This regulation is linked to the provisions regarding the bringing of prohibited and restricted items in the UAE. The process of declaring money when you arrive at the airport is another separate provision by the Customs office.
Also Read: What to Do if You Bring Controlled Medicines into UAE
As an existing or new expat who will stay in the country for the long-term, you have to know this regulation. And if you are a traveler who will be visiting the country, you also need to keep this in mind because it’s part of the clearing process so you can enter the UAE without the authorities holding you back.
What is the declaring money procedure when you arrive in the UAE?
According to the official website of Dubai, all passengers who will arrive in the country should declare the cash or monetary instruments they have during that time. The amount should not exceed AED 100,000 or its equivalent to foreign currencies.
You need to fill out the declaration form that will be given to you at the airport.
If you are a passenger below 18 years old, you will not be allowed to bring cash that will exceed the said amount. In case you have any excess cash, the amount will be added to your parent’s or guardians’ limit if they are with you during the trip.
Why do you need to declare your cash upon your arrival?
The declaration of cash is in line with the declaration system given by the UAE Central Bank. This is to control the amount of total cash that are entering the country.
According to Dubai Customs, if visitors will fail to declare the cash they have at the time of their arrival, they will be subjected to legal procedures. Relevant authorities will handle the situation.
So, the reason why you are declaring your cash is to follow what the UAE Central Bank says. Every country has this regulation and if you want to avoid any punishment related to non-declaration, you better comply with the rules.
Additional Information – Declaration of Items
In addition to the declaring money procedure and prohibited and restricted items, you are also required to declare items given by the Customs Office when you arrive in the UAE. If you fail to declare these items, you will be considered as a smuggler and you will be punished by the law. Here are the items you need to declare.
- Sports Equipment
- Photo and video cameras with their respective accessories
- Wheelchairs and special needs pushchairs
- Projectors for presenting slides and films and their accessories
- Baby strollers
- Telescopes
- Portable calculators
- Radios, digital audio broadcasting apparatus, CD and DVD players, mobile phones, dictation machines, and their accessories
- PCs and laptops
- Portable TV sets
- Portable typing machines
To save yourself from trouble, you should always be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations before you enter the UAE. If you know someone who is planning to fly to this country soon, don’t forget to share this article with that person so we can help more expats, workers, and travelers.