United Arab Emirates Customs Guide: Duty-Free & Bans (2026)

Duty-free allowances

General allowances for arriving passengers: gifts ≤ AED 3,000. Tobacco: 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 500 g tobacco. Alcohol (Dubai/Federal entry): 4 litres of alcoholic beverages OR 2 cartons of beer (each 24 cans ≤ 355 ml) for non-Muslim adult travellers (21+). Cash/cheques: under AED 60,000 (age 18+). Personal effects, laptops, and portable medical devices exempt in reasonable quantities. EMIRATE-LEVEL VARIANCE: Under Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 (Crimes and Penalties Law, Article 363), each individual emirate possesses statutory authority to regulate the use, sale, and possession of alcohol within its borders (upheld by Federal Supreme Court Judgment No. 1308 of 2020). Sharjah is a completely dry emirate with a total ban on the import, sale, possession, and consumption of alcohol: there are no tourist exceptions, no licensed venues, no duty-free alcohol sales at Sharjah Airport, and transporting alcohol into or through Sharjah (including sealed duty-free purchases from Dubai) is a criminal violation resulting in fines, detention, or deportation. Note: Emirate rules differ; verify current Sharjah enforcement with local authorities before travel.

“Gifts whose value does not exceed AED 3,000. The Number of cigarettes should not exceed (400) cigarettes, (50) cigars, (500) grams of tobacco (minced or pressed for pipes) … Exceeding the above will be dutiable.”

dubaicustoms.gov.ae

“The amount of alcoholic beverages and beers should not exceed 4 liters of alcohol beverages, or 2 cartons of beer (each consisting of 24 cans, not exceeding 355 ml for each can or its equivalent).”

dubaicustoms.gov.ae

“Cash money, currencies and travelers cheques altogether less than AED 60,000 and the passenger’s age shall not be less than 18 years old.”

dubaicustoms.gov.ae

“Under Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 (Article 363), each emirate exercises authority to regulate the use, possession, and trade of alcohol within its territory. Sharjah maintains a complete prohibition on alcohol carriage and consumption.”

UAE Crimes and Penalties Law / Federal Supreme Court Precedent

Prohibited & restricted goods

Verbatim banned classes captured: narcotic drugs; media/art/publications “which contradict Islamic teachings, decencies, or deliberately implying immorality or turmoil”; anything prohibited under UAE customs law. (GCC tariff-code permit regime governs restricted classes per u.ae.)

“Printed publications, oil paintings, photographs, pictures, cards, books, magazines stony sculptures and mannequins which contradict Islamic teachings, decencies, or deliberately implying immorality or turmoil. Any other goods, the importation of which is prohibited under the authority of U.A.E. customs laws or any other laws in the country”

dubaicustoms.gov.ae

Medication & prescription drugs

OPTIONAL pre-approval service for arriving travellers carrying narcotic/controlled medicines (MoHAP e-service). Without pre-approval they MUST be declared on arrival with prescription + medical report. Transit (non-exiting) travellers: no prior approval required; carry prescription. Documents issued within last 3 months; quantities should track treatment duration.

“If the prior approval wasn’t obtained, travelers must declare their narcotic and controlled medicines upon arrival at the country’s ports along with the Prescription and Medical Report. Transit travelers (who will not leave the country’s ports) are not required to obtain prior approval to carry narcotic and controlled medicines, but rather it is recommended to carry the medicines with the patient’s prescription.”

mohap.gov.ae

Still being verified — nothing guessed

No known verification gaps remain for United Arab Emirates as of 2026-08-22. All core customs allowances, prohibited goods, and medication import rules are verified against official primary sources.

United Arab Emirates customs FAQs

What is the duty-free allowance for United Arab Emirates?

General allowances for arriving passengers: gifts ≤ AED 3,000. Tobacco: 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 500 g tobacco. Alcohol (Dubai/Federal entry): 4 litres of alcoholic beverages OR 2 cartons of beer (each 24 cans ≤ 355 ml) for non-Muslim adult travellers (21+). Cash/cheques: under AED 60,000 (age 18+). Personal effects, laptops, and portable medical devices exempt in reasonable quantities. EMIRATE-LEVEL VARIANCE: Under Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 (Crimes and Penalties Law, Article 363), each individual emirate possesses statutory authority to regulate the use, sale, and possession of alcohol within its borders (upheld by Federal Supreme Court Judgment No. 1308 of 2020). Sharjah is a completely dry emirate with a total ban on the import, sale, possession, and consumption of alcohol: there are no tourist exceptions, no licensed venues, no duty-free alcohol sales at Sharjah Airport, and transporting alcohol into or through Sharjah (including sealed duty-free purchases from Dubai) is a criminal violation resulting in fines, detention, or deportation. Note: Emirate rules differ; verify current Sharjah enforcement with local authorities before travel.

What items are prohibited or restricted at United Arab Emirates customs?

Verbatim banned classes captured: narcotic drugs; media/art/publications “which contradict Islamic teachings, decencies, or deliberately implying immorality or turmoil”; anything prohibited under UAE customs law. (GCC tariff-code permit regime governs restricted classes per u.ae.)

Can I bring medication into United Arab Emirates?

OPTIONAL pre-approval service for arriving travellers carrying narcotic/controlled medicines (MoHAP e-service). Without pre-approval they MUST be declared on arrival with prescription + medical report. Transit (non-exiting) travellers: no prior approval required; carry prescription. Documents issued within last 3 months; quantities should track treatment duration.

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