Permission to import medicines for personal purposes into the territory of the United Arab Emirates can now be obtained in advance on the website of the Ministry of Health of the UAE.
All tourists and residents of the UAE can now obtain permission to import drugs to the country for personal use online. This was reported by a representative of the Ministry of Health and Prevention.
This issue is controlled by the new drug import service, which has been launched as part of the ministry’s strategy to promote public health and provide oversight of medicines imported into the country by passengers.
To obtain permission, you must create a profile on the ministry’s website (www.mohap.gov.ae), download and fill out the form, and upload the necessary documents, which will be reviewed and approved by the ministry within one business day. Medicines will be checked at the entrance to the country by inspectors in cooperation with customs.
Permits for the import of drugs are granted after the submission of documents, such as a doctor’s prescription, confirmation of the patient’s length of stay in the UAE and passport data.
Dr. Amin Hussein Al-Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Licensing and Public Health Policies at the Ministry, said the Ministry has developed a special law on the importation of drugs by passengers entering the country. Any medicine that does not meet the new requirements will be confiscated at the airport.
It is important to know that even if the medicine is legal in the passenger’s home country, importing it into the UAE without a prescription may be prohibited. Dr. Al-Amiri advised passengers to check whether narcotic or psychotropic substances were contained in the imported drugs. The appointment of a doctor must be confirmed by official authorities.
