Travelling through Dubai Airport? Here are the banned and restricted items for hand luggage

Dubai: If you are flying to or from Dubai International Airport (DXB), it is essential to know what you can and cannot carry in your cabin baggage.

The UAE airport authorities have a strict list of banned items, as well as rules limiting the quantity or type of certain objects. Being aware of these regulations before you travel can save you from delays, confiscations, and possible fines.

Security tips for smooth screening at Dubai Airport

• Avoid wearing metal objects where possible. If you do wear them, remove them before passing through the inspection device, place them in the designated tray, and send them through the security scanner.

• You may pack a maximum of 15 mobile phones in your luggage, and they must be in the manufacturer’s packaging. This does not apply to your personal mobile device. Failure to follow this rule may result in confiscation. Lithium batteries in mobile phones can pose a safety risk to airport facilities and aircraft.

• Avoid carrying liquids in your hand luggage unless necessary. Each container must not exceed 100ml, and you may carry a maximum of 10 containers, equivalent to one litre in total.

• Do not carry prohibited items in your hand luggage, such as lighters, flammable containers, or toy weapons of any kind, regardless of their intended use.

• If you need to travel with medication, it must be accompanied by a prescription. If you have a metal medical device in your body, you must carry a doctor’s certificate.

Banned items in hand baggage at Dubai International Airport (DXB)

• All types of hammers

• All types of nails

• All types of screwdrivers and sharp work tools

• All types of scissors with blades longer than 6 cm

• Personal grooming kits (parts longer than 6 cm will be confiscated)

• All types of swords and sharp objects

• Handcuffs

• All types of firearms and ammunition, including flare guns

• All types of laser guns

• Walkie-talkies

• All types of bats

• All types of martial arts weapons

• Drills

• All types of ropes

• All types of measuring tapes

• All types of lighters (only one lighter is permitted)

• Packing tape

• Electrical cables, except for personal travel use

Update: No power banks to be used on Emirates flights

From October 1, Emirates passengers may no longer use power banks during flights. However, travellers are still allowed to carry one power bank onboard, under specific conditions.

Power banks contain lithium ions suspended in an electrolyte solution. These ions move through the electrolyte, travelling back and forth between two electrodes as the battery charges and discharges.

If the battery is overcharged or damaged, it may trigger ‘thermal runaway’, a process where heat generation within a battery cell exceeds its ability to dissipate heat. This can lead to a rapid temperature increase, posing serious risks such as fire, explosions, and the release of toxic gases.

Soon you may not need to remove liquids or laptops during security checks at Dubai Airport

Passengers travelling through Dubai International Airport (DXB) may soon be able to pass through security without removing liquids over 100ml or laptops from their bags.

In July, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, told Gulf News that trials are currently underway using new, state-of-the-art checkpoint scanners from Smiths Detection.

The technology, similar to systems recently approved in parts of Europe, will remove the need for travellers to take out liquids exceeding 100ml or electronics such as laptops at security checkpoints.

A full rollout date has not yet been confirmed, as it depends on the complete installation of the new scanners and delivery schedules. However, trials are already in progress, signalling that a major change to security screening at DXB is on the horizon.