Desperately need help! Restricted and banned medication in Dubai, UAE

[Mischa]

Dear all,

I am currently living in London, UK, and about to move to Dubai for work.

I have heard that there are several medications prescribed by UK doctors, or available over the counter, that are banned or restricted in Dubai.

When I move to Dubai, I would like to bring a supply of my prescribed medicines with me.

However, I cannot find anywhere on the internet, a list of the banned and restricted medicines. Every link I have found is broken or expired, including the link provided on this website in the important info section.

Can anyone please, please point me in the right direction of a working link for the up to date list?

I am so worried about this!! I don't know what I will be allowed to bring with me, how much, or how to go about ensuring that I have done everything correctly.

Any help or advice would be hugely appreciated!

Thank you!

[teuchter]

Originally Posted by Mischa

Dear all,

I am currently living in London, UK, and about to move to Dubai for work.

I have heard that there are several medications prescribed by UK doctors, or available over the counter, that are banned or restricted in Dubai.

When I move to Dubai, I would like to bring a supply of my prescribed medicines with me.

However, I cannot find anywhere on the internet, a list of the banned and restricted medicines. Every link I have found is broken or expired, including the link provided on this website in the important info section.

Can anyone please, please point me in the right direction of a working link for the up to date list?

I am so worried about this!! I don't know what I will be allowed to bring with me, how much, or how to go about ensuring that I have done everything correctly.

Any help or advice would be hugely appreciated!

Thank you!

The full list is available for download (as an Excel file) from this site: UAE Embassy in Canberra » Traveling with Medication

teuchter

[wandabug]

You can bring meds in from the restricted list with an attested letter from your doctor. Send the letter to the FCO in Milton Keynes and then to the UAE Embassy in London. This gives you permission to bring in a restricted medication for your own use. As a visitor you can bring 3 months supply, as a resident you can bring a year supply.
All the meds on the restricted list can be prescribed by a UAE doctor once you are here but usually alot more expensive than in the UK.
I am on long term meds - my GP in the UK gives me a year supply on one prescription (£7) whereas in Dubai it would cost me £400 a month!.

[Marthabelle]

Thanks for this info, I am in the same situation.

One question: When you come through customs with 3 months/1 years worth of meds (& if you are anything like me that will be like HALF a suitcase!) do you need to declare them? Then do you have to go through all your meds with them?

I'm currently trying to come off a very strong painkiller, banned in the UAE, before I arrive...just figure that'd be easier but dang it's not fun!

M

[compaq7500]

I suffer from asthma are Ventolin/salbutamol inhalers and becontide inhalers banned in the uae.

[Pink Fairie]

Originally Posted by compaq7500

I suffer from asthma are Ventolin/salbutamol inhalers and becontide inhalers banned in the uae.

No, I carry these inhalers with me everywhere, through customs etc with no bother, never even asked for a doctors note. Dubai is a leading researcher for asthma

[wandabug]

Originally Posted by Marthabelle

Thanks for this info, I am in the same situation.

One question: When you come through customs with 3 months/1 years worth of meds (& if you are anything like me that will be like HALF a suitcase!) do you need to declare them? Then do you have to go through all your meds with them?

I'm currently trying to come off a very strong painkiller, banned in the UAE, before I arrive...just figure that'd be easier but dang it's not fun!

M

NO you do not have to declare restricted meds, just have attested letter in case. There is a big difference between Restricted and Banned Meds. If your painkillers are on the Banned list - do not bring them in!!! Codeine based painkillers are banned - you risk a tour of a UAE prison if you are caught with them even with a doctors letter.

[Marthabelle]

Thanks Wandabug.

I've checked through the banned/restricted lists and know where I'm at. However I do have to say, for visitors at least it's worth checking the 'rules'. I am on both morphine based and codine based painkillers and while I could stop the cocodemol no trouble, we were invited out to Dubai on our 'orientation trip' with very short notice and there was NO way I could come off the fentanyl patch in that time (read: withdrawal makes me a jibbering wreck who would probably looking like a hard core addict or a drug carrier to customs!) so, after stressing out about it and picturing time in jail etc (after all I would have had codeine in my system anyway ... Just call me the next Codeine Tracy) I telephoned the medical department of the UAE Embassy in London. The guy practically laughed at me and assured me that with a letter detailing why I needed it I was fine to be on & take in fentanyl patches, a banned substance.

I have to say, rather than reassuring it actually makes me feel like everyone is following different rules and it depends who you come across, which is a bit worrying! But for that trip I had no choice and obviously no repercussions!

I would suggest anyone with doubts in the UK calls the embassy med dept and go through your medications with them, at least then you are, well as sure as you can be!

M

[wandabug]

Fentanyl is not a banned substance, it is on the Restricted List (ie it can be bought into the country with an attested letter).

[Marthabelle]

Ah-ha well then the list I have is wrong!

Good to know, thank you (still want to get off the stuff!)