We use cookies to give you the best possible online experience. See our cookie policy for more information on how we use cookies and how you can manage them. If you continue to use this website, you are consenting to our policy and for your web browser to receive cookies from our website.
What medication can I take to Dubai and which medications are banned?
Whether you’re passing through, going on holiday or moving to Dubai1, it is important to understand the emirate’s strict drug policies so you don’t find yourself inadvertently in trouble with the law.
Not all medications that are legal in other parts of the world are legal in the UAE, and penalties for breaking these rules can be severe. It’s therefore important to check that your prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs are legal in your destination country. The UAE claims to have a “very strict, zero-tolerance anti-drugs policy2 and conducts thorough searches at airports”.
When bringing controlled medication — drugs that are regulated by the government — into Dubai, you are required to apply for approval3 through the Ministry of Health (MoH). You should be able to find out if your prescription medication is controlled or not through your doctor. If you are issued approval to bring your prescription medication into the country, you can bring up to three months’ supply as a visitor and 12 months’ supply as a resident. The drugs should be kept in their original packaging along with your prescription.
So, what medication can I take to Dubai?
Can I take paracetamol to Dubai?
Paracetamol is not featured on the MoH’s list of controlled drugs4, so you should be able to take it into Dubai. However, if you are ever unsure then check with your doctor.
Codeine is a controlled drug in the UAE, so you will need permission to take co-codamol (paracetamol and codeine) into the country.
Can I take ibuprofen to Dubai?
Ibuprofen is not featured on the MoH’s list of controlled drugs and can be taken into Dubai5. It is readily available over the counter throughout Dubai.
Can I take Imodium to Dubai?
Imodium is a brand name of loperamide hydrochloride. This drug is not featured on the MoH’s list of controlled drugs, so you should be able to take it into Dubai. However, if you are ever unsure then check with your doctor.
Is Viagra legal in Dubai?
Viagra is a brand name of sildenafil citrate. This drug is not featured on the MoH’s list of controlled drugs, so you should be able to take it into Dubai. However, if you are ever unsure then check with your doctor.
Medication access in Dubai
Uncontrolled medication that does not require a prescription can be bought in pharmacies or supermarkets in Dubai. You may even find there are drugs that you can buy in the UAE that you would need a prescription for elsewhere. This also works the other way around — you may need a prescription for medication that you have previously been able to buy over the counter.
If the medication you require is controlled in the emirate, you may need to get a new prescription from a locally registered doctor — pharmacists cannot accept foreign prescriptions.
Find out more about UAE’s health care system with our expat’s guide to getting medical treatment in Dubai.
Dubai’s banned medicines list
The Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE has released a list of the controlled Narcotics/Psychotropics and Controlled (CD) Drugs in the country. The document, which was released in April 2019, comprises the names of all prohibited or controlled drugs.
- (+) – LYSERGIDE (LSD, LSD-25)
- 2c-B
- 3-methylfentanyl
- 3-methylthiofentanyl
- 4 – Methylaminorex
- 4-MTA
- Acetorphine
- Acetyl-alpha-methylfentanyl
- Acetyldihydrocodeine
- Acetylmethadol
- Alfentanyl
- Allobarbital
- Allylprodine
- Alphacetylmethado
- Alphameprodine
- Alphamethadol
- Alpha-methylfentanyl
- Alpha-methylthiofentanyl
- Alphaprodine
- Alprazolam
- Amfepramone
- Amfetamine
- Amineptine
- Aminorex
- Amisulpiride
- Amobarbital
- Anileridine
- Aripiprazole
- Barbital
- Benzethidine
- Benzfetamine
- Benzhexol (TRIHEXYPHENIDYL)
- Benzylmorphine
- Betacetylmethadol
- Beta-hydroxy-3-methylfentanyl
- Beta-hydroxyfentanyl
- Betameprodine
- Betamethado
- Betaprodine
- Bezitramide
- Brolamphetamine
- Bromazepam
- Brotizolam
- Buprenorphine
- Butalbital
- Butobarbital
- Camazepam
- Cannabis Plant
- Cannabis Resin
- Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp)
- Catha Edulis (Khat, Kat)
- CATHINE (Norpseudo-Ephedrine)
- Cathinone
- Chlordiazepoxide
- Chlormethiazole
- Chlorpromazine
- Claviceps Purpurea (Ergot)
- Clobazam
- Clonazepam
- Clonitrazene
- Clorazepate
- Clotiazepam
