Goods Across Borders · Customs rule card
Kratom → United Arab Emirates
Purpose: Traveling · Verified: 2026-08-22
Kratom prohibited; penalties for import
Details
Kratom prohibited; penalties for import. Enforcement in United Arab Emirates carries fines from AED 50,000 to AED 500,000 and imprisonment up to 10 years in aggravated cases under Federal Customs Law No. 1 of 2003; Federal Law No. 14 of 1995 on Narcotics. Because kratom is prohibited rather than restricted, there is no permit route for an ordinary traveller — attempted import is treated as smuggling regardless of intent. 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 kratom is a separate question: prohibited — Kratom is a controlled substance in United Arab Emirates — possession is unlawful, so there is no lawful personal export.
Leaving with this item
Kratom is a controlled substance in United Arab Emirates — possession is unlawful, so there is no lawful personal export.
Practical advice
Do not carry kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), powder or leaf, into United Arab Emirates. Dubai/Abu Dhabi Customs treats it as a controlled substance with no personal-use permit; seizure plus prosecution is the standard response.
Customs authority
Federal Customs Authority (FCA) · https://www.fca.gov.ae