United Arab Emirates

South African Embassy in Abu Dhabi & Consulate General in Dubai

Complete guide to South African diplomatic missions in the UAE. The Embassy in Abu Dhabi handles political and trade matters, while the Consulate General in Dubai serves the large South African expat community with passport renewals, Smart ID, citizenship, and consular services.

Contact Information

Embassy — Abu Dhabi

Villa No 1-151
Cnr Jabal A Marfa St & Al Niwayi St
Al Mushrif Area, Abu Dhabi
P.O. Box 29446
Phone: +971 2 417 6400
Email: abudhabi.dha@dirco.gov.za

Consulate General — Dubai

Khaleed bin al Waleed Street
New Sharaf Building, 3rd Floor
Bur Dubai, P.O. Box 34800
Phone: +971 4 397 5222
Fax: +971 4 397 9602
Email: macanikwas@dirco.gov.za

Opening Hours

Abu Dhabi & Dubai:
Sun-Thu: 08:00-15:00
Consular services by appointment
Closed on UAE & SA public holidays

After-Hours Emergency

DIRCO Head Office: +27 12 351 1000

Note: The UAE follows a Sun-Thu working week. Friday and Saturday are weekends.

Services Available

Passport Services

  • Passport renewals (via VFS Global)
  • New/first passport applications
  • Child passport applications
  • Emergency Travel Certificates (BI-123)
  • Maxi Tourist Passport (48 pages)

Identity Documents

  • Smart ID card applications (Live Capture available in Dubai)
  • ID book replacements
  • Temporary Identity Certificates

Civil Registration

  • Birth registration (SA citizenship by descent)
  • Marriage registration
  • Death registration
  • Unabridged birth certificates

Visa & Citizenship

  • Visa applications (visiting SA)
  • Citizenship by descent & retention
  • Notarial services & document authentication
  • Police clearance fingerprinting

Passport Renewal in the UAE

South African passport renewals in the UAE are processed through VFS Global. Applications are forwarded to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in Pretoria.

Step-by-Step: Renewing Your SA Passport in the UAE

  1. Book online at passport.vfsglobal.com
  2. Gather documents: current passport, South African ID, completed application form
  3. Attend VFS centre in Dubai or Abu Dhabi for biometric capture
  4. Pay the fee: R1,200 (standard 32-page) or R2,400 (maxi 48-page) — paid in AED equivalent
  5. Wait for processing: approximately 6-8 weeks
  6. Collect passport from VFS or opt for courier delivery

Standard 32-page

R1,200

~6-8 weeks

Maxi 48-page

R2,400

~6-8 weeks

Emergency Travel Cert

R140

1-2 working days

Booking Appointments

Consular services require appointments. Contact the relevant mission to schedule your visit.

How to Book

South Africans in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates is home to an estimated 80,000-100,000 South Africans, with the largest community in Dubai. Many work in construction, hospitality, finance, and aviation. The Consulate General in Dubai is the primary point of contact for most consular services, while the Embassy in Abu Dhabi handles diplomatic and political matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Passport renewals are processed through VFS Global centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Book at passport.vfsglobal.com. Bring your current passport and SA ID. Processing takes 6-8 weeks. Fee: R1,200 (standard) or R2,400 (maxi).

The Embassy is in Abu Dhabi at Villa No 1-151, Cnr Jabal A Marfa Street and Al Niwayi Street, Al Mushrif Area (phone: +971 2 417 6400). The Consulate General is in Dubai at Khaleed bin al Waleed Street, New Sharaf Building, 3rd Floor, Bur Dubai (phone: +971 4 397 5222). Most South Africans in Dubai use the Consulate General for day-to-day consular services.

Both the Abu Dhabi Embassy and Dubai Consulate General are open Sunday to Thursday, 08:00-15:00. Note the UAE follows a Sunday-Thursday working week. Consular services are by appointment. Both missions close on UAE and South African public holidays.

The Dubai Consulate General has DHA Live Capture equipment. Contact them at +971 4 397 5222 or macanikwas@dirco.gov.za to check availability and book an appointment. Processing takes 6-12 weeks. First Smart ID is free; re-issues cost R140.

If your child was born in the UAE and at least one parent is a South African citizen, register the birth at the Dubai Consulate General or Abu Dhabi Embassy. Bring the original UAE birth certificate, both parents' SA IDs/passports, marriage certificate, and DHA-24 form. Processing takes approximately 4 months.

UAE Services

Official Links