Is Viagra Available Over The Counter In Dubai

What medication can I take to Dubai and which medications are banned?

Whether you’re passing through, going on holiday or moving to Dubai 1 , it is important to understand the emirate’s strict drug policies so you don’t find yourself inadvertently in trouble with the law.

Not all medications that are legal in other parts of the world are legal in the UAE, and penalties for breaking these rules can be severe. It’s therefore important to check that your prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs are legal in your destination country. The UAE claims to have a “very strict, zero-tolerance anti-drugs policy 2 and conducts thorough searches at airports”.

When bringing controlled medication — drugs that are regulated by the government — into Dubai, you are required to apply for approval 3 through the Ministry of Health (MoH). You should be able to find out if your prescription medication is controlled or not through your doctor. If you are issued approval to bring your prescription medication into the country, you can bring up to three months’ supply as a visitor and 12 months’ supply as a resident. The drugs should be kept in their original packaging along with your prescription.

So, what medication can I take to Dubai?

Can I take paracetamol to Dubai?

Paracetamol is not featured on the MoH’s list of controlled drugs 4 , so you should be able to take it into Dubai. However, if you are ever unsure then check with your doctor.

Codeine is a controlled drug in the UAE, so you will need permission to take co-codamol (paracetamol and codeine) into the country.

Can I take ibuprofen to Dubai?

Ibuprofen is not featured on the MoH’s list of controlled drugs and can be taken into Dubai 5 . It is readily available over the counter throughout Dubai.

Can I take Imodium to Dubai?

Imodium is a brand name of loperamide hydrochloride. This drug is not featured on the MoH’s list of controlled drugs, so you should be able to take it into Dubai. However, if you are ever unsure then check with your doctor.

Is Viagra legal in Dubai?

Viagra is a brand name of sildenafil citrate. This drug is not featured on the MoH’s list of controlled drugs, so you should be able to take it into Dubai. However, if you are ever unsure then check with your doctor.

Medication access in Dubai

Uncontrolled medication that does not require a prescription can be bought in pharmacies or supermarkets in Dubai. You may even find there are drugs that you can buy in the UAE that you would need a prescription for elsewhere. This also works the other way around — you may need a prescription for medication that you have previously been able to buy over the counter.

If the medication you require is controlled in the emirate, you may need to get a new prescription from a locally registered doctor — pharmacists cannot accept foreign prescriptions.

Find out more about UAE’s health care system with our expat’s guide to getting medical treatment in Dubai.

Dubai’s banned medicines list

The Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE has released a list of the controlled Narcotics/Psychotropics and Controlled (CD) Drugs in the country. The document, which was released in April 2019, comprises the names of all prohibited or controlled drugs.

