Listening to Jeremy Vine today on Radio Two and i could not belive what i was hearing. The topic was about new drug testing mahines at Dubai airport that can pick up very small traces of drugs. They went on to say that a man who had a bit of cannabis stuck to the underside of his shoe was pulled up and sent to prison for four years! The canabis wieghed in at less than a grain of sugar. Other people are being banged up for perscripton medicenes and other minute quatities of soft drugs.
There is a zero tollerence for drugs in the UAE and anybody caught with even a small amount faces a minimum sentence of four years! I encourage people to go to the listen again feature on radio two and listen for yourself. The topic was aired from 12 noon today 21st of feb. Also if you go to the http://www.fairtrials.net/index.php/news/article/list_o...l_substances_in_uae/ site you will get important info on what you can and can not take. Another guy got banged up for having three poppy seeds on his clothing that he had got from a bread roll at Heathrow Airport!

I for one will be keeping well away from the UAE from now on.

Paul

i think i'll stay well clear especially as i take a cocktail of drugs for a back injury. i took tramadol and oramorphine last holiday. i wopuld probably get 25 years for oramorph

Just a reminder that Vinny naturally spotted this when it was news and posted here.

Neil, I took my 80-year-old dad with me to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in November and December and he has a prescription for 17 items. No problems. We had the prescription ready and all the drugs in their original packaging with no problem whatever.

No need to be frightened - the USA is a great place to visit with many friendly people from all walks of life.

If you are a partaker of 'recreational' drugs then perhaps the UAE is not the place for you as the risk of being caught is significant.

Tobias, not just recreational drugs. I sometimes take Syndol for headaches. When I go to Dubai, I have to leave it at home since it contains Codine which is a banned substance in Dubai.

One of our cabin crew (I work for BA) was banged up in Dubai for a similar mistake. Pathetic place which most of my colleagues are desperate to avoid.

Believe me, with Dubai (I have been there many times) you can't polish a turd!

Guys,

This was discussed only last week in the thread below..

http://thailand-uk.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/65010002/m/23...711089082#9711089082

quote:

Originally posted by Fly Boy:
Tobias, not just recreational drugs.

Indeed Fly Boy, that's why I mentioned going armed with a "prescription" - even for those medicines/drugs obtainable over-the-counter.

As for your experiences in the UAE, I can only presume you have stayed in the wrong places. Each to their own I suppose ...

The Rugby Sevens were great in December.

Hi Everyone

I will be going to Bangkok flying with emirates in July. We will be going through transit at Dubai international airport. I will have some medication in my case that is prescribed (chemist labels on boxes) I will also have some cold medications in my suitcases. My question is as long as I have no medications in my hand luggage should I be ok for my cases will be transferred from plane to plane. The issue of recreational drugs will not affect me for I do not participate in using them. I will also make sure I do not eat any breadcakes with poppy seeds on at Manchester

Cheers

Andy

You might want to check with the UAE Consulate for certainty, but I personally wouldn't see that as a problem if they are checked-in. With the prescription drugs I would photocopy the prescription (and perhaps have the doctor stamp it) and have it with you just in case of a forced unexpected stopover.

As I said above, my dad had 17 different medicines (some which are on the banned list) with him in November and December on visits to Abu Dhabi and Dubai and there were no problems at all.

Funny about the poppy seed, I'm pretty sure there were poppy seeds on the bread rolls served to us by Etihad on our flight from Manchester to Abu Dhabi. Maybe someone should tell the in-flight caterers!!

It might interest you to know that codine is also a banned substance in Thailand.

quote:

It might interest you to know that codine is also a banned substance in Thailand.

Indeed, see my previous post on this here:

http://thailand-uk.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/55010972....

.. and on the subjects of Dubai and Codeine .....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4526759.stm

I think i'll take tobias's advice and bring a precription or ask the GP to ask for a letter explaining my reason for taking these painkillers.
this was an interesting post and i will be more careful next flight to LOS via these stopovers.

Does anyone know if this only applies to Dubai/ the whole AU UEA/ other middle Eastern coutrnies. I am specifically interested because we will fly on Qatar airlines through Doha in a couple of weeks.
Like everyone else, recreational drugs won't be a problem (although you never know what is on the bottom of your shoes), but I have always carried a fairly liberal handful of over-the-counter drugs when I travel, inc. pain killers, nose unblockers etc., as well as some vitamins and other supplements, none of which I would have a prescription for.
Advice gratefully received.

It certainly applies to the whole of the UAE - as for other Middle East countries and with all travel you should research local customs/requirements for all countries you intend to visit.

I have to say that, in the few years I have been participating in this forum, this is the only unhelpful, annoying reply I have received!

Your comment of 'as with all travel you should research local customs/requirements for all countries you intend to visit' is about as helpful as my doctor reminding me I am overweight when I go to see him. I think your avatar may have gotten the better of you

Am afraid I am not a particular fan of that part of that part of the world. We were not able to fly out for my wedding last year using Ethiad as my best man Steve has a criminal record in Abu Dhabi........ for drinking in a hotel that he was not booked in. They were lying in wait for him as he left the hotel and aggresively arrested him. He was banged up for a few days for not surprisingly being angry with the situation.

I would be quite happy if I never had to use a middle eastern country in transit to Bangkok. I do not trust them as far as I could throw them.

I try not to be judgmental or generalize about countries or cultures, as I guess most of us on this forum do, but I must say I also don't look forward to travelling in or through the Middle East.

The world has become much easier to travel around, and these kinds of cultural and legal difference have become really noticeable, I think. When I was younger, I was aware of very different laws, but it didn't really matter to me directly. Now it does!

quote:

Originally posted by oan:
I have to say that, in the few years I have been participating in this forum, this is the only unhelpful, annoying reply I have received!

Not to worry oan, I'll be sure not to answer any more of your questions. I wouldn't want to annoy anyone

you are definitely not annoy me tobias... its always nice to read your replies

Another good reason to fly direct if you can afford it

Personally I would rather pay a bit more than be banged up in a middle east jail for a minor discrecion and certainly in the case of Dao travelling alone who today at Liverpool Street station on the way to the Thai Temple in Wimbledon said "don't lose me here/what would I do"
colin 244

quote:

I have to say that, in the few years I have been participating in this forum, this is the only unhelpful, annoying reply I have received!