Baggage

Baggage FAQs

• Can I carry Zamzam water on Emirates flights?

  If you’re travelling to perform Haj or Umrah and your itinerary includes Medinah, you may pack up to five litres of Islamic Holy Water or Zamzam water in addition to your checked-in baggage allowance. Just make sure to package the Zamzam water appropriately in a sealed container.

  Please note that there are restrictions on carrying Zamzam water on flights from Jeddah at this time.

• Can I carry firearms, weapons and ammunition in my baggage?

  Firearms, weapons and ammunition may be carried as checked baggage on Emirates flights under the following conditions:

  • You must be in possession of the original firearms licence in your name and all original documents stating the appropriate clearances and permissions (if applicable) to export and/or import the firearms, weapons and ammunition.
  • The carriage of any type of firearm, weapon and ammunition must be approved by Emirates no less than three days before your flight. Please complete the firearms form (only available in English) in the Contact us section of our Help Centre to start the approval process. Please allow extra time for public holidays and weekends in your country of residence and the UAE.
  • The firearm must be completely unloaded and, if possible, dismantled and packed inside a suitcase or standard gun case.
  • Ammunition must be securely stored in a strong, sealed box packed inside a suitcase and surrounded by other contents. The suitcase must not bear an ‘Explosive’ label.
  • The maximum gross weight of the ammunition carried by any single customer is 5kg (11lb). Customers travelling in groups must carry ammunition in their own separate bags, with no single bag carrying more than the 5kg (11lb) limit.
  • All fireworks and any other items containing explosives (for example, Christmas crackers, firecrackers, bottle rockets, poppers and sparklers) are forbidden to be carried either as carry-on baggage or as checked baggage on our flights.

  The following special conditions apply to customers wishing to carry firearms on flights into or through Dubai:

  • Customers who wish to bring firearms and ammunition into the UAE must obtain prior clearance from UAE Customs and the UAE Ministry of Defence. To obtain this clearance, customers must contact these government departments directly.
  • For transfer and transit customers who are connecting to onward flights, prior clearance to travel with firearms and ammunition must be obtained from the Dubai Airport Police Department and the Department of Civil Aviation.

• Can I carry smart bags on Emirates flights?

  ‘Smart’ or ‘innovative’ baggage includes bags with motors, power banks, GPS, GSM, Bluetooth, RFID or Wi-Fi technology. There are restrictions on carrying smart bags with lithium batteries as both cabin and checked baggage on all our flights.

  For cabin baggage

  Smart bags within the cabin size and weight allowance for your route are allowed in the cabin as long as the battery is removable. The battery can stay in the bag as longs as the bag is powered off completely. Please note that you can’t charge the bag on board.

  For checked baggage

  Smart bags are allowed as checked-in baggage if the battery is removed and carried in the cabin, and the baggage is within the checked baggage size and weight allowances for your route.

  Please be aware that smart bags with built-in batteries that can’t be removed are banned both as cabin and checked in baggage.

  You can visit our Dangerous Goods page for a full list of prohibited items.

• Can I travel from Iraq with a power bank?

  No, power banks are prohibited on departure from all airports in Iraq including Basra and Baghdad.

• Do I need any additional documents to travel to Pakistan with animals, birds, products of animal origin, veterinary biologics or vaccines?

  Yes. If you’re travelling to Pakistan with animals, birds, products of animal origin (meat, dairy, and others), veterinary biologics and vaccines, you must complete this form(Opens an external website in a new tab) before arriving in Pakistan, in addition to any import and veterinary paperwork.