Restricted and Prohibited Goods

The UAE Government prohibits the import of certain goods and imposes restrictions on others.

Prohibited goods are those whose import and export are banned under the Common Customs Law of the GCC States, or any other law or regulation applicable in the UAE.

Restricted goods are goods whose import and export are restricted under the same law above and applicable regulations, and they need prior approval from the authorities concerned prior to import or export.

Restricted Goods and their Regulatory Authorities

The import and export of the following goods is restricted and requires prior approval from the designated authority.

Category	Regulatory Authority
Live animals and animal products	Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Pesticides, organic and chemical fertilizers	Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Agricultural amendments, agricultural seedlings, seeds for cultivation	Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Bees and queen bees	Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Live fish	Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Veterinary vaccines and serums	Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Diagnostic materials, veterinary equipment and supplies	Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Weapons and ammunition of all types	Ministry of Interior
Fireworks and explosives	Ministry of Interior
Food products	Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority
Live animals and animal products	Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Wired and wireless communication devices, radio and TV transmitters/receivers, radio navigation and GPS devices	Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority
Air conditioning machines and equipment, refrigeration or freezing devices, weighing devices, payment/printing/loading/unloading equipment (e.g., elevators, escalators, conveyor belts, cable cars), water heaters	Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
Mechanical tools for metals, ceramics, concrete, etc.	Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
Diesel, fuel oils, lubricants, paints and varnishes	Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
Dolls, balloons, bicycles, remote-controlled aircraft	Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
Cigarettes and tobacco	Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
Vehicles	Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
New vehicle tires	Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
Cosmetic products and skincare, oral and dental care products (non-medicinal)	Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
Household electrical appliances, electrical circuit control/protection/distribution devices, electrical and telephone cables and wires	Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
Pharmaceutical preparations and medicines, including narcotics used for medical purposes; medical devices, accessories, laboratory solutions, sterilization devices	Ministry of Health and Prevention
Blood and its components	Ministry of Health and Prevention
Publications, recorded media, photographic and cinematic products, audio and video broadcasting/recording devices	UAE Media Council
Rough diamonds	Kimberley Process / Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Chemicals used in the manufacture of chemical weapons	Executive Office for Control and Non-Proliferation
Radioactive chemical elements and isotopes, including fissionable and enriched materials; radioactive materials for medical use; transformers exceeding 500 KVA	Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation
Radioactive materials, high-capacity electrical transformers, and heat exchangers	Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation
Nuclear reactors, boilers, mechanical devices and tools and their parts	Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation
Electronic cigarettes and e-shisha	Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology

Prohibited Goods

The following items are strictly prohibited from being imported or exported in the UAE:

· Weed, opium, heroin, morphine, cocaine, poppy and its shells/seeds, qat, cannabis, and other narcotic substances of similar effect (all types of drugs)

· Counterfeit and fake currency

· Publications, photographs, paintings, drawings, cards, books, magazines, and stone sculptures that contradict Islamic teachings or public morals, or that aim to incite corruption or sedition

· Three-layer nylon fishing nets

· Gambling tools and machines

· Goods imported from boycotted countries

· Ozone-depleting substances

· Radioactive-contaminated materials

· Asbestos sheets and pipes

· Laser pens emitting red light beams

· Hazardous waste

· Naswar (a form of smokeless tobacco)

· Betel leaves

· Used or refurbished tyres

Identify Your Goods with the Smart HS Classification Tool:

To ensure compliance and determine the correct Harmonised System (HS) code for your goods, including any applicable customs duties, taxes, or restrictions, use the Smart HS Classification Tool.

This tool is a specialised search engine developed by Abu Dhabi Customs to help you quickly find the correct Harmonised System (HS) code for your import or export commodities. It also indicates any associated approvals or regulatory requirements.

Access the Smart HS Classification Tool on TAMM

If you are unsure about the results or cannot find what you’re looking for, you can contact our Tariff Classification Department at:
follow-up@adcustoms.gov.ae