ABU DHABI // The British embassy and consulate are reducing the number of services offered from next month.
The change is part of the foreign and commonwealth office’s new worldwide consular strategy to reduce the duplication of services.
The move is intended to free up staff to focus on helping vulnerable and distressed British nationals abroad, such as mentally ill patients with no family in the UAE and victims of serious assaults.
The British missions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will no longer provide letters of no objection for sponsoring a spouse, or certify copies of official documents such as British passports, bank statements, utility bills, oaths, declarations and affirmations, except for marriage purposes and witnessing a signature.
These services will be available from local lawyers and the embassy provides a list on its website.
The embassy will continue to issue marriage affidavits for weddings in the UAE, letters of no objection to adopt, and administering an oath or attesting a British national’s signature, among other things.
The changes will take effect from December 1.
For more information email consular.uae@fco.gov.uk or visit www.gov.uk/notarial-and-documentary-services-guide-for-the-united-arab-emirates.
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