Guidance

Qatar: bereavement Information

Updated 4 January 2024

Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be definitive, nor is it to be taken as a substitute for independent legal advice. Neither His Majesty’s Government nor its staff take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information, nor accept liability for any loss, costs, damage or expense that you might suffer as a result of relying on the information. Some of the information may not be relevant to your circumstances. The language used is intended to be general and factual, and is not meant to cause offence.

Qatar: Bereavement Information

Introduction

When a relative or friend dies abroad, the different procedures, laws or language can cause additional distress. You may be uncertain about what to do or who to contact.

This country specific information is designed to help you through some of the practical arrangements you may need to make. It supplements the general information on death abroad produced by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, which applies to all countries.

Please note, as each country has its own laws and customs when a death occurs, it may not be possible to make the arrangements that you prefer or at the time you would like.

How to contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

There is a lot of information in this guide but you may still have questions. You can speak to someone by phone 24/7, any day of the year.

From the UK:

Contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London on 0207 008 1500.

From Qatar:

Contact the British Embassy Doha on +974 4496 2000.

If you are in another country, you can find the contact details of the nearest British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.

The priority of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is to provide assistance to British nationals overseas who need the most help. The level and type of assistance they can offer is tailored to the individual circumstances of each case.

Next of kin

The next of kin of the person who died will usually need to make decisions and practical arrangements. The next of kin can sometimes appoint another person to act on their behalf.

If you are not the next of kin, they will need to be informed. If required, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office can help you do this.

There is no legal definition of next of kin in the UK. Please note that if there is a disagreement over who is the next of kin, or the person who died did not choose a next of kin, this can cause additional complications.

In Qatar, the deceased’s immediate family member(s) will usually be considered next of kin. Note that same sex unmarried partners/spouses and opposite sex unmarried partners are not recognised under local law.

In the absence of next of kin for residents of Qatar, or sponsored visitors, the deceased’s sponsor should undertake certain acts on their behalf. If the deceased is a non-sponsored visitor, the next of kin can come to Qatar or appoint a representative from an insurance company that can assist with repatriation or local burial.

Applying for the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money and possessions (their ‘estate’) when they die is called ‘applying for probate’. See details on how to do this in the UK.

Once the ‘grant of probate’ or ‘letters of administration’ is obtained, it must be legalised in order to be used in Qatar. See how to legalise UK documents for use in the state of Qatar.

Release of information to next of kin

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will try to obtain as much information as possible after your relative or friend has died abroad. Consular officers may be able to obtain this themselves but some of this may be only available to the next of kin. They may be able to provide you with details of others who can advocate on your behalf such as the sponsor or a local lawyer.

Insurance

It is very important to check if the person who died had insurance. If they had insurance, contact the insurance company as soon as possible. They may be able to help you make arrangements or cover some of the costs.

If the person who died did not have insurance, the next of kin or sponsor (in the case of Qatar residents or sponsored visitors) will usually be responsible for all costs relating to repatriation or burial. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office cannot help with these costs.

Appointing a funeral director

There are no funeral directors in Qatar. All the necessary procedures relating to a death are dealt with by the local authorities.

If you decide to bring the deceased to the UK for burial or cremation, you should consider appointing an international repatriation company. These are available in Qatar. See Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s list of international funeral directors based in the UK.

Registering the death and obtaining a death certificate

You will need to register the death in person with the local authorities in Qatar. This can be done by the next of kin, the sponsor, or an insurance company.

You do not need to register the death with the UK authorities. The local death certificate can usually be used in the UK for most purposes, including probate.

The Humanitarian Services Office receives and issues all documents necessary for local burial and repatriation. Services are provided free of charge. The office is open seven days a week from 7:00 to 21:00 and is located behind Hamad Hospital mortuary (see ‘Annex’ for further details).

