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:

Reader Comments / Additional Information

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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