List of controlled pharmaceutical substances in UAE

May 16 2008

UAE has a very strict, zero-tolerance anti-drugs policy. If you can get by without medication, it is safest to leave it at home if you are travelling to or through UAE.

While many other countries also apply controls to the following drugs, UAE is unusual in conducting extremely thorough searches of many travellers through its airports, with highly sensitive equipment.

If you must take medication, make sure:
1. It is not on the banned ‘Narcotics’ list;
2. You have a prescription for it – even if you bought it over-the-counter.

Key
• UAE has identified a group of drugs with the potential to lead to addiction if not controlled. These are listed in Schedules to the Federal Law No 14 of 1995, and the medicines which come under this classification are divided into the following categories.
• How a drug will be treated, and the penalties for possession will depend on its classification.
• In certain cases, UAE will take a stricter view of a drug than other countries might do. In some cases, such as antidepressants, this is because the UAE authorities have deemed it to be an addiction risk and have classified the drug as a narcotic, where other countries might treat it as a psychotropic. In others, UAE will impose controls on a drug because of its purpose, as in the case of drugs which can be used to bring about an abortion.

Narcotics
• These are Controlled substances under Schedules 1-6 of the UAE Federal Law 14 of 1995.
• They may not be imported into UAE. Possession of these drugs, with or without a prescription, may lead to a prison sentence.
• In addition to the medications listed below, this category includes cannabis, cocaine and opiates, from heroin to poppy seeds (the kind used in everyday baking).

Controlled Drugs Class A - Psychotropics
• These are drugs for which a prescription must be held. The more verifying paperwork from the authorising doctor which can accompany any drug in this category, the better. In UAE, they can only be dispensed upon production of a registered (health authority-approved) prescription.
• They include some common sleeping tablets, painkillers, anti-depressants and hormone replacement therapy

Controlled Drugs Class B – Controlled medicines
• Possession of these drugs must be accompanied by a prescription. Many of these drugs are available over-the-counter in other countries and travellers to or through UAE should ensure they obtain a prescription before carrying any of these drugs to that country.
• They include many common cold and cough remedies

From the General Authority for Health Services Guide to the Management of Controlled Drugs in the Private Sector, March 2007

This is the most recent, comprehensive list of controlled pharmaceuticals we have been able to find. The UAE does not publicise this list on any of its diplomatic or ministerial websites. We have written to the UAE Ambassador and Customs Minister asking them to do so, so that travellers can be better prepared before flying to that country.

While every effort has been made to verify the contents of this list, where in doubt, we advise travellers to check their medication with the UAE consulate before travel.

Narcotic (Active ingredients)

Alfentanil
Amphetamine
Buprenorphone
Codeine
Fentanyl
Ketamine
Methadone
Methyphenidate
Morphine
Pentazocine
Pethidine
Remifentanil
Sufentanil

Controlled Drug Class A - Psychotropics (Active ingredients)

Acitretin
Alprazolam
Aripiprazole
Bromazepam
Buprenorphine 200 (microgram tablets and 500 microgram injection)
Butorphanol
Chlopromazine
Chlordiazepoxide
Clobazam
Clonazepam
Clorazepate
Diazepam
Dihydrocodeine
Droperidol
Flumazenil
Flupentixol
Fluphenazine
Haloperidol
Isotretinoin
Lorazepam
Medazepam
Mephenoxalone
Midazolam
Misoprostol
Nalbuphine
Olanzapine
Phenobarbitone
Pimozide
Prazepam
Prochlorperazine
Propofol
Prostaglandin
Quetiapine
Risperidone
Sulpiride
Sultopride
Temazepam
Thiopentone
Tiapride
Tramadol
Trfluoperazine
Zaleplon
Ziprasidone
Zolpidem
Zuclopenhtixol

 Controlled Drug Class B (Active ingredients)