(+) – LYSERGIDE (LSD, LSD-25)
2c-B
3-methylfentanyl
3-methylthiofentanyl
4 – Methylaminorex
4-MTA
Acetorphine
Acetyl-alpha-methylfentanyl
Acetyldihydrocodeine
Acetylmethadol
Alfentanyl
Allobarbital
Allylprodine
Alphacetylmethado
Alphameprodine
Alphamethadol
Alpha-methylfentanyl
Alpha-methylthiofentanyl
Alphaprodine
Alprazolam
Amfepramone
Amfetamine
Amineptine
Aminorex
Amisulpiride
Amobarbital
Anileridine
Aripiprazole
Barbital
Benzethidine
Benzfetamine
Benzhexol (TRIHEXYPHENIDYL)
Benzylmorphine
Betacetylmethadol
Beta-hydroxy-3-methylfentanyl
Beta-hydroxyfentanyl
Betameprodine
Betamethado
Betaprodine
Bezitramide
Brolamphetamine
Bromazepam
Brotizolam
Buprenorphine
Butalbital
Butobarbital
Camazepam
Cannabis Plant
Cannabis Resin
Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp)
Catha Edulis (Khat, Kat)
CATHINE (Norpseudo-Ephedrine)
Cathinone
Chlordiazepoxide
Chlormethiazole
Chlorpromazine
Claviceps Purpurea (Ergot)
Clobazam
Clonazepam
Clonitrazene
Clorazepate
Clotiazepam
Cloxazolam
Clozapine
Coca leaf
Cocaine
Codeine
Codeine >30mg/Unit Dose (in combination)
Codoxime
Concentrate of poppy straw
Corynanthe Yohimbe (Bark)
Corynanthe Yohimbe (Yohimbe Bush)
Cyclobarbital
Datura (Datura Stramonium)
Delorazepam
Desomorphine
DET
Dexamfetamine
Dextromoramide
Dextropropoxyphene
Diampromide
Diazepam
Diethylthiambutene
Difenoxin
Dihydrocodeine
Dihydrocodeine (with combination)
Dihydroetorphine
Dihydromorphine
Dimenoxadol
Dimepheptanol
Dimethylthiambutene
Dioxaphetyl butyrate
Diphenoxylate
Dipipanone
DMA
DMHP
DMT
DOET
Dronabinol
Droperidol
Drotebanol
Ecgonine
Ehtylmorphine
Ephedrine
Ergot mushroom
Erythroxylon Coca (Coca)
Estazolam
Ethchlorvynol
Ethinamate
Ethyl Loflazepate
Ethylmethylthiambutene
Eticyclidine
Etilamfetamine (N-Ethylamphetamine)
Etonitazene
Etorphine
Etoxeridine
Etryptamine
Fencamfamin
Fenetylline
Fenproporex
Fentanyl
Fludiazepam
Flumazenil
Flunitrazepam
Flupenthixol
Fluphenazine Dihydrochloride
Flurazepam
Furethidine
Gabapentin
Ghb
Glutethamide
Halazepam
Haloperidol
Haloxazolam
Heroin
Hydrocodone
Hydromorphinol
Hydromorphone
Hydroxypethidine
Hyoscyamus Niger (Henbane)
Ipomoea sp. (Morning Glory)
Isomethadone
Ketamine, Ketalar
Ketazolam
Ketobemidone
Lefetamine
Levamfetamine
Levomethorphan
Levomoramide
Levophenacylmorphan
Levorphanol
Lisdexamphetamine
Lophophora Williamsii (Peyote)
Loprazolam
Lorazepam
Lormetazepam
Lovomethamphetamine
Mazindol
MDE, N-ethyl MDA
MDMA
Mecloqualone
Medazepam
Medetomidine
Mefenorex
Mephenoxalone
Meprobamate
Mescaline
Mesocarb
Metamfetamine
Metazocine
Methadone
Methadone intermediate
Methafetamine Racemate
Methaqualone
Methcathinone
Methtrimeprazine
Methyldesorphine
Methyldihydromorphine
Methylphenidate
Methylphenobarbital
Methyprylon
Metopon
Midazolam
Misoprostol
MMDA
Modafinil
Moramide intermediate
Morning Glory
Morpheridine
Morphine
Morphine methobromide
Morphine n-oxide
MPPP
Myrophine
Nalbuphine
N-hydroxy MDA
Nicocodeine
Nicodicodeine
Nicomorphine
Nimetazepam
Nitrazepam
Noracymethadol
Norcodeine
Nordazepam
Norlevorphanol
Normethadone
Normorphine
Norpipanone
Olanzapine
Opium
Oxazepam
Oxazolam
Oxycodone
Oxymorphone
Papaver Somniferum (Opium)
Para-fluorofentanyl
Parahexyl
Pemoline
Pentazocine
Pentobarbital
PEPAP
Pethidine
Pethidine intermediate A
Pethidine intermediate B
Pethidine intermediate C
Peyote Cactus
Phenadoxone
Phenampromide
Phenazocine
Phencyclidine
Phendimetrazine
Phenmetrazine
Phenobarbital
Phenomorphan
Phenoperidine
Phentermine
Pholcodeine
Piminodine
Pimozide
Pinazepam
Pipradrol
Piptadenia Pregrina
Piritramide
PMA
Prazepam
Pregabalin
Prochlorperazine
Procyclidine
Proheptazine
Properidine
Propiram
Propylhexedrine
Prostaglandin E2
Pseudoephedrine
Psilocine, Psilotsin
Psilocybe sp. & Amanita mushrooms (Magic Mushroom)
Psilocybin mushrooms
Psilocybine
Pyrovalerone
Quetiapine
Racemethorphan
Racemoramide
Racemorphan
Rolicyclidine (PHP, PCPY)
Secbutabarbital
Secobarbital
STP, DOM
Sufentanyl
Sulpiride
Sultopride
Synthetic Cannabinoids (Cannabimimetics)
Tabernanthe Iboga (Iboga tree)
Temazepam
Tenamfetamine (MDA)
Tenocyclidine (TCP)
Tetrahydrocannabinol
Tetrazepam
Thebacon
Thebaine
Thiofentanyl
Thioridazine
TMA
Tramadol
Triazolam
Trifluoperazine
Trimeperidine
Vinylbital
Zaleplon
Zipeprol
Ziprasidone
Zolpidem
Zopiclone
Zuclopenhtixol

To find out more, read the list here.

If you’re relocating to the UAE, or to any country, you can get an instant quote for international health insurance here.

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