Help! Travelling through Dubai with medication?

Question

My doctor has recently prescribed me fluoxetine (Prozac) for depression and anxiety. I have plans to travel to New Zealand over Christmas to visit family, and as I am flying Emirates it means a short stopover (10 hours) in Dubai. I think rather than being in transit, we are actually given the option to leave the airport and stay in a hotel.

But I've heard about UAE's mega strict laws on controlled substances and I have just discovered that Prozac is on the "controlled" list. Now I'm really worried that I could get arrested for carrying my medicine with me. I've heard about people getting arrested even when they had the prescription or a doctor's letter with them.

What should I do? Should I contact the UAE embassy here in the UK?
Should I decline the free hotel and stay in transit in the airport, so my bags don't have to get checked in and out?

I almost feel like tapering the medication off now so that by the time Christmas comes I will no longer "need" it. Anyone who knows about antidepressants will know that stopping suddenly is not an option. But of course if I wean myself off it, my mental health could suffer. However, this trip to NZ is so important to me, I would do anything not to jeopardise it. Plus, the tickets were insanely expensive...

I just don't know what to do. I wish I wasn't travelling via Dubai, but I wouldn't have been able to afford the trip otherwise.

Please - travel/customs/Dubai experts - anyone - please help me!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

get a letter from your doctor which gives you permission to travel with the medication

Answer 2

Prozac (fluoxetine) is on the CD-B list, and is allowed into the country by following the regulations listed at the UAE Ministry of Health's website under "Guidelines for import of Personal Medicines via Travelers to UAE". The UAE Embassy in London would also be able to help you with any questions.

Source(s):

UAE Ministry of Health Registration & Drug Control Dept.:
http://www.moh.gov.ae/en/Page_764.aspx
UAE Embassy London:
http://www.uaeembassyuk.net/