Banned: What not to bring to UAE

Banned: What not to bring

People landing in the country must be aware of medicines that are prohibited. Keep banned drugs off travel kit

Excerpts from the article in Gulf News by Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter

The UAE has identified a group of drugs with the potential to lead to addiction if not controlled and has prohibited their entry.

Many common cold and cough remedies, which you might assume to be harmless, must be accompanied by a prescription. Many of these drugs are available over-the-counter (OTC) in other countries.

Some sleeping tablets, painkillers, anti-depressants and hormone replacement therapy drugs are banned here.

Poppy seeds, a common ingredient in dishes in some countries, are illegal her.

Betel leaves and betel nuts are also banned.

All kinds of sex stimulants are banned.

Some controlled drugs according to UAE Federal Law are alfentanil, amphetamine, codeine, fentanyl, ketamine, methadone, methyphenidate and morphine.

The trade names of some controlled medicines which are registered as medicines in the UAE (i.e. a doctor's prescription is required) Ketalar, Physeptone, Ritalin, Sosegon, Subutex Ultiva, Abilify, Anexate, Arthrotec, Ativan, Barnetil, Buccastem, Clopixol, Cytotec, 123 Cold, Actifed Compound, Actifed DM, Activelle, Adol Cold, Adol Compound, Adumbran, Akineton, Algaphan, Anafranil, Andriol, Artane, Tussifin with codeine, Unified DM, Vesanoid, Virormone and Zoloft.

Please check with the UAE embassy on prohibited or controlled medicines in the UAE before traveling here.