Rules for the import of medicines in the UAE in 2024 

The UAE authorities remind citizens who wish to visit the country of the need to obtain a special permit for carrying certain types of medicines. The new guide, issued in the UAE, is intended for residents, tourists and transit passengers who plan to bring medical drugs into the country. Travelers should carry prescriptions for some medicines and check if they are subject to special control. All UAE residents, tourists and transit passengers are required to have a permit for the importation and storage of controlled and semi-controlled drugs. It can be obtained on the website of the Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap). Class A controlled drugs (CDA) are narcotic and psychotropic drugs that are often used in acute and chronic diseases. Class B (CDb) drugs are semi-controlled. Controlled drugs include strong analgesics (e.g., morphine, codeine, fentanyl), psychoactive drugs (e.g., benzodiazepines, antidepressants, neuroleptics), stimulants (e.g., methylphenidate, amphetamines), sedatives and tranquillizers  (for example, barbiturates, some sleeping pills). For the importation of controlled drugs, travellers must obtain prior authorization from Mohap and submit relevant documents in Arabic or English, Including a valid medical prescription and an authenticated certificate or authorization from the competent authority of the country of dispatch. Travellers may import prescription drugs for personal use for a period of no more than three months, provided they have an active medical prescription. The UAE prohibits the importation of unregistered or banned drugs, as well as medicinal herbs that may be authorized in the country of origin. For all other herbal medicines, the import procedure is similar to conventional prescription drugs.