United Arab Emirates: Food and Drugs Law

Illegal drugs in Dubai are not just cocaine or heroin. Medications for the common cold and sleeping pills can get you into serious legal trouble.

Thousands of visitors and residents in Dubai face unexpected legal consequences due to the UAE's strict drug laws. Many common prescription medications legal elsewhere require special approval, and even trace amounts in your bloodstream can lead to prosecution. Understanding which medications are prohibited, how to obtain proper documentation, and when to seek legal help is essential for anyone traveling to or living in the UAE.

No one plans to deal with a drug case in the UAE. Yet it happens more often than people think, especially with expats who are unfamiliar with how strict the rules are here.

In June 2024, the UAE introduced Cabinet Decision No. 43/2024, establishing a comprehensive framework for handling non-resident foreigners caught in possession of narcotic drugs...

Drug crimes are severely punished in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE has now recently introduced Federal Decree Law Number 30 of 2021 On Narcotics...

I want to bring some medicines into the UAE from my home country. I do not know if they are authorised or not. How can I find out?

Food safety and food hygiene are crucial in maintaining the security of food, especially food that is being imported into the UAE. The UAE has passed the Federal Law No. 10 of 2015...

Drug crimes are severely punished in the United Arab Emirates, as the country has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the recreational use of drugs.

The UAE has longstanding laws in place governing the use, production and distribution of Narcotics and Psychotropic substances, designed to protect individuals...