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Here's what you need to know about banned and controlled medicines in the UAE, and how to legally bring medicine into the country
31 January 2023
| Last updated on 8 March 2024
Thinking of bringing medicine into the UAE? Looking for a certain type of medicine? This guide is for you.
Your health is the most important thing to consider whenever you're travelling or living in another country. While eating well, exercising, and keeping hydrated can do wonders for the body, some people may need medication to treat a health issue they may have.
While you can purchase medicines and alternative brands from UAE pharmacies, you may be interested in importing medicine from outside the emirates.
Outlined below is a helpful guide on banned and controlled medicines, and how to bring medicine from foreign countries into the UAE.
UAE medication and drug laws are strict, and mistakes can land you in hot water. Here is what you need to know.
What are banned, controlled, and over-the-counter drugs in the UAE?
UAE Federal Law No. 4 of 1983 covers the basic requirements for prescribing and supplying prescription medicines.
Over-the-counter drugs, such as Ibuprofen and Panadol, are readily available in the UAE and you can bring these to and from the emirates without issue.
Controlled medicine in the UAE are drugs that are regulated by the government and require an e-Approval from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHaP) to bring into the country. If you bring any of these into the UAE without an e-Approval, you may be stopped at the airport and your medicines will be seized by authorities.
Banned drugs in the UAE are medicines and narcotics that are classified as prohibited in the UAE, and penalties for bringing these into the emirates can be severe due to a struct, anti-drugs policy.
How to bring controlled medicines into the UAE?
To bring controlled prescription drugs into the UAE, you will need a valid doctor's prescription note and a free e-Approval issued by MoHaP.
If you are given approval to bring your controlled medicine into the UAE, you are allowed to carry with you up to three months' worth of supply as a temporary visitor and 12 months' supply as a UAE resident.
We highly recommend keeping your prescription along with the medicine's original packaging at all times, as airport officials may conduct thorough searches.
Here is how you can apply for a permit if you wish to bring prescription medicines into the UAE for personal use.
How long is the permit valid for?
Once you receive the permit, it is valid for two months.
Documents required to apply for the permit:
To apply for the permit to bring prescription medicine into the UAE, you will need the following documents:
- A copy of the prescription in your name, issued no more than three months ago.
- Copy of your UAE Emirates ID (for residents) or passport
- Copy of your passport (for visitors/tourists)
- A medical report issued within the past year from the health facility you've been treated in. This report must be authenticated by the local health authority in the country of treatment.
How much does the permit cost?
The cost to apply and get the permit online is free of charge.
You cannot use the same permit to bring in additional quantities of the same medicine on your next trip. You will need to apply for a new permit if you plan to import more.
How to apply for an online permit to bring personal use medicine to the UAE?
In order to bring in controlled medications into the UAE, you will need to apply through the 'Issue of Permit to Import Medicines for Personal Use' service. Here's how:
- Visit the Issue of Permit to Import Medicines for Personal Use service online.
- Click 'Start Service'
- Create an account or sign in using your MoHaP account or through the UAE Pass
- Select 'New application' and under 'medical product', click on 'certificate'.
- You will then receive the option for 'traveller/personal medications permission'.
- Click 'Create application'.
- You will be asked to select the country you are bringing the medicine from.
- Select the duration you will need the medication for.
- Input the details of the medicine, including the drug's trade name, generic name or active ingredient, strength, the size of the medicine pack, how many boxes/bottles/containers you are planning to bring, and the total quantity.
- All the requested documents (listed above)
- You'll have the chance to review your application before you click 'Submit'.
How long does the permit take to process?
You will receive a response within three working days.
For more information or if you need assistance with the online service, please contact MoHaP through the 24/7 hotline on 800 111 11 or email [email protected]
Full list of controlled medicines in the UAE
You can download the full alphabetical list of controlled prescription medicines in the UAE, HERE.
To look for a specific type of medicine in the list below, please use CRTL + F key to search (desktop users) or use the Find/Search option on your phone web browser (mobile users).
