Money declaration

Passengers travelling out of or entering the UAE with more than AED 60,000 in cash or an amount equivalent to this in other currencies, financial instruments, precious metals or valuable stones, must declare it to Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security (ICP).

You can declare the money through the official website or the Afseh app available on Google Play and App Store.

For passengers under the age of 18, the amount in their possession will be added to the permitted limit of their parent/guardian or accompanier.

Related eServices:

Cash disclosure-TAMM

Items exempted from customs duties

As per ICP, travellers may bring in the following items without being required to pay any taxes or duties:

• telescopes
• movie projection devices and relevant accessories
• radio, CD players and CDs
• ·video and digital cameras and their tapes for personal use
• portable music instruments
• cell phones
• TV and receiver, one each
• strollers
• personal sports equipment
• portable computers and printers
• calculators
• wheelchairs and vehicles of people of determination (people with special needs)
• medication for personal use, that is in compliance with the applicable regulations
• clothes, toiletries and luggage of personal nature.
• personal jewellery.

Personal belongings of passengers are permitted entry and shall be exempted from customs fees if the passenger meets the following conditions:

• value of gifts, perfumes and personal luggage does not exceed AED 3,000
• luggage and gifts must be of limited quantity and not in commercial ones
• passenger should not be a frequent traveller with goods on a regular basis, or a member of the respective conveyance crew.

As per Passenger Custom Guide (PDF, 759 KB) issued by Government of Dubai, the following permitted items are exempted from customs duties and will be allowed entry:

• A total number of 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco (minced or pressed for pipes) or minced/pressed tobacco for smoking, tumbâk (pure tobacco) or hookah molasses
• Alcoholic beverages not exceeding 4 litres or 2 cartons of beer, each consisting of 24 cans not exceeding 355 ml for each can.

Customs duty will be levied on quantities and values in excess of the limits provided above, in addition to VAT.

Rate of customs duty

The rate of customs duty is 5 per cent of the value of goods plus Cost Freight Insurance. It is 50 per cent on alcohol and 100 per cent on cigarettes. Refer to:

• The Unified Customs Tariff for GCC States 2022 – ICP
• The General Administration of Customs, Abu Dhabi
• Dubai Customs
• Customs tariff - Sharjah Customs
• Low Customs Tariffs - Ministry of Economy.

Banned and restricted goods

The UAE Government bans the entry of certain goods and restricts some others. Banned/prohibited goods are those whose import and export is banned under the Common Customs Law of the GCC States (PDF, 567 KB), or any other law or regulation applicable in the UAE.

Restricted goods are goods whose import and export is restricted under the same law above and applicable regulations, and they need prior approval from the authorities concerned prior to import or export.

Banned items include, but are not limited to:

• controlled/recreational drugs and narcotic substances
• pirated content
• counterfeit currency
• items used in black magic, witchcraft or sorcery
• publications and artwork that contradict or challenge Islamic teachings and values
• gambling tools and machines.

Restricted items

The following list outlines restricted goods along with their respective controlling authorities:

Find more information on banned and restricted commodities:

• Commodities Guide (restricted and prohibited goods) – General Administration Customs- Abu Dhabi
• Prohibited and restricted goods – Dubai Customs
• Banned and restricted goods - Sharjah Customs
• What you may not bring into the UAE - Abu Dhabi International Airport
• What you may not bring into the UAE - Dubai International Airport.

Forms of smuggling and penalties

Forms of smuggling include:

• failing to report to the first customs department with items when entering the UAE
• not disclosing any commercially-oriented items in their possession
• taking items out from the customs department without declaring them
• presenting forged documents or using false indicators to avoid paying customs duties or bypass regulations on banned or restricted goods
• transporting or possessing banned or restricted items without providing legitimate import evidence
• concealing items.

The penalty for smuggling can result in fines and or imprisonment and the confiscation of smuggled items and tools.

Commercial goods

The UAE levies import and export duties on commercial goods.

Customs clearance eServices

Discover electronic services designed for customs clearance, catering to the needs of both individuals and businesses.

• Federal Customs services - ICP
• Abu Dhabi Customs services
• Dubai Customs services
• Sharjah Customs services
• Ajman Port & Customs Department services
• Ports Free Zone and Customs Corporation services
• Fujairah Customs Dept. services.

UAE travellers' guide

Watch the UAE travellers' video guide.