There are several counters within the office which receive and issues different documents. Below is a summary of what is required for each:

Hamad Medical Corporation

Required documents:

• passport of the deceased
• ID card or passport of the person reporting the death

Procedures:

• complete the Death Registration form
• collect the Notification of Death report issued by the doctor

Ministry of Public Health

Required documents:

• notification of Death report issued by the doctor
• ID card or passport of the person reporting the death
• death registration form
• no objection certificate for the transfer of a body issued by the police (may take longer if the death was under investigation)

Documents issued:

• death certificate
• embalming certificate (for repatriation of a body outside Qatar), including a letter to Customs, letter to the mortuary and a letter for the attention of the authorities in the destination country or
• burial authorisation (for burial in Qatar)

Ministry of Interior

Required documents for cancellation of Residence Permit:

• death certificate
• residence permit cancellation application
• copy of sponsor’s ID
• ID card and passport of the deceased

Required documents for issuance of ‘Transfer of dead body certificate’ (for repatriation):

• death certificate
• embalming certificate
• notification of death report

British Embassy

Required documents:

• death certificate
• passport of the deceased
• burial authorisation OR ‘Transfer of dead body certificate’

Documents issued:

• no objection certificate for local burial or repatriation.

Airline (in case of repatriation)

Required documents:

• death certificate
• ‘Transfer of dead body certificate’
• no objection certificate issued by the British Embassy
• passport of the deceased

Documents issued:

• airway bill of lading
• ticket for deceased and accompanying passenger(s)

These procedures can normally be completed quickly in straightforward cases. However, if the death has occurred outside a hospital, or in unusual or suspicious circumstances, a police investigation may be required. This can sometimes delay the issuing of the death certificate. The timeframe of any investigation is dependent on the circumstances and can vary from case to case.

Death certificates are dual language Arabic-English and therefore no formal translation should be necessary. They include the deceased’s personal details (name, age, sex, nationality, religion, address); details of the death (place, cause and date); and details relating to the certificate (registration number and date of issuance). You will usually be given several copies. If you need additional copies at a later date, you can obtain them from the Humanitarian Services Office for a fee.

Consular death registration

You do not have to register the death of a British national that occurs overseas with the UK authorities. You can sometimes apply for a consular death registration. This is not mandatory and cannot be used instead of a death certificate from the country where the person died. If you wish to do this, you can find more information and apply online at: www.gov.uk/register-a-death.

Post mortem examinations (autopsies)

Under Islamic law, a body should be buried as soon as possible after death so routine post mortem examinations are not common practice. However, they may be carried out depending on the circumstances of the death.

In criminal cases or where the death occurred in unusual or suspicious circumstances (i.e. unnatural causes), local authorities may authorise a post mortem as part of their investigation without the family’s consent.

If you would like more information on the procedure, you can raise your queries with the attending pathologist at the mortuary.

Post mortem reports are not usually made available to the next of kin but may be requested by the UK Coroner if required for an inquest (see section on ‘UK Coroners and inquests’).

Organ retention and donation

There are strict laws around organ donation in Qatar and organs can normally only be removed from the deceased with permission from the next of kin, even if the deceased was registered as a donor before their death.

Mortuary facilities

Mortuary facilities in Qatar conform to international standards.

The main mortuary is located at Hamad Hospital. There are also facilities at Rumailah, Al Wakra, Al Khor, the Cuban hospital (Dukhan) and the Heart hospitals.

It may be possible to view the body if you wish and mortuary staff are available to provide assistance or advice on this. The experience of viewing a body may differ from what you might encounter in the UK. Cultural practices, procedures, and facilities vary, impacting the experience. This can be distressing to some, please speak to a consular officer for further information.

Ordering a coffin

The next of kin of the person who has died will usually need to decide between a local burial or repatriating the body to the UK or another country. Cremation is not possible in Qatar. The sponsor, insurance company or mortuary staff will usually be able to explain the options available, the costs, and help you make arrangements.

The mortuary can advise you on the details of coffin providers. It may take 24 to 48 hours to prepare the coffin and you will need to know the height of the deceased. If being used for repatriation to the UK, it must be zinc-lined and wax-sealed in order to meet requirements.

