Customs clearance | The Official Portal of the UAE Government (2024)

Money declaration

Passengers travelling out of or entering the UAE with more than AED 60,000 in cash or an amount equivalent to this in other currencies, financial instruments, precious metals or valuable stones, must .

You can declare the money through the official website or the Afseh app available on Google Play and App Store.

For passengers under the age of 18, the amount in their possession will be added to the permitted limit of their parent/guardian or accompanier.

Related eServices:

Cash disclosure-TAMM

Items exempted from customs duties

As per ICP, travellers may bring in the following items without being required to pay any taxes or duties:

telescopes
movie projection devices and relevant accessories
radio, CD players and CDs
·video and digital cameras and their tapes for personal use
portable music instruments
cell phones
TV and receiver, one each
strollers
personal sports equipment
portable computers and printers
calculators
wheelchairs and vehicles of people of determination (people with special needs)
medication for personal use, that is in compliance with the applicable regulations
clothes, toiletries and luggage of personal nature.
personal jewellery.

Personal belongings of passengers are permitted entry and shall be exempted from customs fees if the passenger meets the following conditions:

value of gifts, perfumes and personal luggage does not exceed AED 3,000
luggage and gifts must be of limited quantity and not in commercial ones
passenger should not be a frequent traveller with goods on a regular basis, or a member of the respective conveyance crew.

As per Passenger Custom Guide (PDF, 759 KB) issued by Government of Dubai, the following permitted items are exempted from customs duties and will be allowed entry:

A total number of 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco (minced or pressed for pipes) or minced/pressed tobacco for smoking, tumbâk (pure tobacco) or hookah molasses
Alcoholic beverages not exceeding 4 litres or 2 cartons of beer, each consisting of 24 cans not exceeding 355 ml for each can.

Customs duty will be levied on quantities and values in excess of the limits provided above, in addition to VAT.

Rate of customs duty

The rate of customs duty is 5 per cent of the value of goods plus Cost Freight Insurance. It is 50 per cent on alcohol and 100 per cent on cigarettes. Refer to:

The Unified Customs Tariff for GCC States 2022 – ICP
The General Administration of Customs, Abu Dhabi
Dubai Customs
Customs tariff - Sharjah Customs
Low Customs Tariffs - Ministry of Economy.

Banned and restricted goods

The UAE Government bans the entry of certain goods and restricts some others. Banned/prohibited goods are those whose import and export is banned under the Common Customs Law of the GCC States(PDF, 567 KB), or any other law or regulation applicable in the UAE.

Restricted goods are goods whose import and export is restricted under the same law above and applicable regulations, and they need prior approval from the authorities concerned prior to import or export.

Banned items include, but are not limited to:

controlled/recreational drugs and narcotic substances
pirated content
counterfeit currency
items used in black magic, witchcraft or sorcery
publications and artwork that contradict or challenge Islamic teachings and values
gambling tools and machines.

Restricted items

The following list outlines restricted goods along with their respective controlling authorities:

Item	Controlling authority
Live animals, plants, fertilizers, and pesticides	Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Weapons, ammunition, explosives and fireworks	Ministry of Defence Armed Forces Ministry of Interior
Medicines, drugs, and medical equipment, devices and tools	Ministry of Health and Prevention
Media publications and products	Ministry of Culture and Youth
Nuclear energy products	Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation
Transmission and wireless devices	Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority
Alcoholic drinks	Ministry of Interior/ Dubai Police
Cosmetics and personal care products eCigarettes and electronic hookah	Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
New vehicle tyres

Find more information on banned and restricted commodities:

Commodities Guide (restricted and prohibited goods) – General Administration Customs- Abu Dhabi
Prohibited and restricted goods – Dubai Customs
Banned and restricted goods- Sharjah Customs
What you may not bring into the UAE- Abu Dhabi International Airport
What you may not bring into the UAE- Dubai International Airport.

Customs authorities and locations in the UAE

ICPis the federal entity responsible forcustoms procedures, inspection, control, tariffs and customs data. It is also responsible for combating customs smuggling and fraud on all incoming, outgoing and transit shipments and goods through the UAE’s ports.

Local customs authorities

General Administration of Customs, Abu Dhabi

Dubai Customs

Department of Seaports and Customs, Sharjah

Department of Ports and Customs, Ajman

Customs Department, Ras Al Khaimah

Fujairah Customs Department

Location of Customs offices

Customs offices are located at the UAE’s airports, seaports and entry/exit points on the land borders. Refer to the list ofCustoms offices in the UAE(PDF, 100 KB).

Refer to

Customs clearance eServices

Discover electronic services designed for customs clearance, catering to the needs of both individuals and businesses.

UAE travellers' guide

Watch the UAE travellers' video guide.

Updated on 13 Jun 2024