United Arab Emirates customs rules & duty-free allowances

Last reviewed October 1, 2026·Official source

The UAE enforces one of the world's strictest customs and drug regimes, and Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports scan essentially every bag — so 'nothing to declare' is not a formality here. Arriving with prescription medicine containing codeine, tramadol or any controlled substance without approved paperwork can lead to detention on the spot, even in transit.

Duty-free allowances

Alcohol
4.0 L
4 litres of alcohol OR 2 cartons of beer (each carton max 24 cans x 355ml). Must be 18+. Alcohol is only duty-free for non-Muslim passengers; Muslim travellers are not granted the alcohol allowance.
Tobacco
400 cigarettes
or 50 cigars / 500 g
Cash to declare
$10,000
Declare if carrying AED 60,000 or more (about USD 16,300) in cash or equivalent negotiable instruments. Declare on the Customs Declaration Card handed out on the plane or at the red channel; there is also an online e-declaration via the Dubai Customs or Abu Dhabi Customs app.
Goods duty-free
$800
Personal gifts and goods up to AED 3,000 (about USD 800) are duty-free. Above that, a flat 5% customs duty applies to most non-GCC goods, plus 5% VAT. Personal effects and used clothing for your own use are exempt.

Prohibited — banned from import

  • All narcotics, including cannabis, CBD oil, khat, poppy seeds and any product containing THC — penalties include life imprisonment and the death penalty for trafficking
  • Pork and any pork-derived products
  • E-cigarettes, vapes, e-liquids and heated-tobacco devices
  • Counterfeit goods, pirated media and unauthorised currency
  • Ivory, rhino horn and other endangered-species products (CITES)
  • Narcotic and psychotropic medicines not approved by the UAE Ministry of Health

Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration

  • Prescription and controlled medicines — require a doctor's letter and, for controlled drugs, prior MoHAP approval
  • Drones, satellite phones, walkie-talkies and radio transmitters — require a permit from the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
  • Firearms, ammunition, swords and replica weapons — permit required before arrival
  • Live animals and birds — import permit and health certificate required
  • Cultural artefacts, antiquities and religious material deemed offensive to Islam

Arriving: red vs green channel

Fill in the Customs Declaration Card before landing if you have anything to declare, then walk through the Red Channel; if you have nothing to declare, use the Green Channel. Bags pass through X-ray on exit and officers routinely open them. If you are unsure whether an item is dutiable or restricted, use the Red Channel — the penalty for a wrong Green Channel declaration is far higher than the duty.

Tax-free shopping & VAT refunds

The UAE operates the Tax Refund for Tourists scheme (Planet Tax Free). Minimum purchase AED 250 at a single participating retailer, goods must be exported within 90 days, and you claim at the Planet kiosk after check-in but before immigration. You need the original tax invoice and your passport; refunds are capped at AED 7,000 per traveller per 24 hours.

Bringing medication

Bring personal medication in original packaging with the prescription and a doctor's letter stating the condition and dosage. Codeine, tramadol, diazepam, some antidepressants, ADHD stimulants and certain sleeping pills are controlled or outright banned in the UAE — check the MoHAP controlled-drugs list before flying. Amounts should not exceed a 3-month personal supply, and controlled items need prior approval from the UAE Ministry of Health.

Food, plants & animal products

All meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, honey, fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds, soil and plant material must be declared and are subject to veterinary/quarantine inspection. Pork and pork products are prohibited for import by passengers. Commercially packaged, shelf-stable foods in sealed original packaging are generally fine; homemade or unpackaged food is not.

Rules worth knowing

Transit passengers are not exempt

If you are only connecting through Dubai or Abu Dhabi, the same drug and controlled-medicine rules apply. Travellers have been arrested in transit for carrying codeine or poppy-seed products in their hand luggage.

Alcohol allowance is for non-Muslims only

The 4-litre alcohol allowance is granted to non-Muslim passengers aged 18 and over. Muslim travellers are not entitled to the duty-free alcohol allowance, and alcohol may not be imported for resale.

Vapes are banned, not just restricted

E-cigarettes, vapes, e-liquids and heated-tobacco products are prohibited from import into the UAE. They will be confiscated at the airport and can attract a fine.

GCC customs union rules

If you are arriving from another GCC state (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman) by land, the duty-free allowance does not apply — goods already in free circulation within the GCC are treated differently, and the AED 3,000 allowance is not reset.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, if it is not on the UAE controlled or banned list. Carry it in original packaging with the prescription and a doctor's letter stating your condition and dose. For controlled drugs such as codeine, tramadol or diazepam you need prior approval from the UAE Ministry of Health; without it you can be detained at the airport. Keep the quantity to a personal 3-month supply.
Yes, if you are carrying AED 60,000 or more (about USD 16,300) in cash or negotiable instruments. Declare it on the Customs Declaration Card or via the Dubai Customs app. Undeclared cash above the threshold can be seized and can trigger a money-laundering investigation.
It is per adult traveller. Each non-resident adult gets the AED 3,000 goods allowance, the 4-litre alcohol allowance (non-Muslims only) and the tobacco allowance. Children do not get their own alcohol or tobacco allowance, and allowances cannot be pooled across a family to cover a single large item.
Not without a permit. Drones, satellite phones and two-way radios require prior approval from the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Arriving with one undeclared will result in confiscation and possibly a fine. Leave it at home unless you have arranged the permit in advance.
A flat 5% customs duty applies to the value above the allowance, plus 5% VAT on the duty-inclusive value. So a AED 5,000 laptop would attract 5% on AED 2,000 (AED 100) plus 5% VAT on the total. Pay at the customs counter in the arrivals hall before leaving the airport.
Yes, through the Tax Refund for Tourists scheme run by Planet. You need a minimum AED 250 spend at one retailer, the original tax invoice, and to export the goods within 90 days. Claim at the Planet kiosk after check-in and before immigration. Refunds are capped at AED 7,000 per traveller per 24 hours.
No. E-cigarettes, vapes, e-liquids and heated-tobacco devices are prohibited from import. They will be confiscated at customs and you may be fined. This applies to both checked and hand luggage, and to transit passengers.

Official source

Federal Customs Authority (UAE) / Dubai Customs / Abu Dhabi Customs

For guidance only. Customs allowances and prohibited-item lists change without notice — always confirm with Federal Customs Authority (UAE) / Dubai Customs / Abu Dhabi Customs before travelling.