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Drugs, Narcotics, Medicines, Pharmaceuticals in DubaiWatch out when travelling to Dubai. That bread roll you had at Heathrow, or the anti-hayfever pills or cough medicine you just bought at Boots, might get you an unexpected extended stay in Dubai, courtesy of the local constabulary. While the information on this page relates to Dubai, expect it to be the same or similar in other Emirates. According to the UK Foreign Office, 59 Britons were arrested on drug related charges in the UAE in 2007. Drugs in Dubai - marijuana, hashish, cocaine, heroin, etcDubai and the UAE are very strict when it comes to illegal drugs / narcotics and have a zero-tolerance policy. The standard minimum jail sentence for possession is 4 years and some high profile names have been caught at the airport. The number of drug cases has increased sharply in 2007 and 2008. Possibly as a result of the increasing population of Dubai but also because the Dubai customs officials at Dubai airport have more sophisticated equipment that can detect minute quantities of drugs. Just like anywhere in the world, if you want to make a statement and stand out in a crowd, whether because of appearance or behaviour, you can assume you'll stand out to customs authorities also, which probably increases your chances of being randomly selected for further questioning. We're not saying it's fair, just pointing out what is common, and yes you can be just plain unlucky - as it seems with some of the examples below. If you do get into trouble, it usually goes smoother if you try to negotiate for phone calls etc rather than demand your rights (especially if you don't know what they are). Blood and urine tests for drugs in DubaiPossession of drugs is not the only way to finding a cheap hotel room for a few years in Dubai and the UAE. Just having evidence of consumption will also get you incarcerated should you fail a blood or urine test. So yes, in theory, even a pleasant afternoon at The Bulldog in Amsterdam might have unexpected consequences when travelling on to Dubai. Banned Medicines and prescription drugs including codeineWhen travelling to Dubai, the best thing you can do from the perspective of medicines, is to not bring any at all (toothpaste and soap should be ok). If you do need to bring medicine with you, and it is not on the banned list, then bring the prescription. There have been cases of people stuck in jail waiting for a copy of a prescription to be sent over, and even then it's not guaranteed to be a "get out of jail free" card. There is a list of banned substances aside from the list of narcotics that are illegal in most countries. Check with Ministry of Health or the UAE Consulate / Embassy for the most up to date information but failing that (after all, how many people actually do contact the relevant government ministries before going on holiday?) keep in mind the following are banned substances (exceptions possible when administered in UAE hospitals) and will probably land in you jail for 4 years if you're caught with them in your possession, whether or not you have a prescription:
This following list comes from Fair Trials International, who say they got it from the March 2007 dated General Authority for Health Services Guide to the Management of Controlled Drugs in the Private Sector.
Don't assume this list is comprehensive. If you've got any medicine at all, don't bring it unless you can verify it is on a permitted list, and bring a presciption anyway. Even something as innocuous sounding as Panadol can get you into trouble (there are some over-the-counter versions that contain codeine for example). Note that none of this is authoritative information, nor should it be interpreted as any sort of statement as to what is legally permitted or not. It is only our interpretation and may be wrong, misleading, and/or out of date. Verify anything independently with an authoritative source. Pharmacies in DubaiIf you do feel unwell, a pharmacy / chemist, may be a helpful first stop to suggest some medication. Pharmacists in the UAE are usually very helpful and while they are not doctors, chances are they know more than you so a quick visit is usually going to be more sensible than attempting self-diagnosis (or an internet-diagnosis). And pharmacies seem to be more common than grocery shops. One of the ironies in Dubai is that while some over the counter products in other countries are banned in the UAE, it is possible to buy the contraceptive pill and many antibiotics over the counter in Dubai, which are normally only available on prescription elsewhere. Examples of Dubai drug cases
I beg your pardon?If you're not convinced that the Dubai authorities mean business when it comes to drug offences, consider the penalty handed out for the apparently less disturbing crime of killing a cop ... In February 2008, a 22 year old youth was sentenced to 6 months in jail for running over and killing a Dubai traffic policeman. Salah Bu Farousha, Head of Dubai's Traffic Prosecution, said "Following this tragic case, we would like to forewarn the public that we will tail negligent drivers, especially those who daydream while driving their vehicles ... the sword of justice will be right behind you ..." Six months? The swords of justice belonging to the Dubai traffic police appear to be less sharp than those wielded down at the Dubai airport customs department. Those swords of justice seem to point to the anomaly where someone in the unenviable position of having to choose between smoking a joint or taking down the arresting officer could be breathing fresh air sooner if they choose option B. It's a different story in Sharjah though ... In December 2002, 62-year-old Khalifa Khalfan Al Qaizi was convicted of killing Lieutenant Mohammad Al Tunaiji, a Sharjah police officer, in Al Dhaid (part of the emirate of Sharjah). The shooting occured during a car chase. Mr Al Qaizi was executed by firing squad in Sharjah Central Prison 30/31 October 2006. This information last updated Saturday 14-Mar-2009 |
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