People have been imprisoned in Dubai for some pretty obscure things.
Flying from Australia to Europe always requires a stopover, and flying Emirates that stop is Dubai, something I'm now a bit concerned about.
It's well-known that UAE drug laws are stricter than most, but until now I didn't realise how severe. Their list of restricted and banned substances includes a lot of things commonly used across the rest of the world, such as poppy seeds. Yes, amongst the horror stories there is a Swiss guy currently serving four years for being found with poppy seeds on his clothes (all 3 of them) from a roll he ate at Heathrow. You can be charged if even minute drug traces are found on your clothes (even the soles of your shoes) or in your blood or urine. If that doesn't make you paranoid, I don't know what will.
The medical drug list is also very restrictive. If you're on any medication at all, prescription or over-the-counter, you will want to check for it on the list available from the UAE Ministry of Health. As a quick summary, the following items are amongst the restricted list:
Codeine -- a common ingredient in many painkillers and cold-&-flu preparations, such as Panadeine and some forms of Codral
Dextromethorphan -- in some cough syrups
Most antidepressants and antipsychotics
Hormones -- including HRT and those used for cancer. Oddly, except for Nuvaring, there don't seem to be any other contraceptives on the list
Sedatives and Hypnotics -- such as Valium. In another odd omission, the common sleeping pill Temazepam is not on the list, but it would still be best to have your prescription with you if you have been prescribed this
Analgesics -- pretty much anything except paracetamol
If you are taking a restricted drug, it does not necessarily mean you won't be able to bring it with you, but you will require a letter from your doctor stating precisely what the drug is, how it is to be taken, and what condition you are using it for, countersigned by a Justice of the Peace or Notary Public.
I can't find any information on how these restrictions apply to transit passengers. I also can't find a map of Dubai Airport. If you know anything about it, please let me know below.
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Hi, stumbled across this as I was looking to see if the Codral i'd brought in from Australia (2 years ago) was actually banned or not! Dont know if you've already come through, but you hear about all these scary stories but I've generally found the airport pretty relaxed. Once you get your bags you can pretty much walk straight out. I rarely see anyone being searched, let alone even stopping to declare anything! When I moved over here, I had a wetpack in my luggage just filled with over-the-counter stuff like panadol, neurofen, codral, zantac etc. I think as long as you are carrying for personal usage (and not 50 packets), it wouldnt look suspicious.
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