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:
- (+) – LYSERGIDE (LSD, LSD-25)
- 2c-B
- 3-methylfentanyl
- 3-methylthiofentanyl
- 4 – Methylaminorex
- 4-MTA
- Acetorphine
- Acetyl-alpha-methylfentanyl
- Acetyldihydrocodeine
- Acetylmethadol
- Alfentanyl
- Allobarbital
- Allylprodine
- Alphacetylmethado
- Alphameprodine
- Alphamethadol
- Alpha-methylfentanyl
- Alpha-methylthiofentanyl
- Alphaprodine
- Alprazolam
- Amfepramone
- Amfetamine
- Amineptine
- Aminorex
- Amisulpiride
- Amobarbital
- Anileridine
- Aripiprazole
- Barbital
- Benzethidine
- Benzfetamine
- Benzhexol (TRIHEXYPHENIDYL)
- Benzylmorphine
- Betacetylmethadol
- Beta-hydroxy-3-methylfentanyl
- Beta-hydroxyfentanyl
- Betameprodine
- Betamethado
- Betaprodine
- Bezitramide
- Brolamphetamine
- Bromazepam
- Brotizolam
- Buprenorphine
- Butalbital
- Butobarbital
- Camazepam
- Cannabis Plant
- Cannabis Resin
- Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp)
- Catha Edulis (Khat, Kat)
- CATHINE (Norpseudo-Ephedrine)
- Cathinone
- Chlordiazepoxide
- Chlormethiazole
- Chlorpromazine
- Claviceps Purpurea (Ergot)
- Clobazam
- Clonazepam
- Clonitrazene
- Clorazepate
- Clotiazepam
- Cloxazolam
- Clozapine
- Coca leaf
- Cocaine
- Codeine
- Codeine >30mg/Unit Dose (in combination)
- Codoxime
- Concentrate of poppy straw
- Corynanthe Yohimbe (Bark)
- Corynanthe Yohimbe (Yohimbe Bush)
- Cyclobarbital
- Datura (Datura Stramonium)
- Delorazepam
- Desomorphine
- DET
- Dexamfetamine
- Dextromoramide
- Dextropropoxyphene
- Diampromide
- Diazepam
- Diethylthiambutene
- Difenoxin
- Dihydrocodeine
- Dihydrocodeine (with combination)
- Dihydroetorphine
- Dihydromorphine
- Dimenoxadol
- Dimepheptanol
- Dimethylthiambutene
- Dioxaphetyl butyrate
- Diphenoxylate
- Dipipanone
- DMA
- DMHP
- DMT
- DOET
- Dronabinol
- Droperidol
- Drotebanol
- Ecgonine
- Ehtylmorphine
- Ephedrine
- Ergot mushroom
- Erythroxylon Coca (Coca)
- Estazolam
- Ethchlorvynol
- Ethinamate
- Ethyl Loflazepate
- Ethylmethylthiambutene
- Eticyclidine
- Etilamfetamine (N-Ethylamphetamine)
- Etonitazene
- Etorphine
- Etoxeridine
- Etryptamine
- Fencamfamin
- Fenetylline
- Fenproporex
- Fentanyl
- Fludiazepam
- Flumazenil
- Flunitrazepam
- Flupenthixol
- Fluphenazine Dihydrochloride
- Flurazepam
- Furethidine
- Gabapentin
- Ghb
- Glutethamide
- Halazepam
- Haloperidol
- Haloxazolam
- Heroin
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphinol
- Hydromorphone
- Hydroxypethidine
- Hyoscyamus Niger (Henbane)
- Ipomoea sp. (Morning Glory)
- Isomethadone
- Ketamine, Ketalar
- Ketazolam
- Ketobemidone
- Lefetamine
- Levamfetamine
- Levomethorphan
- Levomoramide
- Levophenacylmorphan
- Levorphanol
- Lisdexamphetamine
- Lophophora Williamsii (Peyote)
- Loprazolam
- Lorazepam
- Lormetazepam
- Lovomethamphetamine
- Mazindol
- MDE, N-ethyl MDA
- MDMA
- Mecloqualone
- Medazepam
- Medetomidine
- Mefenorex
- Mephenoxalone
- Meprobamate
- Mescaline
- Mesocarb
- Metamfetamine
- Metazocine
- Methadone
- Methadone intermediate
- Methafetamine Racemate
- Methaqualone
- Methcathinone
- Methtrimeprazine
- Methyldesorphine
- Methyldihydromorphine
- Methylphenidate
- Methylphenobarbital
- Methyprylon
- Metopon
- Midazolam
- Misoprostol
- MMDA
- Modafinil
- Moramide intermediate
- Morning Glory
- Morpheridine
- Morphine
- Morphine methobromide
- Morphine n-oxide
- MPPP
- Myrophine
- Nalbuphine
- N-hydroxy MDA
- Nicocodeine
- Nicodicodeine
- Nicomorphine
- Nimetazepam
- Nitrazepam
- Noracymethadol
- Norcodeine
- Nordazepam
- Norlevorphanol
- Normethadone
- Normorphine
- Norpipanone
- Olanzapine
- Opium
- Oxazepam
- Oxazolam
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Papaver Somniferum (Opium)
- Para-fluorofentanyl
- Parahexyl
- Pemoline
- Pentazocine
- Pentobarbital
- PEPAP
- Pethidine
- Pethidine intermediate A
- Pethidine intermediate B
- Pethidine intermediate C
- Peyote Cactus
- Phenadoxone
- Phenampromide
- Phenazocine
- Phencyclidine
- Phendimetrazine
- Phenmetrazine
- Phenobarbital
- Phenomorphan
- Phenoperidine
- Phentermine
- Pholcodeine
- Piminodine
- Pimozide
- Pinazepam
- Pipradrol
- Piptadenia Pregrina
- Piritramide
- PMA
- Prazepam
- Pregabalin
- Prochlorperazine
- Procyclidine
- Proheptazine
- Properidine
- Propiram
- Propylhexedrine
- Prostaglandin E2
- Pseudoephedrine
- Psilocine, Psilotsin
- Psilocybe sp. & Amanita mushrooms (Magic Mushroom)
- Psilocybin mushrooms
- Psilocybine
- Pyrovalerone
- Quetiapine
- Racemethorphan
- Racemoramide
- Racemorphan
- Rolicyclidine (PHP, PCPY)
- Secbutabarbital
- Secobarbital
- STP, DOM
- Sufentanyl
- Sulpiride
- Sultopride
- Synthetic Cannabinoids (Cannabimimetics)
- Tabernanthe Iboga (Iboga tree)
- Temazepam
- Tenamfetamine (MDA)
- Tenocyclidine (TCP)
- Tetrahydrocannabinol
- Tetrazepam
- Thebacon
- Thebaine
- Thiofentanyl
- Thioridazine
- TMA
- Tramadol
- Triazolam
- Trifluoperazine
- Trimeperidine
- Vinylbital
- Zaleplon
- Zipeprol
- Ziprasidone
- Zolpidem
- Zopiclone
- Zuclopenhtixol
For further details, please visit https://www.uae-embassy.org/sites/default/files/List%20of%20Controlled%20and%20Restricted%20Drugs.pdf
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