🇮🇳 India vs 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Side-by-side customs reference: duty-free allowance, de minimis, VAT, restricted and prohibited categories, and customs authority.
| 🇮🇳 India | 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs authority | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) | Federal Customs Authority (FCA) |
| VAT / GST | 5% / 12% / 18% / 28% IGST | 5% |
| De minimis (USD) | n/a | USD 272 |
| Cash declaration (USD) | USD 5000 | USD 16000 |
| Duty-free alcohol (L) | 2 | 4 |
| Duty-free cigarettes | 100 | 400 |
| Duty-free personal goods (USD) | USD 480 | USD 680 |
| Prohibited categories | Narcotic and psychotropic substances; Pornographic material; Counterfeit currency; Goods from certain sanctioned sources; Maps showing incorrect Indian territorial boundaries | Narcotics and psychotropic substances (extremely strict enforcement; trace amounts can lead to imprisonment); Pork products in some emirates; Material offensive to Islam; Gambling equipment; Counterfeit goods |
| Restricted categories | Wildlife and endangered species (Wildlife Protection Act permits); Firearms and ammunition (Arms Act licence required); Medicines and drugs (CDSCO licence required for commercial imports); Food items (FSSAI import licence required); Certain agricultural products (Plant Quarantine Order compliance) | Alcohol (only non-Muslim adults in licensed areas; strict regulations in conservative emirates like Sharjah where it is banned); Pork products (available at licensed outlets but restricted in general market); Prescription and controlled medications (Ministry of Health permit required; quantities limited); Firearms and weapons (Ministry of Interior permit required); Gambling devices |
| Known scams | Fake Indian e-Visa sites inflating the official USD 10-80 fee. Apply only via indianvisaonline.gov.in. | Fake Dubai Customs 'duty owed' SMS / WhatsApp messages. Dubai Customs directs all payment to the e-Declaration portal; no payment by SMS link. |
Detailed pages: India • United Arab Emirates
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