al dente

Just thought of a good experience with the Embassy, when my son was a very ill newborn, they were much more helpful than the aussie embassy (we have dual nationality). We had to get him out of the country quick smart but the aussie embassy took his only birth certificate for 3 weeks and wouldn't help us fast track it to register him as Aussie. The BE said you both have british passports, get another copy of the birth cert and we can give you an emergency passport and you'll be out tonight. We were.

britexpat76

To be fair all the Foreign Offices are as bad. I didn't even bother with ours following my mishap, the other Brit in Al Wathba informed me that they sent an Indian guy and an Arabic guy to him, not a Brit. They informed in that they can do nothing except make sure he is not being mistreated.

The American embassy were worse though.

outtatouch

The American Embassy did not do me any favours - in fact it was the British Embassy that helped answer my husband's questions in regards to a car accident when I was hit by a local. We emailed and called the American Embassy and never heard a word.

lullabelle

The foreign office (minister for this region) was totally useless and misinformed on crucial points when my friend was deported. The embassy were clueless and unhelpful when she needed them before she was deported (for a crime she didn't commit.) Equally rubbish when she was going through the whole arrested/jail/court scenario.

I'm not sure what they do, apart from smooth trade links and kiss arses.

It's scary really. I do think citizens expect some sort of aid from the embassy and are quite shocked when it isn't forthcoming.

OleJanx

No matter where in the world they are, British embassies are purely trade missions, who occassionally have to deal with irritations like British subjects (if they really have to, mind.)

LaLaLayla

I have never really seen the Embassy as being there to help us if we get into trouble. I just don't think that's their function. In any event, they don't want to get involved in anything controversial, lest it jeopardise their own cushy roles.

If I found myself in any trouble, I would contact these guys: http://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/

britexpat76

All well and good, though you wont be able to contact them as you will not be allowed calls etc!

Your friends would have to do it all for you.

Kix

Erm, I think you'll find you are.....

britexpat76

You are allowed one every 2 weeks...........I know that from past experience.

Unless a local has smuggled a mobile in.........

Autonomy

Neil Cunningham, the uncle of Leading Seaman MacColl’s wife, said: “We are considering sending out someone to represent the family."

"There are a lot of discussions on here about flying people out ... [and] about how this will be funded,"

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-n...search-efforts

Kix

Erm.... You talking about Central (Al Awir) or Police Stations? Most Police Stations have payphones. How else are you meant to call a Lawyer?

mission

this thread is seriously way off course....you all say that the media out here is out in full force....are you seriously kidding me......NOT one person who isn't part of this forum knows about this drunk brit going missing....and yes i get that FB has thousands of followers, but apart from the brit expats on that forum there aint any other nationality on there.

Yes you can all try your best and act like you all have 'connections' but seriously WHAT THE *** GOOD HAS THAT DONE...****** JACK ALL.

you all throw so called 'connections', about knowing this guy and that guy etc...but you ALL (and i refer to those who have constantly commented about making enquiries with 'someone in the know') haven't managed to do diddly squat about finding the person.

Yes I'm sure most of you think I'm a douchebag and i don't give a sh*t about that lol, but i'll air what most on this forum are probably thinking but are afraid to say so, in case of being beaten down....this dude got so ****** piss drunk that not even his so called mates know what frigging taxi they put him in and where the hell he ended up in.....that in itself says a lot.

Inshallaah i hope he's fine, but seriously you reap what you sow.

Patsy Stoned

you are a totally twat and know nothing about people's connections nor about what they have been doing behind the scenes.
FYI a lot of people know about this, I train lots of different nationalities (Emirates,Jordanians,Palestinianes,Indians, Pakistani Westerners etc etc) and they ALL know about this. Everybody who has contributed to this thread has tried, in their own way, to help. If 1 person tells 2 people and so on then the word is spread.
Yes sweetie, you do reap what you sow, if you go missing I doubt there will be a thread about it!

norsk

actually there would probably be a thread discussing how not to find her....

very few people actively try to be hated by everyone they interact with, but this little monkey is on a mission. i can only see one reason for such behaviour, low self-esteem and perhaps growing up on the receiving end. we should actually feel sorry for the misfit....

scrubbedexpat141

Heard a rumour the Taxi Driver they think took him has disappeared.

If someone can tell me if it's true or not it would be useful...