Dubai Airport Hand Luggage Prohibited items

Dubai may be heaven for nightlifers and tourists. But it is still part of the UAE, an Islamic country with its own set of unique rules and regulations. It is necessary to follow the rules and be respectful of the local culture when you visit UAE. Dubai International Airport also has strict rules to ensure the passengers’ safety.

You should be aware of the items that are banned and permitted when flying to or from Dubai. Usually, the banned items are not just drugs or rifles but things like battery-powered devices, Walkie-Talkies, etc., which anyone can pack mindlessly. Familiarizing yourself with items not allowed in Dubai Airport can help you avoid delays at the airport. Trust me, you don’t want to ruin your holiday just because you bought a blade or screwdriver packed in your luggage.

This is why we have put together this guide about banned and permitted items in the UAE. This guide will also discuss in detail the hand luggage, rules about bags, and items requiring permits. So without further ado, let’s get right into it.

List of Banned Items in Dubai Airport

The banned items include but are not limited to

All types of Drugs of abuse, including cocaine, heroin, and hallucination pills.
Products bought to sell from boycotted countries.
Gambling tools and apparatus.
Used, refurbished, and inlaid tires.
Crude ivory or rhinoceros horns.
Any item polluted by nuclear reaction or radiation.
Fake and duplicate money.
Home-cooked meal.
Ammunition (allowed with permit)
Electrical Hookah (only allowed with a permit).
Betel leaves and paan.
Original statues, sculptures, prints or engravings, etc.
Any Item that goes against or mocks Islamic Beliefs.
Hoverboards, Segways, and other personal motorized vehicles.

Most of these items are banned to ensure the safety of the passengers during the flight. The UAE government is also trying to protect its citizens by banning ammunition, items exposed to radiation, and drugs. Most importantly, since the UAE is a Muslim country, it has banned any material that mocks Islam and its teachings.

Packing banned items in your luggage can result in fines, penalties, and even arrests in the UAE. Moreover, the General Department of Airport Security (GDAS) now has the authority to open and inspect any bags to remove the banned items even when the passenger is not present. GDAS is not liable for any damages to your luggage. So it is better to be cautious while you pack your belongings.

Note: The banned item list is frequently updated to include or exclude items. You should visit the official UAE Customs website to check the latest banned item list before you fly to Dubai.

Prohibited Medications At Dubai Airport

Certain Types of medicines are banned from Dubai International Airport. You should be extra vigilant when bringing medicine into the country otherwise you could face flight delays and interrogation. Your medicines could contain substances banned in the UAE so it would be wise to check the contents of your pills.

The banned substances/medicines in UAE are

Etorphine.
Risperidone.
Betamethodol.
Ketamine.
Trimeperidine.
Tramadol.
Codeine.
Risperidone.
Alpha-methylifentanyl.
Thiofentanyl.
Morphine.

But exceptions can be made for people who must carry the banned medicines because of their health conditions. In this case, you must.

Carry a valid prescription from the doctor for your medicine.
Get a prescription permit from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention for your medicines.
Ensure that the amount of medication you have is not more than the required normal dosage for your scheduled stay in Dubai.

You can read further guidelines from the official website of the UAE Customs for bringing medicines and acquiring a permit.

Food Items Prohibited In Dubai

Different types of foods are banned in the UAE. Your luggage will be seized and inspected if you pack the banned food items. You cannot bring the following food items to Dubai Airport:

Pork or any item that has pork in it.
Home-cooked meals or meals from restaurants.
Poppy seeds or any food that has poppy seeds in it.

These foods are banned for good reasons. Pork is banned because Muslims are prohibited from eating Pork as per Islamic teachings. The home-cooked meals or meals from restaurants can get cross-contaminated during the flights. The meals if not packaged properly can also ruin the items in your luggage on the plane. Poppy seeds are not allowed in the UAE because they contain a small amount of morphine and opium alkaloids. So theoretically speaking you could get high if you eat enough of them.

Permitted Food Items

The permitted foods include

Personal Food Items.
Research Food Samples.
Marketing/ Promotional Food.
Non-sale food for festivals and exhibitions.

You can have some personal food items but there are some limitations in terms of quantity. 10 kg of vegetables, fruit, fish, and seafood is allowed. For dates, the limitation is 100kg. Similarly, special-purpose food like baby food has a 10kg upper limit. 20kg is the maximum amount for syrups. For canned food and juice concentrates, the limit is 25 kg and 5 kg respectively.

People are also allowed to bring food for research, marketing purposes, and displays at festivals. However, you will need approval from the authorities to bring food for these purposes.

Items that Require a Permit or Approval

Certain items are not allowed in UAE but exceptions can be made for them if the passenger has a permit or prior approval of the authorities.

Lithium Batteries: Security type equipment.
Lithium battery-powered electronic devices.
Battery-powered wheelchairs.
Battery-powered mobility aids with lithium-ion batteries.
Oxygen or air or any other gaseous cylinders.
Fertilizers.
Live animals.
Fireworks.
Explosives.
E-cigarettes and electronic hookah.

You can get a license or permit for an item from the relevant controlling authority. The Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment are some of the controlling authorities for these items.

