Funeral services: say what exactly you’re looking for

Funeral services in the UAE: costs, permits and what to ask

Updated 4 November 2026

In the UAE a basic funeral costs about AED 9,000 to AED 20,000, even without repatriation, and a cremation is estimated at about AED 9,000 to AED 18,000, according to providers' websites in November 2026. The total depends on repatriation, transport, documents and the cemetery. To compare current quotes for your emirate, send a request on BlaBlaPrice.

Permits and documents

Burial or cremation needs an official permit. In Abu Dhabi the application is made after logging in with the national digital ID, submitting the required documents and paying the fee. In Dubai the burial permit requires a copy of the hospital death certificate and a no-objection letter from Dubai Police. In Sharjah a cremation permit involves about AED 3,000 for the cremation fee and AED 1,000 for the municipality fee. An Abu Dhabi announcement says the government covers death-procedure costs such as the certificate and embalming, so ask whether that applies to your case.

Season and climate

The climate is very hot from May to September and mild from November to March. Ask providers for the expected timeline of each step before you pay, because the heat leaves little room for delay. Repatriation and local burial are priced very differently, and a local funeral generally costs less than repatriation, so that choice changes the whole budget.

How the service is bought here

Providers quote packages that bundle transport, documents, the cemetery and the funeral, and many show each item separately, such as documentation at AED 2,000–3,500 and transport at AED 1,500–2,500. Coffin prices have risen in recent years, from about AED 1,200 to AED 2,300, so ask for the coffin model and its price in writing. Ask whether the provider covers Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman or Al Ain, since the cemetery you choose changes the price.

What to write in your request

Say which service you need: funeral arrangements, a headstone or memorial, or grave maintenance. Add the emirate and cemetery, the date you need, the documents you already have and whether repatriation is needed. Mention your budget as well, so providers can offer a package that fits.

On BlaBlaPrice you describe the request in your own words in a chat, and the AI asks for missing details. It then looks through providers' websites and price lists in the UAE and shows the prices and businesses it found. Registered providers receive the request and answer in the chat with their own offer, while your contacts stay hidden until you decide to share them. You can also look at Headstones & memorials or Grave maintenance, and read how BlaBlaPrice works.