Customs Regulations

In a nutshell visitors to Dubai can bring in duty-free:

  • 4 litres of alcohol, or 2 cartons of beer (1 carton = 24 cans not exceeding 355 ml)
  • 400 cigarettes
  • 50 cigars
  • 500 g of loose tobacco

Prohibited items include:

  • Drugs
  • Firearms
  • Pornography

In 2007 the Dubai Police began using PDA's at the airport to identify illegal drugs and medicines.

Note: Due to increasing concerns from our readers concerning which medicines can be brought into Dubai we have managed to find a list of medicines that are restricted in the UAE. We accept no responsibility for the accuracy of this list and advice given (there's another one below from Fair Trials International).

Visitors thinking about bringing drugs or restricted medicines into Dubai would be well advised to read the following articles:

Reviews / Comments / Additional Information

georgina
In response to that idiot Danielle, are you a fool?. Whatever you do, do not eat any rolls or bread with poppy seeds or you will go to prison for 4 years. Also when you get to Dubai you need to check the bottom of your shoes. For all you know you may have stood on a discarded joint. If they find any slightest trace you are going to prison for 4 years. Do not take the pain killer co-codomol which you can buy over the counter in the uk. If any trace is found in your system you are going to prison. Good luck, you're going to need it love.
Tony
I've lived here in the region for years and I cross the borders two or three times a month. I have never had much hassle except with hire cars. The airport is a doddle to go through, much better than Heathrow. The police are generally laid back. I always smile or talk about soccer, which they love. I even crossed without a passport one time. No problems. The only thing to remember is to check your stamps as they can be a bit lackadaisical and forget to change the dates.
Marco
I am a regular smoker of marijuana, it is not illegal where I live. As such I cannot guarantee that there would not be near microscopic traces in the pockets of my clothes even after several washes and attempts to clean. So I'd have to buy all new clothes. Quitting marijuana a couple of months prior to travel is no problem. But buying all new clothes and bags is far too expensive and inconvenient. Even though I have no desire to break the laws of the UAE, it seems like it would be very difficult and expensive not to. I am now too scared to go there and after much research on the applicable laws am cancelling my trip. Whilst I agree with their laws, targeting and imprisoning people who unintentionally have minute traces present in their clothing or luggage or the sole of their shoe seems immoral. A great deal of innocent people are imprisoned in this way.
Jono
I have been coming to Dubai on and off for 11 years. In all that time, I have never been tested, harrassed or questioned going through the airport. If I were travelling here with medications, I would contact the UAE consulate in your country asking what documentation you need to bring in specific medications. Better to be safe than sorry. In the paper today, a 75 year old man is in court for being in possesion of codeine for back pain. He had taken it for 41 years, but no doctor's prescription or letter. Like any country, be careful. Some basic drugs are banned in Greece too.
RW
Sagree, no Dubai does not accept any temporary passports. You must have a full valid passport to travel there. As for the drug stuff, it's illegal anywhere so get over it. I like going to a clean, drug free country. If you want otherwise, there are loads of places to go for that.
Also, prescription drugs, e.g.. for depression, etc. are allowed in as long as you have your prescription with you.
Traveller
I have just returned from Dubai. I am regular user of social drugs in the uk including cannabis. I was impressed with Dubai's anti-drug policy, nice to not see stoners and coke heads in every bar. I had no problem at customs, and i didn't smoke cannabis for 4 weeks prior to departure as a precaution. If you are a clean living non-drug taker, you will have no problems. Respect their laws and you will be respected. I wish the police were as harsh here, maybe our crime rate would be less!
Margo
Did anyone notice that that prohibited list contains common medications like birth control pills (used to treat ovarian cysts and endometriosis), and medications that treat mental illnesses like schizophrenia (Risperdal), anxiety (Xanax), depression (Prozac), headaches (amitryptyline), bipolar disorder (Camcolite)?
Guess any poor soul unfortunate to suffer from any of those conditions isn't welcome in Dubai.
They're one step away from how the Nazis treated people with those disorders.
Jose
I will cancel my trip to Dubai. Who can understand these people? They promote this place, and later on they jail you. Incredible.
Danielle
