Dubai Airport protocols: Things you shouldn’t carry with you

• Travelling From Dubai
• Travelling to Dubai
• Permitted Items
• General Tips
• FAQs

Dubai Airport security is thorough. Therefore, passengers travelling to the city should be mindful of the items they carry in their luggage. So, the next time you travel to or from the emirate, ensure that you are not carrying these banned items at Dubai Airport.

Please note these lists can be updated periodically to add or remove items based on local and international stipulations. Please refer to the official Dubai Customs website for the latest information.

TRAVELLING FROM DUBAI

Follow these safety guidelines when you’re travelling abroad from Dubai. 

ITEMS TO AVOID CARRYING IN YOUR HAND LUGGAGE

It is recommended that you bring items you may need during the flight in your hand luggage. However, it must not exceed the weight restriction or contain anything the airline doesn’t allow under Dubai Airport restrictions.

Dubai Airport hand luggage prohibited items list includes:

1. Hammers (all types)
2. Nails and drills (all types)
3. Any sharp tools, including screwdrivers
4. Scissors (all types) or blades (bigger than 6cm)
5. Personal grooming kit items longer than 6cm
6. Any sharp objects or swords
7. Laser guns (all types)
8. Flare guns, ammunition and firearms (all types, including replicas)
9. Handcuffs
10. More than one lighter
11. Bats (all types)
12. Martial art weapons (all types)
13. Ropes (all types)
14. Walkie-talkie
15. Packing tape
16. Electrical cables (excluding personal use cables)
17. Measuring tape (all types)
18. Chemicals
19. Flammable liquid
20. Lithium batteries
21. Compressed gas cylinders
22. Car repair parts
23. Hoverboard

CHOOSING YOUR BAGS

Before packing your luggage, consider these Dubai Airport baggage rules.

• All bags should have at least one (1) flat surface.
• There should be no long straps attached to your bags.
• Bags must not have irregular or round-shaped parcels.

Any bags/parcels that do not comply with these requirements will be rejected at check-in. Also, it is advisable to stick to a flat-bottomed handbag, rectangular suitcase or properly sealed box. Other bag-related guidelines and laws in Dubai for travellers include the following:

• You are allowed a maximum of two (2) pieces of luggage for international travel.
• The combined weight for your luggage should not exceed 32kgs (might vary according to fare type and airline).
• Your check-in baggage should not be bigger than 90cm long, 60cm wide and 75cm high.

Check-in baggage that doesn’t comply with size requirements will be checked in as oversized baggage with additional charges applicable.

CARRYING LIQUIDS

Frequent travellers might already know the universal restriction on carrying liquids in their luggage. The rules, however, vary from one country to another.

For those of you travelling from Dubai, the following Dubai Airport rules are applicable. We recommend packing all liquids in resealable, clear plastic bags for a hassle-free travel experience (though it is not mandatory).

• An item cannot be more than 100 ml in quantity
• The total quantity of all your liquid items should not exceed one litre

These Dubai Airport rules are not applicable if the liquid in question fits either of these categories.

• Medication
• Special dietary requirement
• Baby milk

There is no limit to packing liquids into check-in bags as long as they are tightly secured with no chance of spillage. 

TRAVELLING TO DUBAI – BANNED ITEMS AT DUBAI AIRPORT YOU SHOULD AVOID

Ensure you do not possess any of these items banned at Dubai Airport.

BANNED ITEMS AT DUBAI AIRPORT

1. Narcotic drugs (all kinds, including poppy seeds, cocaine, hashish, heroin, hallucination pills, etc.)
2. Goods from boycotted countries that could be brought with the intention to sell
3. Gambling machinery and tools
4. Rough diamonds
5. Rhinoceros horns or crude ivory
6. Paan and betel leaves
7. Live animals, plants, fertilisers and insecticides
8. Electronic hookah
9. Substances that cause radiation
10. Three-layer fishing nets
11. Items contradicting Islamic faith and teachings (including sculptures, paintings, publications, photographs and more)
12. Original lithographs, statues, sculptures, engravings or prints in any form
13. Used, reconditioned and inlaid tyres 
14. Home-made and/or cooked food
15. Duplicate and forged currency
16. Personal motorised vehicles such as hoverboards, Segways and smart or self-balancing wheels are prohibited with or without batteries as checked-in or carry-on baggage. This regulation also applies to connecting passengers in the UAE from an airline that has accepted them.

CARRYING MEDICINES: MEDICINAL BANNED ITEMS AT DUBAI AIRPORT

Certain medicines are also included in the list of banned items at Dubai Airport. The UAE government advises visitors, tourists and new expats to be extra vigilant when bringing medicines into the country. Some medicines from your home country may inadvertently contain substances banned in the UAE. This may lead to an escalation of matters and possible arrests.

Here are some medicines/drugs* that are banned/prohibited in the UAE.

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

The list of medicines banned in the UAE is regularly updated by government authorities. Make it a habit to check the official website of the emirate’s customs department or the UAE’s Ministry of Health before travelling to avoid any inconveniences.

