Which medications are prohibited in Dubai?

Are you travelling to the United Arab Emirates soon for business or simply to sip cocktails in the sun? It is therefore time to review the medications (for personal use) that you are allowed to bring into the country. If you are travelling to Dubai, be aware that there are restrictions on the medications you bring with you. Some medications are prohibited in Dubai, while others are permitted subject to a medical prescription stating the names of the medications. If you need to take medications containing substances considered prohibited in the United Arab Emirates, you must have a prescription from your doctor clearly stating the names of the medications. It must be issued in your name, dated, and mention the treatment of an illness justifying the use of these particular medications. Regarding the quantities (boxes of medication) in your possession, they must be proportionate to the prescriptions issued by your doctor.

Some medications containing so-called psychotropic substances are prohibited in the UAE.

Recently, the Ministry of Health in Dubai ruled on the prohibition of the use of tranquilizers, antidepressants and, in some cases, sleeping pills. If you take this type of medication, make sure you have a prescription and, if possible, a letter from your doctor stating that you need them (it is also recommended that you have these documents translated and certified). It is also very likely that you will not be able to renew your prescription in Dubai, which is why it is better to make sure you have what you need (most pharmacies do not accept foreign prescriptions). But be careful: bringing an excessively large quantity of these products could be detrimental to you. In fact, if you bring too large a quantity, there is a risk that you will be suspected of drug trafficking.

You risk the same penalties as drug traffickers!

Note that people possessing unauthorized medications face the same penalties as drug traffickers. These unauthorized medications are, quite simply, treated as drugs. Find the list of medications prohibited in the Emirates (for consumption and import, even if you have a prescription from your doctor): here is a list of products (please note that it may not be up to date; we invite you to contact the Health Authorities to make sure). For those who need permission to import controlled medications for personal use, the application can be submitted online at the following address: www.mohap.gov.ae . These medications include narcotics as well as controlled psychoactive substances. Each country's legislation differs, so we invite you to consult the official websites of the health ministry of the country you are visiting for more information. Furthermore, regarding medications prohibited in the Emirates, there is ZERO tolerance! Therefore, if you have the slightest question or doubt, it is advisable to contact the UAE Ministry of Health’s Drug Control Department at the following addresses and numbers: Website: www.mohap.gov.ae/ Abu Dhabi: + 971 2 6330000 Dubai: +971 4 3966000 Email: info@moh.gov.ae

In this case, how can you obtain medications in Dubai?

It is very simple: the pharmacy system is more or less similar to the French system, but the Emirati system still has its own small differences. In Dubai, for example, many medications are available at pharmacies without needing a prescription from your regular doctor. The paradox is that these same medications would require a prescription in Western countries such as France. This is the case with many antibiotics, which can be purchased without a prescription in Dubai. Conversely, products that you could buy without a prescription in Europe require a prescription from your doctor in Dubai. You will therefore have to go for a consultation, and in Dubai a consultation does not cost 25 euros as it does in France, but rather between 50 and 100 euros. Another particularity of pharmacies in Dubai is the wide selection of non-medical products such as cosmetics and perfumes… which are displayed on pharmacy shelves - and prices are much higher in pharmacies than in stores. Some medications, such as cough medicine, eye drops, and Panadol (paracetamol used for headaches and all kinds of pain – it is THE standard in the Emirates) are available over the counter in supermarkets and department stores. The list of medications is regularly updated by the UAE customs authorities. It should therefore be checked regularly before your trip to the UAE. We remind you that French authorities cannot intervene in local legal proceedings under any circumstances. It is therefore advisable to be careful and find out about the rules in force in the Emirates.