Goods Across Borders · Customs rule card
Feathers & Plumage → United Arab Emirates
Purpose: Traveling · Verified: 2026-08-22
Feathers & Plumage restricted; documentation or permits may apply
Details
Feathers & Plumage 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 feathers & plumage is a separate question: restricted — Feather export from United Arab Emirates depends on the species — most wild-bird feathers are protected under CITES or national bird laws; farmed and craft feathers move freely.
Documentation required
- Check destination requirements
Leaving with this item
Feather export from United Arab Emirates depends on the species — most wild-bird feathers are protected under CITES or national bird laws; farmed and craft feathers move freely.
Practical advice
United Arab Emirates restricts import of Feathers & Plumage. Cultural-property protection is bilateral: both origin export rules and destination import rules apply. Carry provenance documentation demonstrating lawful acquisition and (where applicable) origin-country export licence. Museum-loan and dealer-import categories operate under separate frameworks with pre-approved dealer registration.
Customs authority
Federal Customs Authority (FCA) · https://www.fca.gov.ae