to register the death in the UK, when someone dies abroad you still need to tell the UK authorities. Read general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad.
Contacting the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
You can contact the FCDO if you still need advice:
- in the UK call +44 (0)20 7008 5000
- see how to get help from the UK government abroad