Something sitting in your kitchen cupboard in India could cause real trouble at a UAE airport. That is the message in a public advisory issued on 26 October by the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. It applies to Indian nationals travelling to or living in the UAE, and to transit passengers as well. Carrying a banned item, even by mistake and in a small quantity, can mean confiscation, heavy fines, detention, deportation or prosecution.
Food Items To Leave At Home
Travelling to the UAE? 🇦🇪✈️
Before you fly, check what you can and cannot bring into the country. From prohibited items to medicines requiring prior approval, a little preparation can save you from trouble at the airport.Check the guidelines, pack smart and travel informed!
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The advisory names poppy seeds (khus-khus), qat leaves, betel leaves (paan), betel nuts (supari), niswar and gutkha. None of them should go into your checked or cabin baggage.
Medicines Need Paperwork
Some sleeping pills, strong painkillers and psychiatric medicines count as controlled or semi-controlled in the UAE, even if your doctor in India prescribed them. Check the controlled medicines list published by the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE), carry a valid prescription or detailed medical report, and keep to the permitted quantity.
How To Get An Import Permit
Where a permit is needed, apply for an Import Permit for Personal Use of Medicine on ede.gov.ae. You log in with a digital identity, fill in the form and upload your prescription or medical report. According to the advisory, it usually takes about one working day and costs nothing. The EDE helpline is 800-33784.
Banned Outright Versus Approval First
Narcotics and psychotropic substances, counterfeit currency, pirated goods, gambling devices, three-layer nylon fishing nets, items linked to black magic or witchcraft, and hazardous or radioactive-contaminated materials are completely prohibited. Weapons, fireworks, live animals, plants and seeds, alcohol, e-cigarettes, GPS and wireless equipment, publications and rough diamonds are among the items that need prior approval from UAE authorities.
Carrying Cash Or Gold?
If the combined value of cash, bearer cheques, precious metals and precious stones crosses AED60,000 (or the equivalent in another currency), you must declare it to UAE Customs when entering or leaving the country.
Also Read: UAE: In These Two Emirates, Selling ZamZam Water Is Banned
One Rule That Has Nothing To Do With Packing
Do not carry a bag or parcel for another traveller unless you know exactly what is inside it. Before you fly, check the latest lists on the Federal Customs Authority, Dubai Customs, Abu Dhabi Customs and EDE websites.
Items that are sold freely in India can sit in a different category here, so a quick check before you pack is far easier than sorting it out at the border.
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FAQs
Which Indian food items are banned in the UAE?
The Indian Embassy’s advisory names poppy seeds (khus-khus), qat leaves, betel leaves (paan), betel nuts (supari), niswar and gutkha. Travellers are told not to pack them in either checked or hand baggage.
Do I need a permit to carry medicines into the UAE?
Only if your medicine is controlled, narcotic or psychotropic, which includes some sleeping pills, strong painkillers and psychiatric drugs. Check the EDE’s controlled and semi-controlled list, carry a valid prescription or detailed medical report and stay within the permitted quantity. Without the right permit or prescription, or above the limit, it can be treated as a serious criminal offence, even if the medicine was legally prescribed in India.