In situations where you do not have any other option but to carry the banned medication with you, here’s what you should do:

• Carry a valid prescription from the doctor.
• Get an attestation certificate for your prescription.
• Ensure you do not have medication that is more than the required normal usage of your scheduled stay in Dubai.

For further clarity, you can read the guidelines on bringing medicines to the UAE.

* You can find the full list of banned medicines on the Dubai Customs website.

ITEMS ALLOWED AT DUBAI AIRPORT

We’ve already talked about the banned items for Dubai Airport. Let’s now look at the items travellers can carry with them.

• Personal possessions of passengers
• Video cameras
• Radio systems, integrated broadcasting gear, CD and DVD players in reasonable quantities for personal use
• Telescopes
• Computers/laptops
• Portable calculators
• Portable television sets
• Personal sports equipment
• Portable typing sets
• Portable music equipment
• Baby strollers
• Wheelchairs and cars for people of determination

There are also some items that travellers are allowed to carry in their luggage, but only in accordance with the following guidelines.

Gifts

• Gifts shouldn’t be valued at more than AED 3k.

Cash

• Less than AED 60k in total, including banknotes, travellers’ cheques and currencies. 

Cigarettes and Tobacco

• Keep the quantities less than 400 for cigarettes, 50 for cigars and 500 grams for tobacco.
• The tobacco can be pressed or minced for smoking or pipes.
• The stipulation covers both regular and mild-tasting tobacco.

Alcoholic Beverages

• To carry alcoholic beverages custom-free into Dubai, the total quantity should not exceed 4 litres. 
• No more than two beer cartons are allowed with 24 cans each or 355ml per can or equivalent. 

Please note

• Anything exceeding these values is subject to customs charges. To carry cigarettes, tobacco and alcoholic beverages, the passenger and those accompanying them should be above the age of 18.
• The custom exemptions are only applicable when you are not a frequent traveller to Dubai or a member of the conveyance crew.  

GENERAL TIPS FOR TRAVELLING TO AND FROM DUBAI

When travelling to or from airports in Dubai, the following tips can help you cut down on a considerable amount of hassle. 

• It is always better to get travel insurance.
• Make sure you pack all your personal belongings in hand luggage.
• Keep the laptops accessible. They need to be placed on a separate security tray for scanning.
• Cardboard boxes are manually processed and take longer for Dubai Airport security clearance. So, it is better to avoid them.
• Remove all previous baggage tags to avoid the rejection of your baggage.
• Never accept anything from other passengers.

FAQs ABOUT BANNED ITEMS AT DUBAI AIRPORT AND MORE

HOW MUCH MONEY CAN I BRING TO DUBAI ON A VISIT?

As per Dubai laws for tourists, Passengers aged 18 years and above can bring cash or travellers’ cheques amounting to AED 60,000 with them. Visitors should also have accommodation sorted and paid for before arrival — with a complete itinerary and a return ticket to their home country.

IS THERE A LIST OF BANNED FOOD ITEMS IN DUBAI?

According to Dubai laws for tourists, passengers travelling to Dubai shouldn’t bring cooked or homemade food, seeds, raw plants, fruits, vegetables and other unprocessed and unpacked edibles. All food items must be adequately packed and stored.

WHAT ITEMS SHOULD I AVOID PACKING FOR MY EMIRATES AIRLINE FLIGHT?

It’s important to read the updated Dangerous Goods Policy on Emirate Airlines’ official website before packing your bags for travel. The list of items banned as check-in luggage includes but is not limited to explosives, personal motorised vehicles, e-cigarettes, drones and batteries. Before you travel, make sure you are not carrying any items banned at Dubai Airport.

WHAT ITEMS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON A PLANE IN HAND LUGGAGE IN DUBAI?

You should never pack loose batteries, drones, personal motorised vehicles such as hoverboards, aerosol/sprays, thermometers, all powder-like substances, safety matches, lighters, mace, pepper spray, tasers and explosives in your hand luggage.

Some airlines require special approvals for items. Please check with your carrier for the latest guidelines.

WHAT IS ILLEGAL IN DUBAI FOR TOURISTS?

Dubai welcomes tourists from all parts of the world. But it is important that visitors respect the local laws and customs. Please remember that public drinking (alcohol consumption) is a punishable offence. You can only buy and drink alcohol in licensed venues, such as hotels, restaurants and clubs. Also, avoid swearing and making rude gestures in public and online. Public displays of affection and obnoxious clothing are also discouraged.

That’s all for our list of banned items at Dubai Airport. The next time you’re headed to Dubai Airport from your home country or anywhere else, make sure your luggage is void of the banned items. 

For those of you who find yourselves with too much time to kill between a transit/layover, there are many things to do at Dubai International Airport. You can eat, shop and relax at Zen Gardens or in lounges at Dubai Airport.

Just in case you find yourself in a pickle over an unexpected night stay in Dubai owing to flight delays, keep this list of hotels near Dubai International Airport handy. 

If you’re a Dubai resident who’s a frequent traveller, it may be more convenient to live near the airport, such as the villas for rent in Mirdif. You can also consider renting a flat in the beautiful waterfront neighbourhood of Al Jaddaf.

For more information and updates about items prohibited at Dubai Airport, stay tuned to MyBayut.