How much Cut/loose tobacco can I bring into United Arab Emirates?
Restricted
You can bring Cut/loose tobacco into United Arab Emirates only within the stated limits.
What you need to know
- 500 gram (17.64 oz)
- Channels: Carried with the traveler
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
- Permitted Luggage & Items — Dubai Customs Dubai Customs
Questions about Cut/loose tobacco in United Arab Emirates
- How much cut/loose tobacco can I bring into United Arab Emirates?
- United Arab Emirates allows 500 grams of cut/loose tobacco per traveller. Above that the goods are treated as an import and duty becomes payable. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
- Do I have to declare cut/loose tobacco at United Arab Emirates customs?
- Only above the allowance. Up to 500 grams of cut/loose tobacco there is nothing to declare; beyond it you take the goods through the red channel and pay the duty.
- What happens if I do not declare cut/loose tobacco in United Arab Emirates?
- Under Dubai Customs, Passenger Customs Guide: the normal duty becomes payable on the excess.
- Is there a minimum age for the cut/loose tobacco allowance in United Arab Emirates?
- Yes — 18 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for cut/loose tobacco at all, not a smaller one.
- Can I take cut/loose tobacco out of United Arab Emirates?
- United Arab Emirates publishes no separate rule for taking cut/loose tobacco out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the United Arab Emirates limit for cut/loose tobacco apply per person or per family?
- Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
- Where does this rule come from?
- Federal Customs Authority / ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) states it in Permitted Luggage & Items — Dubai Customs. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “The Number of cigarettes should not exceed (400) cigarettes, (50) cigars, (500) grams of tobacco (minced or pressed for pipes), minced or pressed tobacco for smoking, tobacco or mild-tasting tobacco.”
- How does United Arab Emirates compare with other countries on cut/loose tobacco?
- Of the 20 countries covered here, 0 prohibit cut/loose tobacco, 11 limit it and 9 let it through. United Arab Emirates is among the ones that set a limit.
Source: Federal Customs Authority / ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) — Permitted Luggage & Items — Dubai Customs · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Federal Customs Authority / ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) — Permitted Luggage & Items — Dubai Customs · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Federal Customs Authority / ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) — Passenger Customs Guide, Version No. 6 - 2025 · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Federal Customs Authority / ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) — Passenger Customs Guide, Version No. 6 - 2025 · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Federal Customs Authority / ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) — Permitted Luggage & Items — Dubai Customs · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Federal Customs Authority / ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) — Permitted Luggage & Items — Dubai Customs · verified 2026-09-19