Which medicines are banned in the UAE?

Irrespective of whether you are traveling to Dubai, UAE for vacations or are planning to relocate to the Emirate, it’s critical to understand the Emirate’s strict drug laws so you don’t get caught up in a situation that you’ll regret.

You need to bear in mind the fact that not all drugs that are considered legal in other parts of the world are acceptable in the UAE. Most importantly, there are strict laws in place and you may be subject to severe penalties for bringing in controlled drugs. As a result, it’s critical to double-check that your medications and over-the-counter medicines are allowed prior to traveling. Remember, the UAE is known for its zero-tolerance towards controlled drugs and has a very strict policy that deems strict searches at the airport necessary.

If you are planning to bring controlled medication – those that the Government strictly regulates – to Dubai, then it is vital for you to initially acquire approval from the Ministry of Health (MoH). Upon securing permission to bring in your medication to Dubai, you will be allowed:

• 12 month’s supply as a resident
• 3 month’s supply as a tourist

However, make sure that the packaging is not opened, and the original packaging is kept intact along with the prescription provided by your doctor.

The medicines that you can take to Dubai

• Imodium
• Paracetamol
• Ibuprofen
• Loratadine
• Aluminum hydroxide and Magnesium trisilicate

Is it easy to purchase medicines in Dubai?

Any medications that are not featured on MoH’s list of controlled drugs can easily be purchased in both pharmacies as well as supermarkets. In many cases, medicines that require a prescription in other parts of the world can be purchased easily in the UAE. However, this works vice versa too as you may require a prescription for drugs that are available OTC in other parts of the world.

Also, pharmacists are not allowed to accept foreign prescriptions, so you will required a new prescription from a medical practitioner registered in Dubai if you need to purchase medication that is controlled in the UAE.

Medicines that are banned in Dubai

A list of controlled drugs has been released by the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE. The list includes:

