Dubai Customs has issued a notice reminding passengers of the duty-free limits for bringing cigarettes and tobacco products into the emirate. Under the rules, travellers aged 18 and over may bring up to 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco into Dubai, subject to customs regulations.

In guidance published on social media on Saturday, October 31, Dubai Customs urged travellers to familiarise themselves with restrictions on bringing tobacco products into the UAE before travelling. It stressed that quantities exceeding the permitted limits would be subject to customs duty.

Under the announced regulations, eligible passengers may bring one of the following quantities without paying customs duty:

- Up to 400 cigarettes
- Up to 50 cigars
- Up to 500 grams of tobacco, including shredded or pressed tobacco for pipes and other smoking purposes

Conditions for customs duty exemptions in Dubai

Dubai Customs has stressed that customs duty exemptions apply only when specific conditions are met.

Passengers’ personal belongings and gifts must be intended for personal use and must not be in commercial quantities. Frequent travellers transporting commercial goods and transport crew members are not eligible for the exemption.

Under the regulations, people under the age of 18 are not permitted to bring cigarettes or tobacco products into the country. The customs exemption for these products applies only to passengers aged 18 and over.

What other goods are exempt from customs duty?

According to information published on the official Dubai Customs website, passengers may also bring gifts worth up to AED 3,000 into the emirate without paying customs duty, provided the items are for personal use and are not commercial in nature.

Eligible passengers may also bring up to four litres of alcoholic beverages or two cartons of beer duty-free. Each carton may contain 24 cans, with each can holding no more than 355 millilitres.

Dubai Customs also reminded travellers that certain goods are prohibited from entering the UAE. These include narcotics, counterfeit banknotes, gambling equipment, certain products made from protected wildlife species and other goods prohibited under the country’s laws.

The authority urged travellers to check the latest customs regulations before packing and to take the necessary steps before arrival if they are carrying goods that must be declared or require special permits.

Travellers can also register goods and items requiring declaration through Dubai Customs’ iDeclare smart system to streamline customs clearance at the airport.