Travelling to United Arab Emirates
Entry requirements by nationality
- Argentina: visa-free short stay
- Australia: visa-free short stay
- Brazil: visa-free short stay
- Canada: visa-free short stay
- Chile: visa-free short stay
- France: visa-free short stay
- Germany: visa-free short stay
- India: visa required
- Israel: visa-free short stay
- Italy: visa-free short stay
- Japan: visa-free short stay
- Malaysia: visa-free short stay
- Mexico: visa-free short stay
- Netherlands: visa-free short stay
- New Zealand: visa-free short stay
- Singapore: visa-free short stay
- South Korea: visa-free short stay
- Spain: visa-free short stay
- Ukraine: visa-free short stay
- United Kingdom: visa-free short stay
- United States: visa-free short stay
What you can bring
- Alcohol: allowed, within limits — Alcoholic beverages not exceeding 4 litres, or 2 cartons of beer (each carton up to 24 cans of up to 355 mL per can), duty-free per traveler aged 18 or over. Excess quantity is confiscated rather than merely taxed.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Cannabis: prohibitedDetailscompare everywhere →
- Cash: allowed, must be declared — Arriving or departing passengers aged 18+ must declare cash, other bearer monetary instruments (cheques, promissory notes, payment orders), precious metals, or precious stones with an aggregate value exceeding AED 60,000 (or the equivalent in foreign currencies). Declaration is made via the designated form or the Afseh/iDeclare online platform. For travelers under 18, any amount they carry is added to their accompanying parent/guardian's threshold.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Controlled medication: depends on specifics — All of the following are listed by name on the UAE's official controlled/semi-controlled medicines schedule and are allowed for personal use ONLY with supporting documents, up to a maximum 3-month supply: amphetamine (Adderall), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), methylphenidate (Ritalin) — Psychotropic Schedule II; alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin) — Psychotropic Schedule IV / 'CD'; codeine, oxycodone — Narcotic Schedule I/II; tramadol — 'CD'. None of these is flatly prohibited. Travelers must carry BOTH a dated, stamped prescription (issued within 3 months) AND an attested medical report (issued within 1 year) naming the medicine, dose, and treatment duration.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Drones: depends on specifics — The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) states that all UAS/drones, regardless of weight, used by individuals for recreational purposes must be registered with the GCAA. Dubai Customs' passenger guide also lists drones among items accompanying passengers that are subject to permits from relevant authorities and must be declared on arrival.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Fresh produce: depends on specificsDetailscompare everywhere →
- Meat & dairy: depends on specificsDetailscompare everywhere →
- Medication: depends on specifics — Prescribed medicines for personal use may be brought in without a permit in what the government portal describes only as "normal quantities" (no numeric day-supply figure is stated on the primary page reached in this pass). Narcotic, psychotropic, and other controlled medicines classed A or B are not freely importable — they require advance authorization from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) before travel.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Paan & nasvaar: prohibitedDetailscompare everywhere →
- Tobacco: allowed, within limits — One of: 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 500 g of tobacco (minced or pressed for pipes), tumbak (pure tobacco), or hookah/shisha molasses, duty-free per traveler aged 18 or over. Customs duty is imposed on excess quantities.Detailscompare everywhere →
From the blog
Checked against official sources on 2026-08-13. Official source