• Customs officers at Dubai International Airport check passengers' baggage. If you are flying to Dubai, you can find the list of prohibited items on Dubai Customs' website. Amy Leang / The National
    Customs officers at Dubai International Airport check passengers' baggage. If you are flying to Dubai, you can find the list of prohibited items on Dubai Customs' website. Amy Leang / The National
  • Dubai Customs officers during a routine search at Dubai airport. Photo: Wam
    Dubai Customs officers during a routine search at Dubai airport. Photo: Wam
  • Certain medicines are on the list of banned items at Dubai airport. Photo: Keith Burdett
    Certain medicines are on the list of banned items at Dubai airport. Photo: Keith Burdett
  • All narcotic drugs, including hashish, cocaine, heroin, poppy seeds, and hallucinogenic pills are prohibited. Some prohibited drugs may be imported or exported subject to official approval. Photo: Wam
    All narcotic drugs, including hashish, cocaine, heroin, poppy seeds, and hallucinogenic pills are prohibited. Some prohibited drugs may be imported or exported subject to official approval. Photo: Wam
  • One woman was caught at Dubai airport with an illegal drug hidden in six walnuts. Photo: Dubai Customs
    One woman was caught at Dubai airport with an illegal drug hidden in six walnuts. Photo: Dubai Customs
  • Heroin capsules seized at Dubai International Airport.
    Heroin capsules seized at Dubai International Airport.
  • In 2019, officers seized the skin of a crocodile at Dubai airport. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    In 2019, officers seized the skin of a crocodile at Dubai airport. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Cabin and checked luggage: what you can and can’t take on a plane to Dubai


Ali Al Shouk
  • English
  • Arabic

As people jet off on their summer holidays, here is a reminder of what you are and are not allowed in your hand and hold luggage on an aircraft.

This not only includes dangerous and restricted items, but the more apparently harmless things, such as a mercury thermometer, rolling pins, small plants, or even simple, home-cooked food.

Each country has its own rules and if you are flying to Dubai, you can find the list of prohibited items on Dubai Custom’s website, which is updated regularly.

Ibrahim Al Kamali, director of passenger operations at Dubai Customs, said travellers should check the rules before flying. If in doubt, they can also use the iDeclare app and declare anything that they are not sure of.

“We call upon passengers to declare their possessions on arrival and not to carry luggage for others,” he said.

List of prohibited items

Crude ivory and rhinoceros horn are on the banned list. Photo: Dubai Police
Crude ivory and rhinoceros horn are on the banned list. Photo: Dubai Police

Prohibited goods are any items that cannot be carried in the checked or hold luggage without the approval of the relevant authorities. These include:

All kinds of narcotic drugs, including hashish, cocaine, heroin, poppy seeds, and hallucinogenic pills. Certain prohibited drugs may be imported or exported subject to official approvals.

Crude ivory and rhinoceros horn

Gambling tools and machinery

Three-layer fishing nets

Original engravings, prints, lithographs (prints made on stone), sculptures, and statues in any material

Used, reconditioned and inlaid tyres (made of high quality sponge materials)

Substances that cause radiation

Printed publications, oil paintings, photographs, pictures, cards, books, magazines stony sculptures and mannequins that contradict Islamic teachings, decencies, or deliberately imply immorality or turmoil

Forged and duplicate currency

Cooked and home-made foods

Paan and betel leaves

Live animals, plants, fertilisers and insecticides

Weapons, ammunition, explosives and fireworks

Rough diamonds

Transmitters and radio equipment

Drones

This list can be updated occasionally to add or remove items. For the latest information, check the official Dubai Customs website.

Items prohibited in hand luggage

All types of hammers, nails, screwdrivers, and sharp work tools

Scissors with blades longer than 6cm

Personal grooming kit (parts longer than 6cm will be confiscated)

All types of swords, knives and sharp objects

Handcuffs

All types of firearms, ammunition, or flare guns

All types of laser guns and martial arts weapons

Walkie-Talkies

Drills

All types of ropes

Measuring tapes

Matches, safety (one small packet) or a small cigarette lighter that does not contain unabsorbed liquid fuel, other than liquefied gas, intended for use by an individual when carried on the person. Lighter fuel and lighter refills are not allowed on a person or in checked or carry-on baggage.

Sports equipment that can be used as a bludgeon

Packing tape

Electrical cables except for personal trip use

Chemicals

Large metallic items

Compressed gas cylinders

Car spare parts

Flammable liquid

Hoverboard

Lithium batteries

E-cigarettes (including e-cigars, e-pipes, electric portable incense burners or other personal vaporisers) containing batteries must be individually protected to prevent accidental activation. They can only be carried in the checked luggage, not in the hand luggage.

Hypodermic needles (unless you have a medical certificate explaining why you need them).

