Q  My wife and I are expecting our first child here in Dubai, can you advise what is the procedure regarding paper work to follow once our child is born?

A First of all congratulations! You will have 30 days from the birth of your child to register the birth.
The hospital your baby is delivered in will issue a ‘notification of birth certificate’ in Arabic. All expatriates must get

both the Arabic and English certificate attested by the Ministry of Health (at Al Baraha Hospital) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Documents Required:
• Original + copy of parents’ passports with residence permits
• Copy of attested marriage certificate
• Discharge summary from hospital of mother and child

Some public hospitals such as Dubai Hospital (04-7075805), Rashid Hospital (04-3371111) and Al Wasl Hospital (04-3241111) have a counter which will issue the Arabic birth certificate. Go there and hand over the documents and receive the Arabic birth certificate immediately.

• For an English birth certificate, go to Preventive Medicine Department at Al Baraha Hospital (also known as Kuwaiti Hospital 04-2710000).

• Get an application form from the Birth Certificate Office. A translator will type your application at the hospital. You can get it attested at the Ministry of Health Counter at Al Baraha Hospital itself.

• Take the documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for attestation

This whole process will cost approx Dhs285.  You must also check with your embassy on anything else you may require to get your child citizenship and the passport.