Pepper Spray → United Arab Emirates

Prohibited. Personal defence sprays are classified as weapons.

Details

Pepper spray, CS gas, and similar personal defence sprays are prohibited in the UAE under the weapons control regulations. They are classified as weapons and may not be imported, possessed, or used by civilians. Travellers found with pepper spray at UAE airports may face confiscation and criminal proceedings. The ban applies to all forms of OC spray, CN tear gas, and bear spray. Police-grade defensive sprays are exclusively restricted to licensed law enforcement. There are no civilian defence exceptions.

Quantity limit

Zero tolerance

Legal reference

UAE Federal Law on Weapons and Ammunition; Dubai Penal Code

At the airport

1. Pepper spray is classified as a prohibited weapon in the UAE. If you arrive with pepper spray (even inadvertently packed), proceed to the Red Channel at DXB or AUH.
2. Declare the item to the customs officer. Do not attempt to conceal it — declared surrender is treated more leniently than discovery during inspection.
3. The item will be confiscated. A formal warning or fine may be issued. If concealment is suspected, charges under UAE Federal Law on Weapons and Ammunition may follow.

Transit

Transit not permitted. The UAE's weapons control regulations classify pepper spray as a prohibited weapon for all persons in UAE territory including transit passengers. Dubai Customs has confiscated pepper spray from passengers' checked baggage during transit. There is no transit exception.

Practical advice

Do not carry pepper spray, OC spray, or tear-gas devices into United Arab Emirates. Dubai/Abu Dhabi Customs treats incapacitating sprays as prohibited weapons under the firearms / dangerous-articles regime; seizure plus a fine is the standard response.

Customs authority

Federal Customs Authority (FCA) · https://www.fca.gov.ae