UAE Airport: What items are banned in your luggage?

Seeing airport security throw away your things can be frustrating. But you can save yourself a lot of hassle by understanding all the rules and packing your luggage correctly. Airports have rules in place as to what you can and cannot pack in your checked in luggage as well as your cabin baggage when you travel.

Choosing your bag: All bags brought into UAE airports must have at least one flat surface. Round and irregular shaped parcels will not be accepted at check in. Your bag also shouldn’t have a long strap.

Checked in luggage: According to Dubai Airports, a maximum two pieces of baggage are allowed for international travel, with the total weight not exceeding 32 kg. However, this definitely varies by airline and fare type. Always make sure you check with your airline before you fly.

Hand luggage: Usually airlines accept two pieces of hand luggage. A shoulder bag such as a purse, laptop bag and backpack, as well as a small cabin bag. Cabin baggage should have a maximum length of 56 cm, width of 45 cm and depth of 25 cm including all handles, side pockets and wheels.

Liquids In a carry on: These days the restriction on liquids is universal, although enforcement of the rules may vary from country to country. In UAE airports, all liquids should be packed inside a clear, re-sealable plastic bag, within your hand baggage. The item can’t be more than 100 ml and the total of all your items can’t exceed one litre.

Exceptions are made for medication, baby milk and foods and special dietary requirements to be used during the trip.

Money: The UAE keeps a close eye on money laundering and suspicious financial activities, as a result passengers traveling are supposed to declare whether they have large sums of cash on them. The rule in the UAE is that cash, currencies and travelers cheques cannot altogether exceed Dh100,000 as long as the passenger’s age is over 18 years old.

Food: According to UAE government you can in fact import a certain limit of food for non-commercial purposes. These include no more than: • 20kg yoghurt • 50l oil • 10kg of vegetables and fruits • 100kg dates • 10kg sweets • 30kg grains and red meat • 10kg seafood • 500gm caviar • 11kg eggs • 20kg honey • 5 kg herbs • 500 gm saffron • 10 kg children's food • 20l of drinks and syrups including water • 5 kg juice • 25 kg canned food.

Medicines The UAE government advises tourists to be extra cautious about bringing in certain types of medicines into the UAE. Some medicines from other countries could contain substances that are banned in the UAE, which could lead to the arrest of those carrying them.

Top 20 medicines that are banned in the UAE: Alpha-methylifentanyl Betamethodol Cannabis Codoxime Concentration of poppy straw Fentanyl Methadone Morphine Opium Oxycodone Phenoperidine Trimeperidine Ketamine Codeine Cathinone Amphetamine Pentobarbital Bromazepam Risperidone Tramadol

Loose batteries According to Emirates Airlines, batteries that are spare or loose, including lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries, for portable electronic devices must be carried in carry-on baggage only.

Power banks: Articles which have the primary purpose as a power source, such as power banks, are considered as spare batteries. These batteries must be individually protected to avoid short-circuit. Each passenger is limited to a maximum of 20 spare batteries.

E-cigarettes: E-cigarettes, including e-cigars, e-pipes, Electric Portable Incense (perfume) burner or other personal vaporizers that contain batteries must be individually protected to prevent accidental activation. They cannot be placed in your checked in luggage. Can only be traveled with on a carry on.

Personal motorised: vehicles For safety reasons, airports in the UAE will not accept personal motorised vehicles such as hover boards, Segways and smart or self-balancing wheels on flights. UAE Airports, for example, prohibits the carriage of all such devices – with or without batteries - as checked–in or carry–on baggage. This regulation still applies even if you’re connecting in the UAE from an airline that has accepted them.

Smart bags: Do or Don’t? Whether you’re flying with Emirates or any other airline, bear in mind that if you are flying to the United States, smart luggage has been banned since January 2018. A number of other airlines have banned smart bags from the hold unless the lithium battery can be removed.