Transitting via Dubai- issues with common medications

[Liebkuchen]

This is a heads up for anyone else flying to China via Dubai. Turns out their customs have extremely strict drug controls for many common prescribed and over the counter medicines available in the west. There are 374 drugs that are either banned or restricted. Codeine is completely banned www.uaeinteract.com/travel/drug.asp

Unforunately, the tales of woe e.g. someone who was jailed for 4 years for having .03g of marijuana in their shoe tread, aren't backed up with precise guidelines on how to handle it. My anti-depressants are 'restricted'. I'll be taking my meds in the original boxes, with copies of the prescription and a letter from my GP. If that's not enough, you won't hear from me for a while as I'll be on a 4 year arabic immersion course courtesy of the Sheik...

Most people it seems aren't checked/questioned in anyway and have no problems regardless of what they're carrying but I thought it was worth passing on as I had no clue when I booked my Emirates flight as I was only thinking about Chinese customs issues.

1 week to go!

[WestTexas]

I flew from China to the US through Dubai. Had a 2 day stop in Dubai. Very nice city, not as expensive as you would think either. TBH they seemed very slack about customs compared to customs when entering the US. I had to run my bag through a scanner and that was it. No pat downs, no open luggage, nothing. I was a little bit worried about the whole marijuana-shoe thing because a lot of my friends smoke pot heavily, but I just cleaned my shoes really well and it was not an issue. Consider that if Dubai regularly arrested people for things like having a fleck of pot on their shoe that their tourism industry would go straight to hell, and they don't want that.

[roddy]

And when you're transiting it's just a security check, there's no customs. For what it's worth (not much, bar anecdotal reassurance) in several transits of Dubai it's always been a quick X-ray of the bags and through the scanner. It is worth doing a little quickstep on the way there though, the queues can get backed up, and you don't want to be separated from your free wifi and power points any longer than necessary.

[Liebkuchen]

Free wifi?! Splendid!

[skylee]

When you are at Dubai airport check out those swiss chocolates with figs inside. A guy at my office has brought back some and they were tasty.

[roddy]

And don't worry about it being your last chance for a Whopper for a year - there's another Burger King at Beijing airport.