Most visitors never need their embassy, but when a passport disappears or something serious goes wrong, knowing where to go saves hours. Here is how the main missions are laid out, and what to do first. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs missions directory lists every foreign mission in the country, and the UAE government portal covers official services.
Embassy and consulate locations
The UAE capital is Abu Dhabi, so most embassies sit there, with consulates in Dubai for the larger expat communities. Details below come from official government listings; confirm addresses and hours on your own government’s site, as they change and some directories disagree.
- United Kingdom: the British Embassy Dubai is on Al Seef Road, Bur Dubai, near Dubai Creek, and the UK also has an embassy in Abu Dhabi.
- United States: the Embassy is in the Embassies District, Abu Dhabi (Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street 4). The Consulate General in Dubai is at the corner of Al Seef Road and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road.
- Canada: the Embassy is in Abu Dhabi Trade Towers (West Tower, 9th floor). The Consulate General in Dubai is on the 19th floor of Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road.
- Australia: the Embassy is in Abu Dhabi on Zayed the First Street. There is also a Consulate-General in Dubai; check the embassy site for its current details.
- EU countries: Germany, France, Italy and others each have an Abu Dhabi embassy, often with a Dubai consulate. Use your foreign ministry’s travel pages.
In an emergency
For immediate danger, call UAE police on 999 or an ambulance on 998 first. Contact your embassy second. Many governments run a 24-hour emergency line for citizens, listed on their travel advice pages; Canada, for example, publishes a toll-free number for after-hours help. Save yours before you fly. Our UAE safety guide covers local laws and what to expect.
What embassies can do
- Issue emergency travel documents if your passport is lost or stolen
- Help contact family and point you to local doctors or lawyers
- Visit you if you are detained and check you are treated fairly
- Advise on serious incidents, such as accidents or crime
They cannot pay for hotels, flights or fines, or get you out of legal trouble. Visa questions are usually handled elsewhere, so see our UAE visa guide.
If you lose your passport
- Report it to the police. Get a written report; you will need it.
- Contact your embassy or consulate. Book an appointment and ask what emergency documents they issue and which ID they accept.
- Gather paperwork. Bring passport photos, any copy of your old passport, your flight booking and the police report.
- Sort your exit. Residence and entry records matter in the UAE, so ask the mission whether you also need immigration clearance before departing.
- Tell your airline about the new document, especially if you fly from Dubai International.
Keep a photo of your passport page in cloud storage and carry a copy separately.