Coral & Seashells → 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

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Coral & Seashells restricted; documentation or permits may apply. Documentation: Check destination requirements. Enforcement in United Arab Emirates carries fines from AED 500 to AED 50,000 under Federal Customs Law No. 1 of 2003; GCC Common Customs Law (ordinary personal cases are handled as civil infringements). Restricted status means compliant carriage is achievable with the right paperwork and quantities; the practical risks are seizure, duty, and delay rather than criminal liability for a good-faith traveller. Arrival checks are carried out by Federal Customs Authority (FCA); when in doubt use the declare (red) channel — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods attract penalties. Leaving United Arab Emirates with coral & seashells is a separate question: restricted — Corals are CITES-listed — taking coral out of United Arab Emirates requires permits, while ordinary non-protected seashells move freely in small quantities.

Leaving United Arab Emirates with coral & seashells

All stony corals (and black coral) are listed in CITES Appendix II, so exporting coral from United Arab Emirates — including souvenir pieces and jewellery — requires a CITES export permit; beach-collected fragments are covered the same as purchased items and are routinely seized at airports. Giant clams and queen conch are similarly listed. Ordinary non-protected seashells in small personal quantities generally move freely, though some origin countries protect specific species and destination biosecurity rules (Australia, New Zealand) require declaration of all shell material on arrival.

OFFICIAL SOURCES · VERIFIED 2026-08-22