Generic names of controlled prescription medicines in the UAE:
2c-B
Acetyldihydrocodeine
Acetylmethadol
Alfentanyl
Allobarbital
Allylprodine
Alphacetylmethadol
Alphameprodine
Alphamethadol
Alphaprodine
Alprazolam
Amfepramone
Amfetamine
Amineptine
Aminorex
Amobarbital
Anileridine
Barbital
Benzethidine
Benzfetamine
Benzhexol (TRIHEXYPHENIDYL)
Benzylmorphine
Betacetylmethadol
Betameprodine
Betamethadol
Betaprodine
Bezitramide
Bromazepam
Brotizolam
Buprenorphine
Butalbital
Butobarbital
Camazepam
CATHINE (Norpseudo-Ephedrine)
Chlordiazepoxide
Clobazam
Clonazepam
Clonitrazene
Clorazepate
Clotiazepam
Cloxazolam
Codeine
Codeine >30mg/Unit Dose (in combination)
Codoxime
Cyclobarbital
Delorazepam
Dexamfetamine
Dextromoramide
Dextropropoxyphene
Diampromide
Diazepam
Diethylthiambutene
Difenoxin
Dihydrocodeine
Dihydrocodeine (with combination)
Dihydroetorphine
Dihydromorphine
Dimenoxadol
Dimepheptanol
Dimethylthiambutene
Dioxaphetyl butyrate
Diphenoxylate
Dipipanone
Dronabinol
Drotebanol
Ecgonine
Ehtylmorphine
Ephedrine
Estazolam
Ethchlorvynol
Ethinamate
Ethyl Loflazepate
Ethylmethylthiambutene
Etilamfetamine (N-Ethylamphetamine)
Etonitazene
Etoxeridine
Fencamfamin
Fenetylline
Fenproporex
Fentany
Fludiazepam
Flunitrazepam
Flurazepam
Furethidine
Gabapentin
Ghb
Glutethamide
Halazepam
Haloxazolam
Hydrocodone
Hydromorphinol
Hydromorphone
Hydroxypethidine
Isomethadone
Ketamine, Ketalar
Ketazolam
Lefetamine
Levamfetamine
Levomethorphan
Levomoramide
Levophenacylmorphan
Levorphanol
Lisdexamphetamine
Loprazolam
Lorazepam
Lormetazepam
Lovomethamphetamine
Mazindol
Mecloqualone
Medazepam
Mefenorex
Meprobamate
Mesocarb
Metamfetamine
Metazocine
Methadone
Methadone intermediate
Methafetamine Racemate
Methaqualone
Methyldesorphine
Methyldihydromorphine
Methylphenidate
Methylphenobarbital
Methyprylon
Metopon
Midazolam
Moramide intermediate
Morpheridine
Morphine
Morphine methobromide
Morphine n-oxide
Myrophine
Nalbuphine
Nicocodeine
Nicodicodeine
Nicomorphine
Nimetazepam
Nitrazepam
Noracymethadol
Norcodeine
Nordazepam
Norlevorphanol
Normethadone
Normorphine
Norpipanone
Opium
Oxazepam
Oxazolam
Oxycodone
Oxymorphone
Pemoline
Pentazocine
Pentobarbital
Pethidine
Pethidine intermediate A
Pethidine intermediate B
Pethidine intermediate C
Phenadoxone
Phenampromide
Phenazocine
Phencyclidine
Phendimetrazine
Phenmetrazine
Phenobarbital
Phenomorphan
Phenoperidine
Phentermine
Pholcodeine
Piminodine
Pinazepam
Pipradrol
Piritramide
Prazepam
Pregabalin
Procyclidine
Proheptazine
Properidine
Propiram
Propylhexedrine
Pseudoephedrine
Pyrovalerone
Racemethorphan
Racemoramide
Racemorphan
Secbutabarbital
Secobarbital
Sufentanyl
Temazepam
Tetrazepam
Thebacon
Thebaine
Tramadol
Triazolam
Trimeperidine
Vinylbital
Zaleplon
Zipeprol
Zolpidem
Zopiclone
Full list of banned medicines in the UAE
You can download the full alphabetical list of prohibited drugs in the UAE, HERE.
To look for a specific type of medicine in the list below, please use CRTL + F key to search (desktop users) or use the Find/Search option on your phone web browser (mobile users).
Generic names of prohibited drugs and medicines in the UAE:
(+) – LYSERGIDE (LSD, LSD-25)
3-methylfentanyl
3-methylthiofentanyl
4 – Methylaminorex
4-MTA
Acetorphine
Acetyl-alpha-methylfentanyl
Alpha-methylfentanyl
Alpha-methylthiofentanyl
Beta-hydroxy-3-methylfentanyl
Beta-hydroxyfentanyl
Brolamphetamine
Cannabis Plant
Cannabis Resine
Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp)
Catha Edulis (Khat,Kat)
Cathinone
Claviceps Purpurea (Ergot)
Coca leaf
Cocaine
Concentrate of poppy straw
Corynanthe Yohimbe (Bark)
Corynanthe Yohimbe (Yohimbe Bush)
Datura (Datura Stramonium)
Desomorphine
DET
DMA
DMHP
DMT
DOET
Ergot mushroom
Erythroxylon Coca (Coca)
Eticyclidine
Etorphine
Etryptamine
Heroin
Hyoscyamus Niger (Henbane)
Ipomoea sp. (Morning Glory)
Ketobemidone
Lophophora Williamsii (Peyote)
MDE, N-ethyl MDA
MDMA
Mescaline
Methcathinone
MMDA
Morning Glory
MPPP
N-hydroxy MDA
Papaver Somniferum (Opium)
Para-fluorofentanyl
Parahexyl
PEPAP
Peyote Cactus
Piptadenia Pregrina
PMA
Psilocine, Psilotsin
Psilocybe sp.& Amanita mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms
Psilocybine
Rolicyclidine (PHP, PCPY )
Synthetic Cannabinoids (Cannabimimetics)
Tabernanthe Iboga (Iboga tree)
Tenamfetamine (MDA)
Tenocyclidine (TCP)
Tetrahydrocannabinol
Thiofentanyl
TMA
Note:
- Any other plants not stated in this list and contain narcotic ingredients or can cause harm to the mind are also prohibited.
- Non-inclusion of any similar material doesn’t mean that it is not prohibited by the UAE law.
For more information, please visit the official MoHaP website, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) website for Dubai residents or tourists, or call the MoHaP 24/7 hotline at 800 111 11.
