Bring ordinary medicines in their original packs with a copy of the prescription, and check controlled ones with the Ministry of Health (MOHAP) before you fly. MOHAP's guidance allows a visitor up to three months' supply of narcotic, controlled and semi-controlled medicines, with a permit optional for visitors and mandatory for residents. Reports of the limits differ, so carry the smallest amount that covers your stay. This guide covers which medicines are controlled, what a prescription must show, what to carry on safari, boat and balloon days, and where to check officially.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
While you are in Dubai: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
Do I need a permit to bring medicine to Dubai?
Not for everyday medicines. For narcotic, controlled and semi-controlled medicines, MOHAP's guidance says the permit is optional for a visitor carrying up to 3 months' supply, and mandatory for residents. Reports differ on limits, so carry the smallest amount that covers your stay, and apply for the permit if there is any doubt.
This guide also answers:
- What must a prescription show for Dubai?
- What if I run out of medicine in Dubai?
Five days out, and what goes in the medicine bag
#1
Arrival day at Dubai airport
Keep every medicine in your hand luggage, in its original box with the pharmacy label, and put the prescription and any permit approval on top. Bags are scanned on arrival, and officers can ask what a packet is. A clear paper copy and a phone copy of the prescription make that a one-minute conversation instead of a long one.
#2
Desert safari day
Our full-day safari is about 7 hours away from the city, so bring that day's doses with you and any motion-sickness remedy you normally use. We advise avoiding a heavy meal 2-3 hours before pickup, because dune bashing can upset the stomach. The safari is not recommended for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, or infants under 3.
#3
Sea day on a yacht or speedboat
On the 1-hour shared yacht tour we suggest guests who are prone to seasickness take their medication 30 minutes before boarding. Keep the remedy in a small bag you can carry on board, because shoes come off at boarding and space is tight. Everyone needs an original passport or Emirates ID for the Coast Guard.
#4
Beach and heat day
Heat changes how people feel, and some medicines are stored below a stated temperature. Keep tablets and creams out of a hot car and a beach bag in direct sun, carry water and high-SPF sunscreen, and ask your doctor or pharmacist before the trip if your medicine carries a sun or heat warning. Pharmacies are easy to find if you need something small.
#5
Sunrise balloon morning
Pickup is before dawn and the whole morning takes 4-5 hours, so take any morning medicine on schedule and bring layers, because the desert is chilly at first light. The balloon is not suitable for pregnant women, children under 7, guests over 80 or anyone with serious heart or back issues, and guests carry an original passport or a clear copy for the flight manifest.
The short answer: three tiers of medicine
Everyday medicines are simple, prescription medicines need paperwork, and controlled medicines need a check before you fly. Painkillers such as paracetamol, antihistamines, rehydration salts and plasters go in your bag in their original packs. Ordinary prescription medicines, such as blood pressure, asthma, thyroid or antibiotic courses, travel in the original box with a copy of the prescription in English or Arabic.
Controlled and semi-controlled medicines are the tier that matters. MOHAP, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, runs a permit service for narcotic, controlled and semi-controlled medicines through its website and app. Its published guidance says the permit is optional for a visitor carrying up to three months' supply and mandatory for citizens and residents. News reports have quoted tighter figures, so the safe plan is the smallest amount that covers your stay, plus the permit if there is any doubt.
This page is general guidance, not medical or legal advice. Your doctor knows your medicines, and MOHAP has the final word on what may enter the country.
Which medicines are controlled?
The official lists are long and change, so read the current one on MOHAP's website. As a guide, these families are the ones travellers most often bring without realising they are controlled.
| Type of medicine | Examples | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Strong painkillers | Codeine, tramadol and morphine-type medicines | Check MOHAP; carry a doctor's letter and the prescription |
| Anxiety and sleep medicines | Diazepam, alprazolam and some sleeping tablets | Check MOHAP before you fly |
| ADHD stimulants | Methylphenidate and similar medicines | Check MOHAP; consider the permit |
| Nerve-pain and epilepsy medicines | Pregabalin and some others | Check MOHAP |
| Cold and decongestant products | Some containing codeine or pseudoephedrine | Read the ingredients; leave at home if unsure |
| Cannabis and CBD products | Oils, gummies, vapes | Do not bring; treat as banned |
| Everyday medicines | Paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines, rehydration salts | Original packs; sensible amounts |
A guide only; MOHAP's current list is the official source.
What the prescription and the packaging must show
A prescription is the paper that turns a packet of tablets into a medicine with an owner. Customs officers and MOHAP both look for the same details:
- Your name, matching your passport.
- The medicine and dose, with the generic name where possible, and the dosage form (tablet, injection, patch).