- Cloxazolam
- Clozapine
- Coca leaf
- Cocaine
- Codeine
- Codeine >30mg/Unit Dose (in combination)
- Codoxime
- Concentrate of poppy straw
- Corynanthe Yohimbe (Bark)
- Corynanthe Yohimbe (Yohimbe Bush)
- Cyclobarbital
- Datura (Datura Stramonium)
- Delorazepam
- Desomorphine
- DET
- Dexamfetamine
- Dextromoramide
- Dextropropoxyphene
- Diampromide
- Diazepam
- Diethylthiambutene
- Difenoxin
- Dihydrocodeine
- Dihydrocodeine (with combination)
- Dihydroetorphine
- Dihydromorphine
- Dimenoxadol
- Dimepheptanol
- Dimethylthiambutene
- Dioxaphetyl butyrate
- Diphenoxylate
- Dipipanone
- DMA
- DMHP
- DMT
- DOET
- Dronabinol
- Droperidol
- Drotebanol
- Ecgonine
- Ehtylmorphine
- Ephedrine
- Ergot mushroom
- Erythroxylon Coca (Coca)
- Estazolam
- Ethchlorvynol
- Ethinamate
- Ethyl Loflazepate
- Ethylmethylthiambutene
- Eticyclidine
- Etilamfetamine (N-Ethylamphetamine)
- Etonitazene
- Etorphine
- Etoxeridine
- Etryptamine
- Fencamfamin
- Fenetylline
- Fenproporex
- Fentanyl
- Fludiazepam
- Flumazenil
- Flunitrazepam
- Flupenthixol
- Fluphenazine Dihydrochloride
- Flurazepam
- Furethidine
- Gabapentin
- Ghb
- Glutethamide
- Halazepam
- Haloperidol
- Haloxazolam
- Heroin
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphinol
- Hydromorphone
- Hydroxypethidine
- Hyoscyamus Niger (Henbane)
- Ipomoea sp. (Morning Glory)
- Isomethadone
- Ketamine, Ketalar
- Ketazolam
- Ketobemidone
- Lefetamine
- Levamfetamine
- Levomethorphan
- Levomoramide
- Levophenacylmorphan
- Levorphanol
- Lisdexamphetamine
- Lophophora Williamsii (Peyote)
- Loprazolam
- Lorazepam
- Lormetazepam
- Lovomethamphetamine
- Mazindol
- MDE, N-ethyl MDA
- MDMA
- Mecloqualone
- Medazepam
- Medetomidine
- Mefenorex
- Mephenoxalone
- Meprobamate
- Mescaline
- Mesocarb
- Metamfetamine
- Metazocine
- Methadone
- Methadone intermediate
- Methafetamine Racemate
- Methaqualone
- Methcathinone
- Methtrimeprazine
- Methyldesorphine
- Methyldihydromorphine
- Methylphenidate
- Methylphenobarbital
- Methyprylon
- Metopon
- Midazolam
- Misoprostol
- MMDA
- Modafinil
- Moramide intermediate
- Morning Glory
- Morpheridine
- Morphine
- Morphine methobromide
- Morphine n-oxide
- MPPP
- Myrophine
- Nalbuphine
- N-hydroxy MDA
- Nicocodeine
- Nicodicodeine
- Nicomorphine
- Nimetazepam
- Nitrazepam
- Noracymethadol
- Norcodeine
- Nordazepam
- Norlevorphanol
- Normethadone
- Normorphine
- Norpipanone
- Olanzapine
- Opium
- Oxazepam
- Oxazolam
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Papaver Somniferum (Opium)
- Para-fluorofentanyl
- Parahexyl
- Pemoline
- Pentazocine
- Pentobarbital
- PEPAP
- Pethidine
- Pethidine intermediate A
- Pethidine intermediate B
- Pethidine intermediate C
- Peyote Cactus
- Phenadoxone
- Phenampromide
- Phenazocine
- Phencyclidine
- Phendimetrazine
- Phenmetrazine
- Phenobarbital
- Phenomorphan
- Phenoperidine
- Phentermine
- Pholcodeine
- Piminodine
- Pimozide
- Pinazepam
- Pipradrol
- Piptadenia Pregrina
- Piritramide
- PMA
- Prazepam
- Pregabalin
- Prochlorperazine
- Procyclidine
- Proheptazine
- Properidine
- Propiram
- Propylhexedrine
- Prostaglandin E2
- Pseudoephedrine
- Psilocine, Psilotsin
- Psilocybe sp. & Amanita mushrooms (Magic Mushroom)
- Psilocybin mushrooms
- Psilocybine
- Pyrovalerone
- Quetiapine
- Racemethorphan
- Racemoramide
- Racemorphan
- Rolicyclidine (PHP, PCPY)
- Secbutabarbital
- Secobarbital
- STP, DOM
- Sufentanyl
- Sulpiride
- Sultopride
- Synthetic Cannabinoids (Cannabimimetics)
- Tabernanthe Iboga (Iboga tree)
- Temazepam
- Tenamfetamine (MDA)
- Tenocyclidine (TCP)
- Tetrahydrocannabinol
- Tetrazepam
- Thebacon
- Thebaine
- Thiofentanyl
- Thioridazine
- TMA
- Tramadol
- Triazolam
- Trifluoperazine
- Trimeperidine
- Vinylbital
- Zaleplon
- Zipeprol
- Ziprasidone
- Zolpidem
- Zopiclone
- Zuclopenhtixol
To find out more, read the list here.
If you’re relocating to the UAE, or to any country, you can get an instant quote for international health insurance here.
Additional sources:
1 http://aetnainternational.com/en/dubai-international-health-insurance/destination-guides/living-in-dubai
2 https://www.emirates.com/uk/english/before-you-fly/travel/dangerous-goods-policy/
3 https://www.mohap.gov.ae/en/services/Pages/361.aspx?dm_i=2OIE%2cSME9%2c65AUMV%2c2Y38L%2c1
4 https://mohap.gov.ae/en/services/issue-of-permit-to-import-medicines-for-personal-use
5 https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/united-arab-emirates/traveler/packing-list
Uncontrolled medication that does not require a prescription can be bought in pharmacies or supermarkets in Dubai. You may even find there are drugs that you can buy in the UAE that you would need a prescription for elsewhere.
