Bringing a buddha statue into Dubai | ExpatWoman.com
 

Bringing a buddha statue into Dubai

1848
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 17:42

Is there a way this can be done? We are in Thailand currently and there is a statue I really like but I have been told that its not permitted into UAE and will be confiscated. We were planning on just bubble wrapping it and placing it in our large suitcase.

674
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EW GURU
Latest post on 30 June 2012 - 07:45
I've got over 6-7 Buddhas around my home. Some about here and the others all from trips overseas and never had a problem. I also once carried in with me a huge buddha canvas all rolled up and passed customs with it without being stopped.
674
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EW GURU
Latest post on 30 June 2012 - 07:45
I've got over 6-7 Buddhas around my home. Some about here and the others all from trips overseas and never had a problem. I also once carried in with me a huge buddha canvas all rolled up and passed customs with it without being stopped.
1530
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 23:19
Ah Andi-diver. A few years ago I did some research into this as I wanted to start a small centre here as part of a larger organisation in the UK, which teaches meditation and foundation courses in Buddhism and other similair workshops. I was looking into getting a licence etc and finding out about how to set up. Most religions are tolerated here provided they are followed behind closed doors to existing devotees so any hint of evangelical behaviour is not allowed. However back to Buddhism, you may notice that it is one of the few "religions" which has no official place of worship or gathering (perhaps a 'temple' for a better word) in the UAE. There are sikh, catholic, orthodox, protestant and hindu facilities but nothing overtly or officially 'Buddhist' What I was told then was that Buddhism is not officially recognized or encouraged as it is the only 'religion' which teaches that there is no 'creator god', which created us. All other religions either have their origins in Abrahamic history, like Christianity, or follow a 'god'. By declaring that there is no 'god' which created us, or that needs to be obeyed or worshiped,is as a teaching, against the premise of Islam. I couldnt find any official data in English on this but decided not to risk it. I have seen meditation courses taught here and they mostly steer clear of discussing Buddhist teachings openly but taught as part of a yoga class, or in the Hindu style of meditation practice etc. I attended on meditation class very similair to the teachings of the Buddha and the teacher cleverly avoided quoting the Buddha directly and kept it very generic. HTH Edited to reassure OP that I doubt this is the issue for most airport officials and im sure they wont care about the statue -like others said, many shops sell the statues, so no one is enforcing that side of it. Its his teachings which are not officially legal <em>edited by hilsbils on 29/06/2012</em>
4329
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 23:11
They sell them in stores here and we have brought in from Thailand.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 23:09
Last year we freighted a wooden elephant from Kerala to Sharjah and had alot of grief persuading customs that it wasn't a religious artefact. <em>edited by Sushifee on 29/06/2012</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 23:02
Rather than being a religion Buddhism is a philosophy or way of life. No law in this land stops you from following an alternate way of life so why should they ban you from bringing in a buddha?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 22:59
We bought a very expensive one in Chiang Mai from an antique store, they wrapped it in carbon paper, so it doesn't come up on the xray, so they tell me anyway. I wouldn't recommend trying this; carbon paper is actually classed as DAC or Dangerous Air Cargo and the carriage of it is actually banned onboard passenger aircraft.
756
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EW GURU
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 20:52
We bought a very expensive one in Chiang Mai from an antique store, they wrapped it in carbon paper, so it doesn't come up on the xray, so they tell me anyway. When we got to customs here they asked me, where have you been? then they asked do you have a statue in your luggage. So I said yes, it's a statue of a man. Then they let me through. Close to the truth!
1848
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 18:11
Great stuff! Thanks girls :)
1530
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 18:03
I had a number of them in my boxes back in 2007 when I arrived, and after scanning them they took a big knife and ripped open my boxes (mortifying as I had chucked dirty linen and laundry on top before moving ... ugh) and said "Buddha buddha" and I panicked whilst scratching through to find them. They took the brass one looked under its bottom, laughed and threw in back in the box!! The brass had shown up as a solid mass like gold or lead would, apparently. By then I had pulled all the various Buddhas out as we only found the Brass one last :-) Whew... long way around saying, No I think its fine :) <em>edited by hilsbils on 29/06/2012</em>
1848
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 18:00
Hmmm....guess I will have to gamble. Thanks!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 17:59
Also...Buddha Bar... <em>edited by rose0284 on 29/06/2012</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 17:58
They didn't open our bags...but then again I have never had my bag opened upon arrival. It went through the security scanner, so they must have seen the outline. I still don't think they are a problem here though....they sell tons of Buddha statues at the antiques museum, other shops, even stores like Marina. <em>edited by rose0284 on 29/06/2012</em>
1848
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 17:54
Did customs see the buddha? Just dont want to spend money just to have the statue destroyed....
107
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 17:46
We brought a decent sized one in from Sri Lanka with no problem at all. It was in our carry on bags. Never heard of anyone having one confiscated.
 
 

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