High quantities of liquids such as soup, jam, honey, syrups, cosmetics and toiletries, including creams, lotion, oils, perfumes, mascara, lip gloss, sprays, shaving foam, hairspray and spray deodorants, toothpaste, contact lens solution and gels, including hair and shower gel.

All liquids should be packed inside a clear, re-sealable plastic bag and cannot be more than 100 ml per item. The maximum limit is 1 litre.

Medicines

Certain medicines are included in the list of banned items at Dubai Airport.

Air travellers can end up in jail if they are found carrying prescription drugs without a medical certificate. Photo: Keith Burdett
Air travellers can end up in jail if they are found carrying prescription drugs without a medical certificate. Photo: Keith Burdett

Some medicines from passengers’ home countries may unintentionally contain substances banned in the UAE, which can lead to possible arrest.

Passengers should carry a valid and attested prescription from a doctor if they do not have any other option but to carry the banned medication.

Passengers should not have medication that is more than the required normal usage for your scheduled stay in Dubai.

Medicines that are banned in the UAE include:

Morphine tablets (used to relieve short-term acute or long-term chronic pain)

Codeine (used for pain and is found naturally in the sap of the opium poppy)

Tramadol (a narcotic analgesic)

Alpha-methylifentanyl (opioid analgesic)

Ketamine (an anaesthetic that can be used for depression)

Betamethodol (used for skin diseases but is a cortisone-like medicine or steroid)

Trimeperidine (an opioid analgesic)

The entire list of banned medicines can be found on the website of Dubai Customs.

What can people bring into the country, legally?

Passengers can bring the following items into Dubai without paying customs duty:

Gifts that are under Dh3,000.

Passengers 18 or older can bring less than 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 500 grams of tobacco (minced or pressed for pipes), tobacco or mild-tasting tobacco. Passengers will have to pay duty if they exceed the limit.

Alcoholic beverages and beers should not exceed four litres, or two cartons of beer (each consisting of 24 cans, not exceeding 355ml for each can or its equivalent).

Personal belongings exempt from customs fees

Still and moving image video cameras with their appropriate tapes, films and accessories.

A passenger who is 18 years or older can carry cash, different currencies and traveller's cheques, but the total amount should be less than Dh6​0,000.

CDs, DVD players, slides, films and accessories that are used in projectors but only for personal use.

Telescopes, mobile telephones, portable TV sets, computers including laptops.

Baby strollers

Portable music equipment

Sports equipment (should be taken in checked luggage if it can be used as a bludgeon)

Portable typing sets

Portable calculators

Disabled wheelchairs and cars

The above items must be for personal use and not for resale.

The passenger should not be a frequent traveller coming in with these goods on a regular basis.

Dubai Customs records 936 drug seizures in the first four months of 2022 – in pictures

  • Dubai Customs made 936 seizures in the first four months of 2022. All photos: Dubai Customs
    Dubai Customs made 936 seizures in the first four months of 2022. All photos: Dubai Customs
  • Large amounts of Captagon, crystal meth, heroin, marijuana and opium were seized by Dubai Customs between January and April this year.
    Large amounts of Captagon, crystal meth, heroin, marijuana and opium were seized by Dubai Customs between January and April this year.
  • Of the 936 foiled attempts to smuggle drugs into the emirate, 222 took place at Dubai airports.
    Of the 936 foiled attempts to smuggle drugs into the emirate, 222 took place at Dubai airports.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima


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Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less

The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Sanju

Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani

Rating: 3.5 stars

PREMIER LEAGUE STATS

Romelu Lukaku's goalscoring statistics in the Premier League 
Season/club/appearances (substitute)/goals

2011/12 Chelsea: 8(7) - 0
2012/13 West Brom (loan): 35(15) - 17
2013/14 Chelsea: 2(2) - 0
2013/14 Everton (loan): 31(2) - 15
2014/15 Everton: 36(4) - 10
2015/16 Everton: 37(1) - 18
2016/17 Everton: 37(1) - 25  

DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW

Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers

Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
Pool C – Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2, Roberts Construction, Dubai Exiles 2
Pool D – Dubai Tigers, UAE Shaheen, Sharjah Wanderers, Amman Citadel 2

Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
Pool B – Dubai English Speaking College 2, Jumeirah College, Dubai College A, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2
Pool C – Bahrain Colts, Al Yasmina School, DESC, DC B
Pool D – Al Ain Amblers, Repton Royals, Dubai Exiles, Gems World Academy Dubai
Pool E – JESS A, Abu Dhabi Sharks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1, EC

Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
Pool C – Dubai Hurricanes, Emirates Firebirds 2, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Transforma Panthers
Pool D – AUC Wolves, Dubai Hawks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers

Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins

The Intruder

Director: Deon Taylor

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good

One star

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MATCH INFO

World Cup 2022 qualifier

UAE v Indonesia, Thursday, 8pm

Venue: Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, Group C
Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade
Anfield, Liverpool
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

MATCH INFO

Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10

Updated: July 22, 2022, 12:24 PM