Ethiopian Died in Saudi Arabia: What to Do in the First 72 Hours

The Phone Call No Family Expects

When an Ethiopian or Eritrean family receives word that a loved one has died in Saudi Arabia, the first instinct is panic. That reaction is entirely human — but the Saudi administrative system runs on strict, time-sensitive steps, and missing any of them in the first 72 hours can delay repatriation by weeks or even months.

Here is the sequence that matters most, in the order it matters.

Hour 0–6: Confirm the Death and Identify the Sponsor

The hospital should issue a preliminary death notification report called a Tablig Al-Wafa. If the death happened outside a hospital — at a worksite, in a vehicle, or at home — the finder or employer should contact the local police, who take custody of the body and transport it to a government mortuary for examination.

Your first call should be to the deceased's employer or sponsor (kafeel). Under Saudi Arabia's Kafala system, the sponsor holds the legal authority to begin every administrative step that follows — from obtaining the death certificate to securing the exit visa for the remains. Without the sponsor's cooperation, the process stalls.

If you cannot reach the sponsor, contact the Ethiopian Embassy in Riyadh (+966 11 482 3919) or the Ethiopian Consulate in Jeddah (+966 12 665 3444). For Eritrean nationals, contact the Eritrean Embassy in Riyadh (+966 1 480 1726) or the Eritrean Consulate in Jeddah (+966 12 674 0592).

Hour 6–24: Issue the Power of Attorney and Notify the Embassy

The embassy needs a notarized Power of Attorney (PoA) from the next of kin to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) — the document that authorizes Saudi authorities to release the body. Ethiopian families can execute the PoA through the Digital MOFA mobile app, which transmits legalized records to Addis Ababa within 24 to 48 hours.

For Eritrean families, there is an additional hurdle. The Eritrean state requires proof of compliance with the mandatory 2% Recovery and Rehabilitation Tax on all foreign-earned income. If the deceased or the claiming heirs have outstanding tax debts, the embassy will block all vital records, powers of attorney, and legal letters — effectively freezing the entire process.

Also notify any active travel or life insurance providers during this window, and check each policy's notification requirements.

After the Initial Notifications: Death Registration at Civil Affairs

The sponsor takes the hospital's death report, the deceased's passport, their Iqama residency card, and the embassy-issued NOC to the local Civil Affairs Department (Ahwal Al-Madani). This office issues the formal Death Certificate for Non-Saudis (Shahada Al-Wafa).

One critical detail: the name on the Saudi death certificate must match the passport spelling exactly. Even a minor transliteration difference between Arabic and Latin script can block the exit visa, delay repatriation at the cargo terminal, and create problems with domestic probate courts in Ethiopia or Eritrea. If there is a discrepancy, corrections can only be processed at the Civil Affairs head office in Riyadh — adding days or weeks to the timeline.

What If the Death Was Not Natural?

If the death resulted from a workplace accident, traffic collision, homicide, or suicide, the administrative path diverges sharply. The police and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) assume jurisdiction, and the body moves to a centralized government mortuary — typically the King Saud Medical Complex in Riyadh or King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah.

No embalming or release of the body can happen until the Governorate office and CID issue an official clearance. This investigation routinely takes several months. In workplace death cases, the employer must submit a GOSI (General Organization for Social Insurance) occupational hazard claim within three days.

What to Document Right Now

Start a record immediately. You will need it later for insurance claims, GOSI benefits, and probate:

• The deceased's full passport details and Iqama number
• The sponsor's name, company name, and contact information
• The hospital or police station where the death was registered
• Names and badge numbers of any officials you speak with
• Copies of every document you receive, in both Arabic and English

The Bigger Picture

The first 72 hours set the trajectory for everything that follows — repatriation logistics, document legalization, GOSI survivor pension claims, and estate settlement. Families who designate a local representative in Saudi Arabia early, secure the Power of Attorney quickly, and maintain a cooperative (or at least documented) relationship with the sponsor move through the process in weeks rather than months.

For a complete, step-by-step walkthrough of the entire process — from death registration through repatriation, GOSI claims, and cross-border estate settlement — the Ethiopian/Eritrean Dies in Saudi Arabia Family Guide covers every agency, document, and deadline in one place.