Burial

There are numerous Islamic cemeteries in Qatar and most costs associated with the burial are usually borne by the local authorities (with the exception of the purchase of a coffin). If the person who died was not Muslim, burial takes place in Dukhan cemetery, located approximately 60km west of Doha. The local authorities may provide transportation to the site free of charge, however expenses related to the digging of a grave and the purchase of a coffin will normally fall to the next of kin or sponsor.

Please note if a local burial takes place, then an inquest in the UK will not be possible (see the section on ‘UK coroners and inquests’).

Repatriation

Under local law, the sponsor is responsible for meeting the cost of repatriation. If the person who died was not resident in Qatar (i.e. they were just visiting or in transit), these costs will need to be met by their insurance company or the next of kin. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office cannot help with these costs. If you cannot afford to pay for repatriation, the local authorities may be able to help you make arrangements for a burial in Qatar.

You should consider appointing an international funeral director/repatriation company as soon as possible to enquire about procedures and to coordinate receipt of the body in the UK (see the section on ‘Appointing a funeral director’).

Remains will not be accepted into the UK unless they have been embalmed and the coffin sealed with wax. This is usually arranged by mortuary staff and the service is free of charge.

8-24 hours before departure – advise the mortuary of the flight details and departure time and ask them to book an ambulance for at least three hours before the flight leaves.

6 hours before departure – take originals and copies of all paperwork received so far, including the deceased’s passport and flight reservations:

1. Report to Immigration at Qatar airways crew building (QROC) to obtain an exit stamp/permission to depart. Officers will put a exit stamp on the Death Certificate airway bill and embalming certificate. It is important that the date of the stamp should be the same as the date of the flight.

2. Report to Customs at Qatar airways cargo building, to obtain permission to ship the deceased’s remains. Officer on duty will put an Exit stamp/signature on the Embalming Certificate and airways bill.

3. Report to the Cargo Department with all the documents issued, including the Airway Bill of Lading and the deceased’s passport with the exit stamp. An agent should place the documents in an envelope to accompany the deceased to the final destination.

4. Report back to mortuary with the original signed documents from Immigration and customs as a final approval.

Return of personal belongings

The personal belongings of the person who died will usually be held at the Security office of the hospital where the death took place. They will be inventoried and kept securely until the next of kin takes possession of them by attending in person and signing a receipt. Security officers may refuse to hand over belongings to anyone other than the next of kin, including the sponsor, without formal written approval.

If the death occurred outside a hospital or is under investigation, personal belongings may sometimes be held by the police.

Please note that the British Embassy cannot take responsibility for any personal belongings.

Steps to take in the UK

You can find more information on the steps to take in the UK online. This includes information on arranging the funeral, telling the government about the death, UK pensions and benefits, and dealing with the estate of the person who died. There is a step-by-step guide on GOV.UK.

British passport cancellation

In order to avoid identity fraud, the passport of the person who died should be cancelled. This will be done by consular officers at the British Embassy before issuing the No Objection Certificate for burial or repatriation. If the deceased will be buried in Qatar, the British Embassy will retain the deceased’s passport and send it back to His Majesty’s Passport Office.

Otherwise, you will need to complete a ‘D1 form’ and submit to HM Passport Office (HMPO). The form, and instructions on where to send it is available online:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-to-do-with-a-passport-when-the-passport-holder-has-died.

Child deaths

The death of a child will be dealt with in the same way as the death of an adult. The exception to this is neonatal or still birth, where it may not be possible to obtain a death certificate. Instead, local authorities will usually issue a Notification of Foetal Death certificate. Consular officers at the British Embassy can assist in providing travel documents to enable repatriation of the remains to the UK.

In the UK, there are organisations that can help families who have suffered a child bereavement (see the section ‘Support organisations in the UK’ for further details).

If a child, under the age of 18, who resides in the UK dies overseas, the UK local authority where they normally lived have a statutory responsibility to undertake a Child Death Review (Children Act 2004). There are separate arrangements for deaths involving children residing in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Deaths in road traffic accidents

As with any death that occurs in unnatural, unusual or suspicious circumstances, deaths following road traffic accidents will usually be subject to investigation by local authorities. A post mortem may also be carried out.

