Expats arriving at airports should avoid committing this mistake, will have to face fine and imprisonment; UAE issues warning

ABU DHABI: The airports in UAE have been witnessing a significant rise in passenger numbers for the last few weeks. The authorities have advised the passengers to strictly follow the Customs rules of the Gulf Corporation Council to ensure safety and a risk-free travel experience. The authorities issued the warning as several passengers were arriving at the airport with prohibited items due to a lack of knowledge.

The passengers arriving at the airport should not possess more than 60,000 dirhams (around Rs 13,67,355) in cash. Passengers must notify the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) if they have any equipment, precious metals, or valuable stones exceeding this amount. The passenger can inform the ICP through their official website or the AFSEH app available on Google Play.

Cash held by passengers under the age of 18 would be counted as money possessed by the accompanying person. Passengers found guilty of concealing information or furnishing false information are liable to face imprisonment, fine or any of these. The court will also order the confiscation of the items seized from them.

Some of the prohibited items include drugs, gambling devices and machines, nylon fishing nets, live animals of pig species, raw ivory, laser pens with red light packages, fake and counterfeited currency, substances contaminated nuclear rays and dust, publications, pictures, religiously offensive or immoral drawings and stone sculptures, as well as paan substances, including betel leaves.

Moreover, the law in UAE states that the value of gifts purchased by passengers should not exceed Dh 3,000 (68,340). They are allowed to carry a maximum of 200 cigarettes or 500 grams of tobacco. Alcoholic beverages should not exceed four litres. Passengers under the age of 18 should not carry tobacco products or alcoholic beverages.

Goods that passengers can bring without paying taxes

Telescopes, movie projection equipment and relevant accessories, radios, CD players and CDs, cameras for personal use, portable music instruments, televisions, personal sports equipment, laptops and printers, calculators, wheelchairs and vehicles of differently-abled people, medicines, luggage and personal jewellery.

Banned items

Drugs, counterfeit currency, items used in black magic or witchcraft, gambling tools and publications that contradict or challenge Islamic teachings and values.