I am amazed at some of the remarks and comments made about Dubai. I'm moving there in January to work for Emirates. If you want to smoke marijuana, cannabis and whatever else people smoke these days, then just don't go to Dubai. They have their laws for a reason and I for one am very impressed with the way they control and regulate their drug laws. I think it should be implemented in other countries as well. Maybe then there will be less drug overdoses and people's lives destroyed because of drug abuse.
Traveller
There's a difference between stopping people trying to smuggle drugs (even small amounts) and urine testing people with nothing on them. What each individual does under different jurisdictions is their own business. I'm stopping in Amsterdam on my way to Dubai and I'm actually worried about going into town because I could easily "pick up" a trace of marijuana from the street onto my shoe!
JohnHarrison
People need not forget that carrying 'a small amount of marijuana' in America, for example, does not just get you a warning. It gets you arrested and imprisoned. Before going to any foreign country, do the research so you can play it safe!
John
Dave - DXB Resident, What a person does in another country is their business. What if you live in Holland and go to the UAE, will they pee test you to make sure you are clean? For Gods sake, what's going on here?
Maria
Any country you go to, you have got to respect their laws and their culture.
If you have been told not to carry something, simply don't!
And no they don't stop you for things like mints nor do they do a urine test! Dubai is one of the most fantastic places to live in and to visit. Drug laws are strict in the UAE because the government is concerned about its people.
Boycott Bill
I'm with 'concerned traveler'. This is a backwards police state that has no respect for basic process of law. My advice is to boycott the place, its airline and all its businesses, and to tell all your business associates and friends to do likewise. Its the only recourse we have.
Concerned traveller
Sounds like Dubai for all its gleaming new buildings, wealth and outward appearance is no more than a barbaric, over-zealous police state that is stuck on itself. Putting people into jail for 4 or more years for such microscopic traces of cannabis and over-the-counter medications (which are essential to the health and quality of life for some) and poppy seeds from bread (good grief!) is truly the height of stupidity and demonstrates the UAE's inability to follow international norms. Yes, it is within the UAE's sovereign rights to disallow the importation of addictive drugs within its borders (as most civilised countries do) but not to this outrageous extreme. I will never visit UAE or Dubai, connect through their airport nor will my company do business with such a ruthless country until they stop their barbaric custom enforcements on innocent travelers and/or visitors. Beware travellers, the image Dubai is projecting to the world is a fraud.
sofia
I have lived in Dubai for 3 years. It is a very friendly and easy going place to be. Trouble will never come looking for you out here.
TH
I use cannabis very occasionally here in the UK. I recently found out that I am to be posted to Dubai for 2 years starting in October. Prior to receiving this news I had smoked the week before. Seeing the posts on this site are very worrying. Should I now call the whole trip off?
Many thanks for your help.
Sagree
Would a temporary South African passport be acceptable to enter Dubai. I will be spending 2-3 days in Dubai
Dave - DXB Resident
No, they don't 'pee test' everyone that passes through Dubai airport, the thing is, follow the laws, dont bring in what you shouldn't and then your fine. Its your own responsibility to check what the customs of other countries are before you go there, if you don't adhere by there customs, then obviously you are going to get into bother.
Yes, you probably will get 4 years in prison for pocession of marijuana, but should you even be bringing into the country anyway? And should it even be in your system?
Respect Dubai's laws, and the authorities of Dubai will respect you.
legal user of medicine
Like Alan I am very dubious of Dubai Customs. I usually take a Valium for air travel, as I was involved in a crash once, and never got over the jitters. It helps loads. However, if they take urine samples of everybody that comes through the airport, not only is that insane, an invasion of privacy, but it could land me in jail for 4 years just because I took a tiny pill 6 hours before to enable me to step aboard.
Do they pee test everybody? I mean I read where they arrested a guy for Melatonin! It's even sold over the counter in Dubai and they still arrested him!
Editor
Smokelover, the limits have changed. We have updated the information. Thanks for raising this.
Smokelover
Is the cigarette limit still 2000? Can the editor please confirm what is the updated figure that anyone can bring to the UAE from abroad. Thanks
Alex
