Dubai Airport Transit

CG19a

Hi guys, hopefully someone can put my mind at rest.
I've heard in the news over recent years about the horror stories of people going through Dubai airport due to their extremely strict laws, e.g. people being arrested for having a trace of codeine in their blood. I'm looking at flying to Japan and having a 3 hour stop-over in Dubai, is it really as strict as it sounds i.e. taking people away for testing? Or have I just read the newspapers too much? The Emirates flight is £200 cheaper per person, so I could save a small fortune if people are able to allay my fears about the airport. Hopefully someone will tell me I'm just being silly.

Incapuppy

I can only speak from personal experience but I have transitted via DXB on several occasions and I regularly take medication containing codeine; I am sure I am not alone in this. In addition each time I have carried prescription drugs containing codeine together with a photocopy of the prescription itself, the hand baggage has been scanned and nobody has batted an eyelid.

I recall one or two horror stories reaching the news here but compare that to the number of people transitting through Dubai daily and I think you have nothing to fear. They are a fab airline to fly with, try and get the A380 on one or more of the legs if you can.

CG19a

Thanks Incapuppy. I'm annoyed because I didn't book yesterday when KLM was even cheaper than Emirates, but now they've gone up in price. Do you have to collect your luggage, or does Emirates pass it straight through?

Incapuppy

Mine has always gone straight through, a quick question to the person on check-in should confirm if this will be the case (lol!) for you.

CG19a

One last one, do you have to go through passport control/customs when just transiting? I can't find any info on this on the emirates or airport website.

Incapuppy

You do have to go through security and baggage check although I honestly can't remember if passports were checked there too, am pretty sure they check your passport when you arrive at your next gate.

Re: customs - is this because you are thinking of purchasing duty free? I have found the duty-free shops at Dubai to be mega-cheap, cheaper than duty-free on departing the UK by miles and the staff at Dubai will know if you are able to carry duty-free onto your next destination. In my case, I have purchased spirits which are sealed by staff in tamper-resistant bags and these have been waved through at the next departure gate with no problem. I have no idea what the case would be if you have a further transit point between Dubai and Japan, I would think that would depend on the regulations in force in the transit country.

fifeken

Watch out for Dynamic Currency Conversion if you use the duty free shops. I've transited there many times with no problems but they tried it on once earlier this year.

Enterprise_1701C

WE transitted Dubai once - the only problems we had was the rude Arabs running over our toes with their cases and nearly pushing me over because apparently I am a lesser person than them and should get out of the way, despite the fact I was standing still with my back to them.

tdawber

hand luggage and hold luggage is x-rayed when you are arriving at the airport and also departures at the airport, which surprised me.

shockingmoment

Simple answer: if at all possible, avoid taking any restricted pharmaceuticals. There is a list available - link here:
http://www.dubai.ae/en.portal?topic,Article_000827,1,&_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=home

We've been through DXB a few times and never had any problems. The story of the Swiss traveller and the bread roll makes interesting reading (bottom of this link)!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7234786.stm

I know its a fairly old report but - better safe than very, very sory!

annasoper

You will be fine. As Incapuppy said, as long as you have a prescription, you will be fine. They are not the friendliest at the immigration desk, I mean which immigration officers are? I've been to Dubai and have gone via Dubai a few times and I've never had any problems or seen any body get any hassle. Unless you are blatantly violating some of their laws (and I don't think taking a prescribed medication is one of them ), you have nothing to fear.