Certain goods such as animals, medicines and weapons can be imported/exported only after receiving necessary permits from the competent authorities. Some of the restricted goods are:

Pets and domestic animals

You can import cats and dogs into the UAE after receiving permit from Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

You will need to provide your pet's vaccination card, health certificate, his passport and details about this microchip.

Some pets might need to test for rabies before entering the UAE.

For more information, check with the UAE-based airlines about specific rules regarding the permitted pets.

You can import, export, release and seek transit of horses and import live animals, birds and ornamental fish into the UAE after receiving permit from Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

Useful links:

• Animals and pets - Etihad Airways
• Our position on the carriage of animals, plants and their products - Etihad cargo
• Rules and charges for travelling with animals - Emirates Airline
• Enquire about transporting a pet with Emirates - Emirates Airline
• Pets - Emirates SkyCargo

Agricultural products

You can import seeds, tubers, outdoor seedlings and honeybees into the UAE after receiving permit from Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

Food

According to Ministerial Resolution No. 14 of 2016 pertaining to control on imported food for non-commercial purposes, you can bring in a maximum of:

• 20 kg of yoghurt
• 50 litres of oil (including olive oil)
• 10 kg of various types of vegetables and fruits
• 100 kg dates
• 10 kg sweets and bread
• 30 kg of grains, cereals and red meat
• 10 kg of fish and seafood
• 500 gm of caviar
• 11 kg of eggs
• 20 kg for honey and sugar products
• 5 kg for herbs and spices including vinegar, orange blossom water and rose water
• 500 gm of saffron
• 10 kg of special-purpose food such as children's food is allowed
• 20 litres of drinks and syrups including water
• 5 kg of juice concentrates
• 25 kg of canned food.

You cannot import cooked duck eggs (called balut) without permission from the Customs authorities. If you are importing the eggs, you will need to present a health certificate indicating the production and expiry dates of the eggs and that the eggs have been produced in farms that are free from salmonella and bird flu. 

Medicines and drugs

Tourists are required to be cautious about medicines they carry from their home countries. Some medicines may contain substances that are banned in the UAE, leading to the arrest of those carrying them.

Hence, people should not only carry the doctor's prescription, but also ensure that the quantity of tablets justify normal use during their scheduled duration of stay. They are also advised to get a certificate from the respective embassies.

For bringing bulk quantity of medicines (containing banned substances) to the UAE, prior permission from the Ministry of Health and Prevention is needed. Refer to the related news article in Gulf News.

Customs authorities in the UAE regularly update the list of medicines banned in the UAE. People visiting the UAE must check their websites before travelling.

Read about controlled medicines in the health section.

There is zero tolerance for drug-related offences; whether controlled drugs or recreational drugs. Herbal/natural products such as tobacco, poppy/opium seeds/powder, betel leaves and some herbal highs are illegal in the UAE. 

The penalties for trading, trafficking, smuggling, possessing drugs and presence of drugs in the blood stream even in residual amounts are severe.

Importing medicine for personal use

According to the website of Ministry of Health and Prevention, UAE nationals and residents can obtain a permission to import medicine for personal use. The imported medicine should not exceed the personal need of a period of 3 months for non-controlled medicines and one month for controlled and semi-controlled medicines. 

Read also:

• Travelers’ guideline for prohibited and/or controlled medicines and drugs in the UAE and quantities permitted - Ministry of Health and Prevention
• Guidelines for carrying of personal medicines with travelers into the UAE.

Vehicles

Refer to the procedure of customs authority on the official portal of Abu Dhabi and the website of Dubai Customs.

Publications

Publications including artwork (whether physical or electronic) that contradict Islamic values are banned. Your personal items may be scrutinised to check if you are carrying one of these. If found, your material may be censored or confiscated and you be may fined, jailed and/or deported.

Weapons

Weapons, ammunition, body protection and related equipment (like cleaning kits, gun belts, etc.), however small the quantity and whatever the purpose, all require permission from Ministry of Interior before entering or transiting the UAE.

Technical equipment

Equipment like satellite phones, listening or recording devices, radio transmitters, powerful cameras or binoculars, may require a licence from Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority for use in the UAE.

Cash/money

Passengers travelling out of or entering the UAE with more than AED 100,000 in cash or an amount equivalent to this in any other currencies or other financial instruments will have to declare it at the customs.

Passengers arriving in or departing from European Union countries with 10,000 euros or more in cash need to disclose the amount to the customs officer.

Personal goods

Passengers' personal belongings 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.

Commercial goods

The UAE levies import and export duties on commercial goods depending on:

• which emirate the business is registered in
• whether the business is registered on the mainland or in a free zone
• nature of goods being moved
• the source and destination of the goods being moved
• trade agreements between the UAE and the other country
• any other applicable laws.

Cigarettes and alcohol

You can import cigarettes and alcohol if:

• you are above 18 years of age for carrying allowable cigarettes or alcoholic beverages into the country
• the amount of alcoholic beverages and beers does not exceed 4 litres or 2 cartons of beer (each consisting of 24 cans, not exceeding 355 ml for each can or its equivalent)
• the number of cigarettes does not exceed 400; its value does not exceed AED 2000
• value of cigars in possession of passengers does not exceed AED 3000.

Duty-free shopping

You can enjoy the benefits of duty-free shopping at Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah airports. Read about the duty free allowances at:

• Abu Dhabi airport
• Sharjah airport.

Find out guides on prohibited and restricted goods in the UAE:

• Passenger guide - list of prohibited and restricted goods - Federal Customs Authority
• Restricted and prohibited goods- Abu Dhabi Customs
• Permitted luggage and items - Dubai Customs
• Passenger Customs guide - Dubai Customs (PDF, 759 KB)
• Declaring money - 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.