The permission I was referring to, is if you have taking it into Dubai (prescribed from the doctor oversea) if prescribed by a doctor in the UAE a copy of prescription is all that is needed. This is my understand of it.
I took it for a couple of months before bed as I was suffering from really bad anxiety/stress due to my horrible job ;-). I had to have a seperate prescription that is written/stamped on a Dubai Municipality script. As I was travelling constantly for my job, I carried a copy of the DM scrip in my toiletries case with the xanax. I was never stopped/questioned and usually had both in my carry on case, but was warned that I needed to have it with me if I was coming through customs with the Xanax.
I certainly would not take the risk of clearing customs with a controlled substance that I did not have a valid perscription for.
xanax is on the controlled drug list, so you can NOT buy over the counter.
Don't bring xanax into the UAE without the relevant permission(obtained from your local UAE embassy)....... could land you a 4 year jail sentence.