People are right when they write that the law will do pretty much what they decide in Dubai. I lived there for 3 and a half years and witnessed a lot of cases which we would consider unjust. I had a DJ get 4 years for traces of marijuana in his blood system and know another guy who was arrested and spent 2 months in jail just because a local said he had been smoking marijuana. I myself was thrown in jail for a week for just crashing a car and walking home to report it instead of standing on a blazing desert road in 105 degree heat to wait for a passing police car! It's a great place to live but if you ever have the misfortune to come under the eyes of the law I can tell you now you it's like talking to a deaf person. They will do exactly what they want and there is no reasoning or leniency. I might add these cases are very rare but they do happen. The British consulate will also be unable to help you in any way until you are tried in court as they will not interfere in a case which is under investigation. The Dubai authorities know this and can keep an 'investigation' going for years if they wish.
Editor
Feb 20 2008 - The severity of Dubai’s drug laws was highlighted yesterday when influential British DJ Grooverider was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for possession of cannabis. Grooverider, the stage name of Raymond Bingham, is widely recognised as one of the founders of the drum and bass movement.
Grooverider was arrested at Dubai International Airport in Novemeber as he flew into to perform at The Lodge nightclub. He had forgotten to remove a joint containing 2.16 grams of cannabis from his trousers.
Earlier this month another British visitor, Keith Brown, was jailed for 4 years after 0.003 g of cannabis was found stuck to the bottom of his shoe. The piece of cannabis was so small that it could not been seen with the naked eye.
Editor
Alan. I've tracked down a list of restricted medicines in the UAE (see link above). I can't vouch for its accuracy.
ALAN
Travelling to Dubai with dexamphetamine and can't find anyone who will tell me if it is allowed? I have prescription & doctors letter but very dubious. Could someone set me straight?
Editor
Mildred. I'm sorry for your predicament. Prescription drugs legal in some countries (codeine etc.) can get you thrown in jail in Dubai if you can't show a prescription. That is fully acknowledged in the comments in this section. However, to be fair you didn't say this. You said mints.
I wish you all the best with your campaign and hope it's resolved quickly. Let us know the outcome.
Mildred
Editor: I wish it were fantasy, but unfortunately I am living this reality right now: Someone I love is facing charges for bringing melatonin into Dubai, which is sold over-the-counter.
Unfortunately I can't keep coming back, because the campaign for his release is a full time job for me, but I'll leave you with a quick example of prosecution based on prescription drugs in urine: ... news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/southern_counties/4200952.stm
If I sounded alarmist it is because I do not want anyone to go through what I am right now. This has been a nightmare. Thanks for listening, and I hope some good comes of this.
Editor
Mildred. Dubai's drug laws are strict but you are exaggerating their severity. I would very much doubt you could come up with some credible evidence that somebody has been received a 4 year jail sentence for possession of a mint. If you have any evidence of this, a newspaper report etc., please post here and I'll be glad to publish. Otherwise I think readers can take some of her comments as fantasy.
Mildred
I would like to add that you can be thrown in jail for bringing into the country health supplements, aspirins, mints, and anything they decide looks funny. It is also considered 'drug smuggling' by having even the slightest trace of last months toke in your system and you will face four years in prison for this. Please be aware that if you have touched a smoker, or have potentially inhaled second hand smoke, this counts as 'smuggling' as well, and you will be face the four year sentence.
When they say 'zero tolerance' we're talking Orwellian proportions, here.
Please be safe.
carl d
Drug laws are very strict in Dubai. You can get a pretty hefty jail sentence for possession of just small amounts of recreational drugs like marijuana.
clever sod
Don't forget to buy booze from duty free when you land. You cannot buy alcohol from shops once you are in Dubai if you are a tourist, only from hotel restaurants and bars. Also get cigarettes here because some Western brands are difficult to find in the city.
sarah b
Try and avoid bringing any medicines containg codeine into Dubai. If you have to, make sure you bring your prescription.
Robert
Save carrying extra luggage and but from the arrivals duty free by the baggage reclaim (after immigration) at DXB airport. Wines, spirits, gifts, perfumes, cigarettes. All the usual suspects. And open 24 hours a day.

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