The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) has issued an updated list of medicines and substances that travellers should be careful about carrying when entering the UAE, warning that even common prescription drugs can trigger serious legal trouble if brought in without the right paperwork.
A first category of substances is banned outright, including heroin, cocaine, cannabis plant and resin, THC, synthetic cannabinoids, LSD, MDMA, mescaline, khat, psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, the opium poppy plant, yohimbe bark and certain fentanyl variants.
A second, much longer category covers medicines that require a valid prescription and prior approval before entry. These include opioid painkillers such as codeine, tramadol, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone, fentanyl and pethidine; anti-anxiety medication such as diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam, midazolam and temazepam; sleep aids including zolpidem, zopiclone and zaleplon; nerve and seizure medicines such as pregabalin, gabapentin and phenobarbital; ADHD stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine; and substances including pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phentermine, buprenorphine and ketamine.
By contrast, everyday medicines such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines, insulin, blood pressure tablets and antibiotics including ciprofloxacin for human use remain freely allowed without special approval. Separately, from November 1, 2026, a new restriction takes effect specifically on the veterinary use of ciprofloxacin.
Authorities are advising anyone travelling with prescription medication to carry the original prescription and packaging to avoid problems at airports and border crossings. The move is part of the UAE's consistently strict approach to controlling narcotics and medicines with abuse potential, an approach that has in the past led to the detention or fining of travellers who were unaware their personal medication was restricted or banned.