Items Permitted At Dubai Airport

We have already discussed the banned items for Dubai Airport. Let’s now overview the items that are allowed at Dubai Airport. Travelers consider many of these items to be banned but they are permitted. You are free to carry:

Computers/laptops.
Baby strollers.
Portable typing sets.
Personal possessions.
Telescopes.
Portable calculators.
Portable television sets.
Radio systems, integrated broadcasting gear, CD and DVD players.
Personal sports apparatus.
Portable music equipment.
Wheelchairs and cars for disabled people.
Video cameras.

Exempted Items at Dubai Airport

As said earlier travelers can carry exempted items if they meet the conditions for exemption. These items include:

Gifts

Gifts of a personal nature are allowed. They should not be in commercial quantities and valued at less than AED 3K ($816.76).

Cash

You can only carry less than AED 60K ($1633.53) in cash. You can have banknotes, traveler’s cheques, and any currency as long as they are not valued at more than AED 60K. The person carrying the cash must be over 18.

Cigarettes and Tobbaco

You can pack cigarettes and tobacco as long as they do not exceed the amount set by UAE authorities. You can have under 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, and 500 grams of tobacco. This stipulation applies to both pressed and minced tobacco. The traveler carrying tobacco has to be at least 18.

Alcoholic Beverages

The total amount of Alcoholic beverages must not exceed 4 liters. In case you are carrying beer, you are allowed two cartoons of beer with 24 cans or 355 ml per can or equivalent. You have to be over 18 years old to carry alcohol.

The Condition for Exemption

The exemption to carry the above-mentioned items is only given if the passenger does not frequently travel to Dubai with goods or a member of the conveyance crew. You will be paying custom charges if the value of any of the exempted items increases the set amount.

Items not allowed in Hand Luggage

Hand Luggage should only contain the items you may need during the flight. It must not contain any of the banned items. Also, the weight of the hand luggage must not exceed the weight limit set by the airport.

Hand Luggage banned items in Dubai International Airport are

All Kinds of Martial art weapons.
Drugs.
Handcuffs.
Flare guns, ammunition, and firearms (all types, including replicas).
Ropes.
Walkie-talkie.
Packing tape.
Laser guns of all types.
Hoverboard.
Lithium batteries.
Any sharp tools, including screwdrivers.
Electrical cables (excluding personal use cables).
Chemicals.
Any sharp objects or swords.
Flammable liquid.
Car repair parts.
Certain Medicines.
All Types of Hammers.
All kinds of Nails and drills.
Blades (bigger than 6cm)
Personal grooming kit items longer than 6cm.
More than one lighter.
Measuring tapes
Bats.
All types of Scissors.
Compressed gas cylinders.

Your hand luggage should not have any of these items. You could face delays in your flight or an investigation if you end up packing one of these items in your hand luggage. In the worst-case scenario, you can be arrested for carrying these items.

Packing Liquids

You can pack liquids, aerosols, and gels in your hand luggage if you follow these rules

The liquid item should be properly packed inside a clear, resealable plastic bag in your hand luggage.
An item must be under 100 ml in quantity.
The total quantity of the liquid items should not exceed one liter.

These rules are not applicable if the liquid items fit one of the following categories.

Medication.
Baby milk.
Special Dietary Requirement.

The liquid items must be tightly secured inside resealable plastic bags to avoid spillage. The airline is not responsible for your personal belongings if your liquid items spill inside your hand luggage.

Luggage Rules and Regulations

You can carry two bags for International travel. The total weight of the baggage should not exceed 32kg. However, the maximum weight limit can vary from airline to airline. It is better to check with your airline before your flight. Keep these Dubai bag rules in mind before you pack:

Baggage should have at least one flat surface.
Bags should not have long straps.
Bags should not have irregular or round-shaped parcels.
Baggage should be 90 cm long, 75cm high, and 60m wide.

Luggage that does not comply with these requirements can be rejected during check-ins. In some cases, they can allow you to check in at the oversized baggage counter if your bag is larger than the required size. Oversize bags will cost you more time and oversized bag fees.

Generally Applicable Advice For Travel To And From Dubai

Follow this advice for travel to and from Dubai.

Check the Official UAE Customs website to review the updated banned item list.
Pack your check-in bags and hand luggage yourself.
Keep important papers and documents in your hand luggage.
Carry the liquids in resealable plastic bags to avoid spillage.
Pack your items in a bag that complies with the rules.
Ensure you possess the permits from relevant authorities for the items that require prior approval.
Cooperate with the authorities in case some issue occurs. They will most likely let you off with a warning or a fine if it is a first offense.
Relax and take it easy. Thousands of people travel to and from Dubai every year. It is not a big deal if you have done everything right.

Summing Up

The strict rules of UAE and Dubai Airport can seem confusing at first but once you get the hang of them they are pretty straightforward. Like any other country in the world, they have banned some items. You just have to avoid the banned items and you will be good to go. Certain items require a permit so as long as you get a permit from the relevant authority, you will face no problem at the check-in.

The banned list is updated frequently according to national and International laws. This is why you should go to the official website of the Customs Department of UAE to check the banned item list yourself. After checking the list, pack your luggage carefully and your check-in and boarding process will be smooth at Dubai International Airport.