Travelling to UAE: Here is the list of non-taxable items you can carry

Abdulrhaman Saeed, Staff Reporter

The UAE's digital government has said that 15 types of travellers' luggage are allowed to enter airports and are exempt from taxes and customs duties.

This is according to the traveller's guide on the website of the Federal Authority for Identity, Nationality, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

To obtain the exemption, three conditions must be met. Most notably, the luggage must be of a personal nature and in non-commercial quantities.

These items are:

•    telescopes

•    movie projection devices and relevant accessories

•    radio, CD players and CDs

•    video and digital cameras and their tapes for personal use

•    portable music instruments

•    cell phones

•    TV and receiver, one each

•    strollers

•    personal sports equipment

•    portable computers and printers

•    calculators

•    wheelchairs and vehicles of people of determination (people with special needs)

•    medication for personal use, that is in compliance with the applicable regulations

•    clothes, toiletries and luggage of personal nature.

•    personal jewellery.

It also pointed out that personal belongings of passengers are permitted entry and shall be exempted from customs fees if the passenger meets the following conditions: value of gifts, perfumes and personal luggage does not exceed Dhs3,000, luggage and gifts must be of limited quantity and not in commercial ones, and passenger should not be a frequent traveller with goods on a regular basis, or a member of the respective conveyance crew.

As per Passenger Custom Guide issued by Government of Dubai, some permitted items are exempted from customs duties and will be allowed entry. This applies to a total number of 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco (minced or pressed for pipes) or minced/pressed tobacco for smoking, tumbâk (pure tobacco) or hookah molasses, and alcoholic beverages not exceeding 4 litres or 2 cartons of beer, each consisting of 24 cans not exceeding 355 ml for each can.

Customs duty will be levied on quantities and values in excess of the limits provided above, in addition to VAT.

Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be brought in or exempted for those under the age of 18.

The rate of customs duty is 5 per cent of the value of goods plus Cost Freight Insurance. It is 50 per cent on alcohol and 100 per cent on cigarettes.