1. (+) – LYSERGIDE (LSD, LSD-25)
2. 2c-B
3. 3-methylfentanyl
4. 3-methylthiofentanyl
5. 4 – Methylaminorex
6. 4-MTA
7. Acetorphine
8. Acetyl-alpha-methylfentanyl
9. Acetyldihydrocodeine
10. Acetylmethadol
11. Alfentanyl
12. Allobarbital
13. Allylprodine
14. Alphacetylmethado
15. Alphameprodine
16. Alphamethadol
17. Alpha-methylfentanyl
18. Alpha-methylthiofentanyl
19. Alphaprodine
20. Alprazolam
21. Amfepramone
22. Amfetamine
23. Amineptine
24. Aminorex
25. Amisulpiride
26. Amobarbital
27. Anileridine
28. Aripiprazole
29. Barbital
30. Benzethidine
31. Benzfetamine
32. Benzhexol (TRIHEXYPHENIDYL)
33. Benzylmorphine
34. Betacetylmethadol
35. Beta-hydroxy-3-methylfentanyl
36. Beta-hydroxyfentanyl
37. Betameprodine
38. Betamethado
39. Betaprodine
40. Bezitramide
41. Brolamphetamine
42. Bromazepam
43. Brotizolam
44. Buprenorphine
45. Butalbital
46. Butobarbital
47. Camazepam
48. Cannabis Plant
49. Cannabis Resin
50. Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp)
51. Catha Edulis (Khat, Kat)
52. CATHINE (Norpseudo-Ephedrine)
53. Cathinone
54. Chlordiazepoxide
55. Chlormethiazole
56. Chlorpromazine
57. Claviceps Purpurea (Ergot)
58. Clobazam
59. Clonazepam
60. Clonitrazene
61. Clorazepate
62. Clotiazepam
63. Cloxazolam
64. Clozapine
65. Coca leaf
66. Cocaine
67. Codeine
68. Codeine >30mg/Unit Dose (in combination)
69. Codoxime
70. Concentrate of poppy straw
71. Corynanthe Yohimbe (Bark)
72. Corynanthe Yohimbe (Yohimbe Bush)
73. Cyclobarbital
74. Datura (Datura Stramonium)
75. Delorazepam
76. Desomorphine
77. DET
78. Dexamfetamine
79. Dextromoramide
80. Dextropropoxyphene
81. Diampromide
82. Diazepam
83. Diethylthiambutene
84. Difenoxin
85. Dihydrocodeine
86. Dihydrocodeine (with combination)
87. Dihydroetorphine
88. Dihydromorphine
89. Dimenoxadol
90. Dimepheptanol
91. Dimethylthiambutene
92. Dioxaphetyl butyrate
93. Diphenoxylate
94. Dipipanone
95. DMA
96. DMHP
97. DMT
98. DOET
99. Dronabinol
100. Droperidol
101. Drotebanol
102. Ecgonine
103. Ehtylmorphine
104. Ephedrine
105. Ergot mushroom
106. Erythroxylon Coca (Coca)
107. Estazolam
108. Ethchlorvynol
109. Ethinamate
110. Ethyl Loflazepate
111. Ethylmethylthiambutene
112. Eticyclidine
113. Etilamfetamine (N-Ethylamphetamine)
114. Etonitazene
115. Etorphine
116. Etoxeridine
117. Etryptamine
118. Fencamfamin
119. Fenetylline
120. Fenproporex
121. Fentanyl
122. Fludiazepam
123. Flumazenil
124. Flunitrazepam
125. Flupenthixol
126. Fluphenazine Dihydrochloride
127. Flurazepam
128. Furethidine
129. Gabapentin
130. Ghb
131. Glutethamide
132. Halazepam
133. Haloperidol
134. Haloxazolam
135. Heroin
136. Hydrocodone
137. Hydromorphinol
138. Hydromorphone
139. Hydroxypethidine
140. Hyoscyamus Niger (Henbane)
141. Ipomoea sp. (Morning Glory)
142. Isomethadone
143. Ketamine, Ketalar
144. Ketazolam
145. Ketobemidone
146. Lefetamine
147. Levamfetamine
148. Levomethorphan
149. Levomoramide
150. Levophenacylmorphan
151. Levorphanol
152. Lisdexamphetamine
153. Lophophora Williamsii (Peyote)
154. Loprazolam
155. Lorazepam
156. Lormetazepam
157. Lovomethamphetamine
158. Mazindol
159. MDE, N-ethyl MDA
160. MDMA
161. Mecloqualone
162. Medazepam
163. Medetomidine
164. Mefenorex
165. Mephenoxalone
166. Meprobamate
167. Mescaline
168. Mesocarb
169. Metamfetamine
170. Metazocine
171. Methadone
172. Methadone intermediate
173. Methafetamine Racemate
174. Methaqualone
175. Methcathinone
176. Methtrimeprazine
177. Methyldesorphine
178. Methyldihydromorphine
179. Methylphenidate
180. Methylphenobarbital
181. Methyprylon
182. Metopon
183. Midazolam
184. Misoprostol
185. MMDA
186. Modafinil
187. Moramide intermediate
188. Morning Glory
189. Morpheridine
190. Morphine
191. Morphine methobromide
192. Morphine n-oxide
193. MPPP
194. Myrophine
195. Nalbuphine
196. N-hydroxy MDA
197. Nicocodeine
198. Nicodicodeine
199. Nicomorphine
200. Nimetazepam
201. Nitrazepam
202. Noracymethadol
203. Norcodeine
204. Nordazepam
205. Norlevorphanol
206. Normethadone
207. Normorphine
208. Norpipanone
209. Olanzapine
210. Opium
211. Oxazepam
212. Oxazolam
213. Oxycodone
214. Oxymorphone
215. Papaver Somniferum (Opium)
216. Para-fluorofentanyl
217. Parahexyl
218. Pemoline
219. Pentazocine
220. Pentobarbital
221. PEPAP
222. Pethidine
223. Pethidine intermediate A
224. Pethidine intermediate B
225. Pethidine intermediate C
226. Peyote Cactus
227. Phenadoxone
228. Phenampromide
229. Phenazocine
230. Phencyclidine
231. Phendimetrazine
232. Phenmetrazine
233. Phenobarbital
234. Phenomorphan
235. Phenoperidine
236. Phentermine
237. Pholcodeine
238. Piminodine
239. Pimozide
240. Pinazepam
241. Pipradrol
242. Piptadenia Pregrina
243. Piritramide
244. PMA
245. Prazepam
246. Pregabalin
247. Prochlorperazine
248. Procyclidine
249. Proheptazine
250. Properidine
251. Propiram
252. Propylhexedrine
253. Prostaglandin E2
254. Pseudoephedrine
255. Psilocine, Psilotsin
256. Psilocybe sp. & Amanita mushrooms (Magic Mushroom)
257. Psilocybin mushrooms
258. Psilocybine
259. Pyrovalerone
260. Quetiapine
261. Racemethorphan
262. Racemoramide
263. Racemorphan
264. Rolicyclidine (PHP, PCPY)
265. Secbutabarbital
266. Secobarbital
267. STP, DOM
268. Sufentanyl
269. Sulpiride
270. Sultopride
271. Synthetic Cannabinoids (Cannabimimetics)
272. Tabernanthe Iboga (Iboga tree)
273. Temazepam
274. Tenamfetamine (MDA)
275. Tenocyclidine (TCP)
276. Tetrahydrocannabinol
277. Tetrazepam
278. Thebacon
279. Thebaine
280. Thiofentanyl
281. Thioridazine
282. TMA
283. Tramadol
284. Triazolam
285. Trifluoperazine
286. Trimeperidine
287. Vinylbital
288. Zaleplon
289. Zipeprol
290. Ziprasidone
291. Zolpidem
292. Zopiclone
293. Zuclopenhtixol

For further details, please visit https://www.uae-embassy.org/sites/default/files/List%20of%20Controlled%20and%20Restricted%20Drugs.pdf