When the police have concluded their investigation they will issue a letter to that effect. The death certificate can usually only be obtained once this letter is issued, so an ongoing investigation may delay burial or repatriation of the person who died. The timeframe of any investigation is dependent on the circumstances and can vary from case to case.

You should note that if the deceased is repatriated to certain parts of the UK a Coroner or Procurator Fiscal may decide to hold an inquest (see the section on ‘UK Coroners and inquests’).

In the UK, there are organisations that can help families who have suffered a bereavement as a result of a road traffic death (see the section ‘Support organisations in the UK’ for further details).

Deaths investigated as murder or manslaughter

If the local police have confirmed that they are investigating the death as a murder or manslaughter a dedicated team within the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will be available to provide support, including by referring you to a specialised organisations. You can find more about what they can do online: www.gov.uk/government/publications/helping-british-people-abroad-murder-and-manslaughter.

Criminal investigations in Qatar are led by Public Prosecution (‘the Prosecutor’), supported by the police. If the alleged perpetrator has been identified and there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a charge, the case will be referred to court for a trial. If the Prosecutor decides that there is insufficient evidence to proceed with a charge, the accused will be released from custody and the investigation closed. This decision can be appealed by the next of kin within fifteen days. Once an investigation has been closed, it can normally only be reopened if there is fresh evidence which was not considered before.

The time from arrest to trial can be lengthy and complex cases can take years to be resolved. All investigations and subsequent court hearings are conducted in Arabic. There are no family liaison officers appointed to the next of kin and local authorities are not generally proactive in providing updates. The British Embassy will assist where possible but cannot get involved in the legal process and the local authorities are not obliged to disclose information. The next of kin are strongly advised to appoint a local lawyer to represent them at trial and provide updates (see section on ‘Legal aid’).

In addition to criminal proceedings, a victim’s family may also be able to initiate a civil case for damages against the perpetrator (see the section on ‘Compensation’).

You should note that if the deceased is repatriated to certain parts of the UK a Coroner or Procurator Fiscal may decide to hold an inquest (see the section on ‘UK Coroners and inquests’).

In the UK, there are organisations that can help families who have suffered a bereavement through murder or manslaughter (see the section ‘Support organisations in the UK’ for further details).

UK Coroners and inquests

If the person who died is repatriated to England and Wales there may be an inquest. The decision on when to hold an inquest is made by His Majesty’s Coroner. Inquests usually only happen in certain situations, for example, when someone has died in suspicious, unnatural and violent circumstances, or whilst in custody. If the person who died is buried in Qatar, there will not be an inquest.

If you repatriate the person who died to Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal may decide to call for a Fatal Accidents or Injuries Inquiry.

If you repatriate the person who died to Northern Ireland, there will be no coronial inquest or further inquiry.

Coroners and Procurators Fiscal do not have jurisdiction in another country, nor do they seek to apportion blame to a named individual. Find more information on inquests in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office guide on Death Abroad.

Legal aid

If you require legal advice, see list of local English-speaking lawyers.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is not able to provide legal advice or meet legal costs.

Compensation

Under Islamic law, the next of kin in cases of intentional or accidental death may be able to seek damages in the form of diyah (sometimes referred to as ‘blood money’). You should consult a local lawyer for more information.

Read more on UK compensation for victims of terrorism overseas.

Translation and interpretation

Arabic is the official language of Qatar. English is widely spoken but Arabic remains the working language of most government offices so you may find it helpful to be accompanied by an Arabic speaker for certain tasks. See list of local translators and interpreters.

Support organisations in the UK

In the UK, there are many organisations that can help bereaved families. Some of these are listed in the coping with death abroad guide.

Annex: list of useful contacts

Name	Contact
Hamad Hospital Mortuary	4439 2594
Humanitarian Services Office (Ministry of Interior)	4025 3371, 4025 3372, 4025 3369
Humanitarian Services Office (Ministry of Public Health)	4025 3370, 4025 3364
Humanitarian Services Office (Hamad Medical Corporation)	4025 3368, 4025 3365
Humanitarian Services Office (Qatar Airways)	4025 3374
British Embassy	4496 2000