Amitriptyline
Baclofen
Benzhexol
Biperiden
Buspirone
Carisoprodol
Citalopram
Clomipramine
Codeine
Cyclobenzaprine
Dextromethorphan
Diphenoxylate
Dotheipin
Duloxetine
Escitalopram
Estradiol
Ethinylestradiol
Etonogestrel
Fluoxetine
Flupenthixol
Fluvoxamine
Imapramine
Isotretonin
Lithium Carbonate
Maprotiline
Menotrophin
Meserolone
Methocarbomol
Mianserin
Milnacipran
Minaprine
Mirtazapine
Moclobemide
Naltrexone
Nandrolone
Nefazodone
Norethisterone
Norethisterone
Norgetrol
Noscapine
Octreotide
Oestradiol
Opipramol
Orphenadrine
Oseltamivir
Oxazepam
Paroxetine
Pholcodine
Pimecrolimus
Procyclidine
Propoxyphene (with paracetemol
Pyrisuccideanol
Reboxetine
Sertraline
Somatrophine
Testosterone
Ticlopidine
Tizanidine
Tretinoin
Trimipramine
Vecuronium
Venlafaxine

Appendix 2 Common UAE controlled drugs (Trade names)

The following list shows some of the TRADE names of those controlled items that are registered as medicines in the UAE

Narcotics

Ketalar
Physeptone
Ritalin
Sosegon
Subutex
Ultiva

Controlled Drugs Class A - Psychotropics

Abilify
Anexate
Arthrotec
Ativan
Barnetil
Buccastem
Clopixol
Cytotec
Deanxit
Dehydrobenzperidol
Demetrin
DHC continues
Dialag
Diapam
Diprivan
Dogmatil
Dormicum
Dorsilon
Frisium
Gardinal
Genprid
Haldol
Intraval
Largactil
Lexotanil
Limbitrol
Neotigason
Nobrium
Noctran
Nubain
Orap
Prolixin
Propess
Risperdal
Rivotril
Serenace
Seroquel
Sonata
Stadol
Stelazine
Stemetil
Stesolid
Stilnox
Tekam
Temgesic
Tiapridal
Tramal
Tramundin
Tranxene
Valium
Xanax
Zaldiar
Zeldox
Zyprexa

Controlled Drugs Class B

123 Cold
Actifed Compound
Actifed DM
Activelle
Adol Cold
Adol Compound
Adumbran
Akineton
Algaphan
Anafranil
Andriol
Artane
Athymil
Aurorix
Benxtrone
Bepro
Broncholar
Broncholar forte
Bronchophane
Buspar
Cancolite
Cantor
Cipralex
Cipram
Climen
Codaphen
Codaphen plus
Codilar
Codipront
Codis
Coldex-dD
Cymbalta
Deca durabolin
Decutan
Dextrocuf
Dextrolag
Diarsed
Diaxine
Dicton
Distalgesic
Edronax
Efexor
Elidel
Estracomb
Estrofem
Faverin
Femoston
Flexiban
Flozak
Fluanxol
Flumed DM adult
Fluneurin
Fluoxone
Fluran
Flutin
Fluxetyl
Genotropin
Insidon
Intard
Ixel
Kafosed
Kemadrin
Kliogest
Lagaflex
Linz
Lioresal
Lomotil
Ludiomil
Menogen
Muscadol
Myogesic
Noracod
Norcuron
Norditropin
Norflex
Norgesic
Nuvaing
Oxetine
Paracodol
Phensedyl
Primotestone
Progyluton
Prothiaden
Proviron
Prozac
Remeron
Revacod
Rhinotussel
Riaphan
Roaccutane
Robaxin
Robaxisal
Robitussin-CF
Romilar
Saizen
Salipax
Sandostatin
Saroten
Sedofan DM
Sedofan-P
Seroxat
Serzone
Sirdalud
Somadryl compound
St Joseph cough
Sterandryl
Stivane
Surmontil
Sustanon
Tamiflu
Ticlid
Tixylix
Tofranil
Trexan
Tripofed dm
Trisequens
Tryptizol
Tuscalman
Tussifin with codeine
Unified DM
Vesanoid
Virormone
Zoloft