Travellers visiting or transiting through UAE are reminded to secure permission from the Registration and Drug Control Department, Ministry of Health, when bringing certain medicines.
Pharmacy Law No. 4 of 1983 and Narcotics Law No. 14 of 1995 states that some controlled or psychotropic medicines and narcotics, even though they are prescribed and/or easily available in countries outside UAE, require permission from the Ministry of Health.
These drugs, however, should only be for personal use and cannot be sold in the UAE. The amount of medicine to be allowed should also not exceed dosage for 30 days.
In seeking permission from the Ministry of Health, tourists need to present the following documents:
A valid medical prescription; if the original of the prescription is retained in the pharmacy that dispensed the preparation, the traveler should keep an attested copy of the prescription.
Authenticated certificate and/or permit, from the health authority of the country of departure, confirming his/her legal authority to possess, for personal use, medical preparations mentioned therein.
Controlled medicine are different from non-registered and/or banned medicine. Travellers are strictly prohibited from bringing these medicine to the UAE.
For the full list of medicine that are banned or require permission from the Ministry of Health, check the official document here.
