The UAE government prohibits drugs, narcotics and chemicals. Before entering the country, visitors are advised to take all precaution to ensure that they do not carry such substances; either in person, luggage or in medicines they might be carrying. Strict penalties include imprisonment followed by deportation. To ensure that medications do not contain a banned or restricted substance, it is advised to check the list of UAE restricted and controlled medicines or drugs on the Ministry's of Health's website.
If the medicine is on that list , it is advisable not to carry them on flights/transportaion into the UAE. However, if for medical or emergency reasons, you need to carry any medicines, you must have a medical prescription from a UAE-licenced doctor. If treatment was undertaken abroad, you must carry both a doctor’s prescription as well as a detailed medical report, both of which should be attested. You are not permitted to bring more than three months' supply of medicine, as per guidelines.
Besides the narcotics listed, all other recreational drugs including cocaine, heroin, cannabis and opiates and its derivatives are banned. Poppy seeds are also banned so it is advisable to avoid accidentally carrying bakery products that might contain such seeds. Also banned are a series of chewing tobaccos and related substances, that are widely used in Asia and parts of Africa. These include khat leaf, betel leaf or betel nuts, niswar, gutkha.
Source: Dubai Government
