Indian Consulate in Dubai issues advisory on repatriation of mortal remains

Dubai: The Consulate General of India (CGI) in Dubai has issued an advisory cautioning Indian expatriates in the UAE about fraudulent agents exploiting grieving families by charging excessive fees for the repatriation of mortal remains.

In a post on X on Thursday, August 21, the mission reiterated its earlier November 2024 advisory, urging families to rely only on official information provided by the consulate. It clarified that assistance is available through its panel of community associations under the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), provided on a means-tested basis as per Government of India guidelines.

The consulate underlined that families do not bear any repatriation costs if the deceased had no employer, sponsor or insurance covering such expenses. It further quoted Article 15 (3) of the UAE’s Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021, which makes it mandatory for employers to cover all costs of preparing and transporting the body of a deceased worker to their home country or place of residence, if requested by the family.

To ensure transparency, the mission has shared dedicated helpline numbers for round-the-clock assistance: +971-50-7347676 (WhatsApp/Mobile) and the toll-free number 800 46342. Additional guidance is also available on the consulate’s official website.

The advisory comes as the UAE, home to more than 3.5 million Indians, the largest expatriate community in the country, continues to witness cases of families being targeted by unscrupulous intermediaries during moments of loss.