Passenger Customs Guide

Permitted and duty-exempted items

  • Gifts that are not worth more than AED 3000.
  • 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars maximum. In case of excess quantity, such quantity shall be subject to the prescribed duties.
  • A maximum of 500 grams of minced tobacco for smoking or pipes or chopped tobacco or molasses tobacco. In case of excess quantity, such quantity shall be subject to the prescribed duties.
  • Alcoholic beverages of no more than 4 liters, or 2 packages of beer. More quantities shall be confiscated.

Permitted and duty-exempted personal baggage

  • Optical telescopes, film projectors and accessories.
  • Radios, CD players, discs, and portable music instruments.
  • Video Cameras, digital camera and suitable amount of tapes for personal use.
  • One cellular phone, one TV and one receiver.
  • Baby strollers, personal sports equipment and special needs strollers and wheelchairs.
  • Computers, calculators and portable printers

Conditions for exemption from customs duties :

  • The baggage and gifts must be of a personal nature and not in commercial quantities.
  • The passenger must not be one of who frequently visits the same customs centre or who trades in the items in his possession.
  • Cigarettes and alcoholic beverages are not permitted entry and are not subject to duty exemption for passengers under 18 years of age.

Disclosure of Cash :

  • All passengers arriving in the country must disclose cash, travelers’ cheques, jewellery and precious metals in their possession that exceed in value AED 100,000 or its equivalent in other currencies; by filling the disclosure form designed for this purpose pursuant to the disclosure system applicable in the country. Passengers below 18 years of age shall not be permitted to bring in money exceeding the said limit and the amount in his/her possession shall be added to his/ her guardian`s permitted limit if accompanied by one. .

Restricted goods:


The following items are allowed to enter the State conditional on the approval of the competent authority:

  • Predatory animals, Bustards, camels, live animal, live fish.

    Competent authority: Ministry of Environment and Water.

  • Weapons and ammunitions of all kinds, alcoholic beverages, fireworks, explosives.

    Competent authority: Ministry of Interior

  • Narcotic medications and drugs for medical purposes.

    Competent authority: Ministry of Health.

  • Telecommunication devices (wired and wireless), transmission and enhancement devices, jamming devices and mobile network blockers.

    Competent authority: Telecommunication Regulatory Authority.

  • Electronic Cigarettes

    Competent authority: Environment Research Authority.

Prohibited goods:

  • Hashish, opium, heroine, morphine, cocaine, papaver and its hull and seeds, Khat, cannabis and any other grains of similar effect, gambling tools and machines, and red laser pointers.

    Competent authority: Ministry of Interior.

  • Counterfeit and fake currencies

    Competent Authority: UAE Central Bank

  • Authentic publication, oil painting, photographs, pictures, cards, books, magazines stony sculptures, which contradict Islamic teachings, decencies or deliberately implying immorality or turmoil.

    Competent authority: Ministry of Information.

  • Crude Ivory (elephant ivory) and Rhinoceros’s horn, Ozone depleting materials, hazardous waste.

    Competent authority: Environment Research Authority..

  • Three-layer nylon fishing nets, falcons shall be prohibited from April to 31 August of each year except for the following: Falcons with permits under CITES Convention, Falcons bearing passports, Sick falcons arriving for treatment after obtaining permits from the Environment Research Authority.

    Competent authority: Ministry of Environment and Water.

  • Candy Cigarettes, radioactive materials

    Competent authority: Municipality

  • Sheets and pipes made of asbestos, radiation contaminated materials

    Competent authority: Ministry of Health.

Smuggling and penalties:

  • Customs smuggling : is the admission, transit or exit of the goods without paying the customs duties or in violation of the provisions of restriction and prohibition stated in the laws in force in the State.
  • Forms of Smuggling:
    • A passenger did not proceed with the goods to the first port of entry (Customs Department).
    • A passenger did not disclose the incoming or outgoing goods, which have a commercial character to the Customs Department
    • When the goods surpass the Customs Department at entry or exit without being disclosed.
    • Producing false, fraudulent or fabricated documents or lists or affixing false marks intended to evade the customs duties in whole or in part, or to avoid the provisions of prohibition and restriction.
    • Transporting or acquisition of prohibited or restricted goods without submitting evidence supporting their legal importation.

Smuggling penalties:

Goods

Penalty

Goods subject to high customs duties

Fine: double the value of the goods, Penalty: double the customs duties; and/or imprisonment (month-year) (or one of them)
Other goods subject to customs duties (5%) Fine: double the value of the goods. Penalty: double the customs duties; and/or imprisonment (month-year) (or one of them).
Exempted goods Fine: 10% of the value of the goods. Penalty: the value of the goods; and/or imprisonment (1 month to 1 year) (or one of them).
Prohibited goods

Fine: the value of goods. Penalty: three times the value of goods; and/or imprisonment (6 month-3 years) (or one of them).


In addition to:

  • Confiscation of smuggled goods or imposing a fine equal to the value of such goods in case of not confiscating the same.
  • Confiscation of transportation means (save for the public transmission means).
  • Confiscation of the tools and materials used for smuggling.