Middle East - Dubai - overnight layover with "controlled drugs"

Hi,

I will be flying from SFO to AMD through DXB on Emirates[1]. On the way back, I decided to take advantage of an overnight layover[2] in DXB.

I don't often drink and don't use marijuana, but I do take two medications that are on the "no-no" list.[3] The UAE's web site[4] currently says that I have to have a notarized prescription and authenticated at the state and national levels.[5] Due to the time between now and my departure, this will be impossible.

If I leave the airport for about 20 hours, of course passing through customs and immigration, will I have difficulty with the medication? Do I have to "recheck" a bag in this situation, or is it held by the airline?

If I change my flight so that I have no need to leave the airport, will I still have issues with the medication? Are there any bag rechecks or other screening to deal with?

Would my smartest move be to take no chances and cancel this itinerary and go with another carrier, avoiding the UAE?

This is rather worrying, and I'm happy to "visit" Dubai some other time. I dont really want the hassle of spending a few days in a police station sorting out documentation.

Thanks!

[1] I found out today and booked the shortest flight, which happens to pass through DXB.

[2] My other motivation was that the flight with the shorter layover departs at 4:25 AM! :o

[3] Zoloft/sertraline and Klonopin/clonazepam.

[4] http://www.uaeinteract.com/travel/drug.asp

[5] However, the Drug Control Department of the Ministry of health does have special regulations for personal import of such items: patients or travelers carrying prescribed prescription medications must have their prescriptions issued by licensed doctors, attested by a notary public, and, in the case of U.S. citizens, duly authenticated by both the secretary of state of one’s U.S. state, and finally also authenticated by the Secretary of State of the U.S. Government in Washington, D.C.

If you don't leave the airport, you should be fine. There is a routine security screening, but I don't see any way that it would detect prescription medication. (Of course, if you check your bag through, even better.) There is also a hotel in the terminal, which is quite nice (though not cheap), so even if you have a long layover, you can at least stay there.

(And, if you were really anxious to go to town, then you could of course get a hotel room and leave your luggage there. I am not sure if the Emirates or any of the pay-in lounges have a place to leave luggage. I know that the Lufthansa lounge does, but I am not aware of such a service at any lounge at which you might have access on your itinerary.)

I seriously doubt that you would end up in a police station. The worst that would probably happen is that they would confiscate the medication. (Of course, I disclaim any liability if I am incorrect. :p:eek:)

Obviously if your health is at risk from being separated from your medication for a day or two, then all of this advice is irrelevant because the risk isn't worth it.

I'm just not sure this is something I would risk.

The likelihood is you'd get away with it, but if you didn't, the consequences could be serious.

People have been arrested and held in the UAE for possession of codeine, melatonin, and even poppy seeds...

This comes up everyday in the Dubai forum on Tripadvisor

Just keep the meds in their original packaging and take a copy of the prescription or a note from your Doctor if you can, you'll be fine.