- The treatment duration, so the quantity makes sense.
- The issue date. MOHAP's service asks for a prescription issued within the last 3 months.
- The doctor's name, and a stamp or letterhead from the clinic or hospital.
- The original box and pharmacy label, never loose strips in a pill organiser.
Carry medicines in hand luggage, not a checked bag, and put the paperwork on top. A letter from your doctor on headed paper helps for injectables such as insulin, and for anything that has to stay cool. If a medicine is liquid and over the cabin limit, ask your airline how it wants it declared.
The permit, step by step
If you carry a controlled or semi-controlled medicine, the cautious route is to apply for the permit before you travel. Apply through MOHAP's website or app with your passport details and the prescription, keep the approval on your phone and a printout in your bag, and check the quantity matches. Allow time: do not leave it for the week of your flight.
If your trip is days away and a medicine is controlled, call the MOHAP call centre on 80011111 or ask your doctor whether an alternative exists. Do not carry it and hope: possession of a controlled medicine without the right paperwork can be treated as a drug offence, which is the most serious category in the UAE. The wider picture is in Dubai rules for tourists.
At the airport: customs and what to say
Bags are scanned on arrival, and officers can open a bag and ask about a packet. Answer plainly: what it is, what it is for, and show the prescription. Do not decant tablets into unmarked bags or bottles, and do not carry another person's medicine unless you hold their prescription and have checked the rules for it.
If the officer has a question you cannot answer, ask to contact your doctor or MOHAP rather than guessing. The conversation is usually short when the box, the label and the prescription match.
Medicine and our tours: heat, dunes, boats and balloons
Our days are long and sunny, so a small medicine bag earns its place. On the full-day desert safari, from $45 per person, you are out for about 7 hours with hotel pickup, so bring the day's doses, sunglasses, a hat and high-SPF sunscreen. Skip a heavy meal 2-3 hours before pickup, and read the safari guide for seniors if the dunes worry you.
On the 1-hour shared yacht tour, from $32, take any seasickness remedy 30 minutes before boarding. The sunrise balloon, from $275, has its own limits, set out in the balloon age and health guide. Tell us on WhatsApp if anyone in your group has a health condition, and we will say plainly whether the tour suits.
If you run out or feel ill in Dubai
Pharmacies are in malls and on most neighbourhood streets, and many open late. Some medicines sold freely at home are prescription-only here, so take the empty box to show the pharmacist, and expect a clinic visit for anything stronger. Keep your travel insurance details on your phone, and call 998 for an ambulance in an emergency. Heat is the other health risk, so see Dubai in summer and is Dubai safe for tourists for the practical routine.
FAQ
Do I need a permit to bring medicine to Dubai?
Not for everyday medicines. For narcotic, controlled and semi-controlled medicines, MOHAP's guidance says the permit is optional for a visitor carrying up to 3 months' supply, and mandatory for residents. Reports differ on limits, so carry the smallest amount that covers your stay, and apply for the permit if there is any doubt.
Can I carry prescription medicine in my hand luggage?
Yes, and you should. Keep it in the original box with the pharmacy label, with a prescription in English or Arabic on top. Do not move tablets into unmarked bags. If you carry liquids or injectables, ask your airline how to declare them and carry a doctor's letter.
Which common medicines are controlled in the UAE?
Strong painkillers such as codeine and tramadol, anxiety and sleep medicines such as diazepam, ADHD stimulants such as methylphenidate and nerve-pain medicines such as pregabalin are the usual examples. Some cold remedies with codeine or pseudoephedrine can be restricted too. MOHAP's list is the official source.
What must a prescription show for Dubai?
Your name, the medicine and dose, the dosage form, the treatment duration, the issue date and the doctor's name, stamped or on a letterhead. MOHAP's service asks for a prescription issued within the last 3 months. Use English or Arabic, and keep a phone copy as well as paper.
Can I bring CBD or cannabis products to Dubai?
No. Treat cannabis and CBD products, including oils, gummies and vapes, as banned. Drug offences are the most serious category in the UAE, and small amounts or traces can lead to arrest. If a doctor prescribes a cannabis-based medicine, ask MOHAP before you travel.
Can I bring insulin or other injections?
Many travellers do, with a prescription and a letter from the doctor on headed paper. Keep them in hand luggage, in the original packs, and in a cool bag if needed. Ask your airline how it wants needles and sharps declared, and check MOHAP for the current rules.
What if I run out of medicine in Dubai?
Visit a pharmacy, which are in malls and on most streets, and take the empty box. Some medicines need a local prescription, so a clinic visit may be necessary. For an emergency call 998 for an ambulance. Keep your insurance details on your phone, and ask your hotel to recommend a clinic.
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