How much Gifts and personal goods can I bring into United Arab Emirates?
Restricted
You can bring Gifts and personal goods into United Arab Emirates only within the stated limits.
What you need to know
- No stated quantity
- Value cap: 3,000 AED
- Channels: Arrival duty-free, Carried with the traveler
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
- Passenger Customs Guide, Version No. 6 - 2025, Second: Baggage Declaration Dubai Customs, Government of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Questions about Gifts and personal goods in United Arab Emirates
- How much gifts and personal goods can I bring into United Arab Emirates?
- United Arab Emirates allows 3,000 AED 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 gifts and personal goods at United Arab Emirates customs?
- Yes — it has to be declared to United Arab Emirates customs on arrival.
- What happens if I do not declare gifts and personal goods in United Arab Emirates?
- Under Dubai Customs Policy, 'Declaration and Inspection of Items or, if you declare the excess yourself: the normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Dubai Customs Policy, Article: the goods are held until you leave the country. Under Dubai Customs Policy, Article: the goods are confiscated.
- Can I take gifts and personal goods out of United Arab Emirates?
- United Arab Emirates publishes no separate rule for taking gifts and personal goods out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the United Arab Emirates limit for gifts and personal goods 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 Passenger Customs Guide, Version No. 6 - 2025, Second: Baggage Declaration. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “Gifts accompanied by the passengers and whose value does not exceed AED 3000.”
- How does United Arab Emirates compare with other countries on gifts and personal goods?
- Of the 21 countries covered here, 0 prohibit gifts and personal goods, 14 limit it and 7 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) — Passenger Customs Guide, Version No. 6 - 2025, Second: Baggage Declaration · 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, Second: Baggage Declaration · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Federal Customs Authority / ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) — Customs Policies 2005-2020 · 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, Second: Baggage Declaration · 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, Second: Baggage Declaration · verified 2026-09-19