BEFORE YOU FLY
In addition to the UAE acceptance rules below, the acceptance of certain items, including alcohol, cigarettes and e-cigarettes, perfumes, electronics, medication and others, either in the cabin or checked-in baggage, will be subject to specific customs regulations and airport security checks in your country of departure or arrival.
Forbidden items are articles or substances which pose health and safety hazards to passengers or which may damage the aircraft. These items must not be brought on board. All forbidden items are listed in the tables below. Please also refer to the Prohibited Articles by EC Aviation Security. Further local government restrictions may also apply. Please check with authorities of your departure and destination country.
Emirates forbids the transportation of all smart balance wheels (even with the lithium batteries removed) either as checked-in or carry-on baggage.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a very strict, zero-tolerance, anti-drugs policy. All airports within the UAE conduct thorough searches using highly sensitive equipment. Possession of any amounts of illegal drugs by travelers entering or transiting the UAE will be subject to punishment.
If you’re carrying controlled medication into the UAE, you must apply for approval through the Ministry of Health (MoH) website.
Check with your doctor if your prescribed medication is controlled or not. You must also carry the prescription for the quantity (max 3 months’ supply) of the medicine that you are bringing into the UAE.
All other medication (prescription for uncontrolled medication and over-the-counter medication) does not need prior approval from MoH.
For more details please visit the Ministry of Health and Prevention website(Opens an external website in a new tab).
Travelers to the UAE are strongly advised to familiarize themselves with the rules regarding what medications they can and cannot bring into the country.
Please contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the United Arab Emirates for advice if you are considering taking medications or other drugs into the UAE.
List of United Arab Emirates consulates (opens an external website in a new tab)
Without prejudice to applicable safety rules, passengers are not permitted to carry the following articles into security-restricted areas or onboard aircraft:
(a) Guns, firearms, and other devices that discharge projectiles—Devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury by discharging a projectile, including
(b) Stunning devices—Devices designed specifically to stun or immobilize, including
(c) Objects with a sharp point or edge—Objects with a sharp point or edge capable of being used to cause serious injury, including
(d) Workmen’s tools—Tools capable of being used either to cause serious injury or to threaten the safety of aircraft, including
(e) Blunt instruments—Objects capable of being used to cause serious injury when used to hit, including
(f) Explosives and incendiary substances and devices—Explosives and incendiary substances and devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury or to pose a threat to the safety of aircraft, including
Passengers are not permitted to carry the following articles in their checked baggage:
Explosives and incendiary substances and devices—Explosives and incendiary substances and devices capable of being used to cause serious injury or to pose a threat to the safety of aircraft, including
Dangerous Goods Policy
If you’re traveling to perform Hajj or Umrah and your itinerary includes Medinah, you may pack up to five liters 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.
Firearms, weapons, and ammunition may be carried as checked baggage on Emirates flights under the following conditions:
The following special conditions apply to customers wishing to carry firearms on flights into or through Dubai:
"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 either carry-on or checked baggage on all our flights.
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 long as the bag is powered off completely. Please note that you can’t charge the bag on board.
Smart bags are allowed as checked 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.
Smart bags with built-in batteries that can’t be removed are banned in both carry-on and checked baggage.
You can visit our Dangerous Goods page for a full list of prohibited items.
If you’re connecting in Dubai between Emirates flights and your layover is less than 24 hours, your bags will be checked through to your final destination. That means your bags will not be available while you are in transit, unless otherwise specified by our airport staff.
This includes flights purchased on emirates.com, including those bought through the advanced search option. If you wish to access your bags in Dubai, please contact us to make the correct type of booking or modify your existing booking to allow this.
All those traveling to USA, Canada and the UK are required to switch on their electronic devices at the Dubai International or risk being denied access to fly. Please ensure that your electronic devices have sufficient power before reaching the airport. This is part of enhanced security measures required by the authorities of these countries.
All carry-on luggage is subject to screening. Screening will be done at relevant boarding gates for flights departing to destinations in the US, the UK, and Canada.
Passengers who are unable to switch on their electronic devices risk being offloaded or asked to leave behind such devices. There is no secure location to store these devices, and Emirates will be unable to bear responsibility for these items.