Losing a loved one is incredibly traumatic, but the experience is all the more harrowing for families trying to return a relative to their home country.
A rise in immigration worldwide means repatriation is increasingly carried out and it can be a long and, in many cases, expensive process - regardless of the country of origin.
The average cost of repatriating a body from Dubai to the UK ranges between Dh20,000 and Dh30,000, a repatriation expert says. It largely depends on the destination – the average cost to Asia is Dh15,000, while Africa can be up to Dh35,000.
The process can take up to two weeks if the person dies outside of a hospital.
“You need to get a forensic report if someone dies outside a hospital in Dubai,” said Vivian Albertyn, whose company Middle East Assistance provides funeral services in Dubai.
"Depending on the cause of death you might need an autopsy and even a toxicology report. Once you get the forensics report you have to take it to the police who issue another certificate. It doesn't matter if you die of cancer or in a car accident, you need to have this."
The sensitivity and importance of the repatriation process was highlighted by The National, last week, when the there was a mix-up over two Indian men's bodies, and one was sent to the wrong family.
Mr Albertyn said that waiting for the forensics report can create significant delays.
“The cause of death in the forensics report is only in Arabic, which means that in some cases you have to get it legally translated depending on which country you are returning the body to.
“Once you get the forensics report you have to take it to the Ministry of Health, which issues a death certificate.”
As is the case in many countries, the next step for the bereaved family is to contact an embassy or consulate to get the deceased's passport cancelled. A letter stating there is no objection to the deceased being transported back to their own country should then be issued.
When this letter has been obtained, the family or their representative has to return to Dubai Police. They will then issue another series of letters saying the body can be embalmed and the remains can be released.
_______________
Read more:
Indian expat makes final journey easier for grieving families
Repatriation of employee usually paid by company on termination of contract
_______________
Mr Albertyn said that this process could take up to three days. Once all this has been completed, arrangements can be made with an airline for the body to be returned home.
If the body is not repatriated, for reasons including cost, the remains will then be sent to Sharjah crematorium, which can also be a lengthy process.
The delay in having a body released causes further hardships for families already in the throes of an ordeal.
Glen Baxter, of All Ireland Repatriation, said cultural differences could create unforeseen issues for grieving families.
"A lot of countries don't have the wake scenario like we do in Ireland," Mr Baxter said.
It is tradition in Ireland for families to invite friends and neighbours to visit the deceased’s home and pay their final respects before burial.
During these three days, the body is on display in an open casket. This becomes a difficulty, Mr Baxter said, when it could take up to two weeks for a body to be repatriated from Dubai.
“Embalming for us is very much a cosmetic issue to make sure it is possible for the deceased to be able to be put on display in their family’s home,” he said.
“That is not always possible when the deceased passed away two weeks ago. It is hard having to explain to families why they cannot have an open coffin during the wake ceremony.”
Mr Baxter said that the average cost of having a body repatriated to Ireland is between €6,000 and €8,000 (Dh25,600 to Dh34,100).
“The funeral can also be a costly experience without having the added pressure of having to pay to repatriate the deceased,” he said.
“Death abroad can be an added burden to an already suffering family. It is a big challenge for people to keep the cost down.”
The International Air Transport Association rules are specific on what is required before a body can be flown in a plane. The body must be contained in a hermetically sealed lead or zinc inner coffin placed inside a wooden one.
Death, embalming, police and embassy certificates are all required, as is the cancelled passport, as well as details of the person, if any, who will accompany the body home.
The costs do not end there, because it is common for family members to then have to fly to Dubai and take care of any outstanding business that the deceased might have.
This includes closing bank accounts, insurance payouts and selling cars or property.
more from Janine di Giovanni
Results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1hr 32mins 03.897sec
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) at 0.745s
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 37.383s
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) 46.466s
5.Sergio Perez (Red Bull-Honda) 52.047s
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 59.090s
7. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) 1:06.004
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 1:07.100
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:25.692
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.713,
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
