Preparation is the key to successful traveling or living abroad. By doing your homework before you leave, you minimize the chances of something going wrong. On Expat Echo Dubai you will find a broad range of information to help you prepare for a safe and enjoyable stay in Dubai. One of the best pieces of advice we like to impart on expats in Dubai, whether you’re planning a short vacation or a long-term stay, is to register your presence with your home country.

Most countries provide a registration service for their nationals traveling or living abroad. This service is provided so that they can contact and assist you in an emergency, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home.

Registering is simple, confidential, free and can be done on-line in a few easy steps. The team at Expat Echo Dubai has put together the following list to make registering all the more simple, click on your home country to get started;

Australia

Canada

Ireland

New Zealand

South Africa

United States

If your home country is not one of those above, check the website for your country’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to see if they offer a similar registration service.

Please note the UK government used to offer a service called ‘LOCATE’ however this has now been superseded by a country-specific email alert system and additional social media channels. Travellers should subscribe to email or social media updates. For those wanting to subscribe, go to www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and select the country you are travelling to. On the right hand side, click on “Email Alerts” and then enter your email address. Travel advice updates will also be issued via the FCO Twitter account @fcotravel and on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/fcotravel.

For many countries, you can also register your travel plans in person at their overseas embassies and consulates.

Click here for a directory of embassies and consulates in Dubai.