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EWmums

EWfood

ewmoda

What are tourists allowed to import?

5400

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 07:04

I understand our friends aren't allowed to bring in ouzo with them, for example, but would Greek olive oil and Kalamata balsamic vinegar be confiscated if they were brought as hand-baggage? Also, I'd like them to bring some perfume in for me, but not sure if that's allowed, either. I don't understand the duty-free rules in Dubai at all, does anyone know where I can find these things on-line, please? (I have looked but can't make much sense of it.) Thanks a lot.

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4747

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 10:50

My DH's colleague just brought us a bottle of gin, which he picked up in Duty Free in LHR, carried on the plane and brought it to us. because they then put it in proper sealable plastic bags which are allowable if they are sealed by the airport etc.

4747

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 10:49

Why couldn't they pack it in their suitcases? Well wrapped bottles in the middle of a case should be fine. I just came back from Spain with a bottle of wine, olive oil and balsamic in my case and all were fine. Not sure why you say you can only bring in alcohol bought at Dubai Duty free? You can bring in other alcohol too. edited by plum2 on 13/04/2011 yes just bubble wrap it and put in plastic bags in case it breaks.

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 09:57

ouzo, Greek olive oil and Kalamata balsamic vinegar I hope these are intended to be consumed at the Yorkiflette session? I will need to check the import rules re: rustic French cheeses... <em>edited by Tartiflette on 13/04/2011</em>

pilotsprincess12586

251

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 09:57

My DH's colleague just brought us a bottle of gin, which he picked up in Duty Free in LHR, carried on the plane and brought it to us.

Saharagypsyrose

484

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 09:43

My DH must be the only person to get stopped for bringing in too much booze, He had 4 litre of spirts and 24 cans of beer and got stopped, although they were really good and let him return to duty free for a refund on the excess, although maybe they should never have sold it all to him in the first place! No, i got stopped too. I had one extra bottle of wine and the custom lady was making a stink of it, demanded to see all of them (I brought them from home) and asked me to hand over my passport and then kept it in her pocket! Needless to say I was shaking in my sandals! I guess you are lucky if your bags didn't get scanned at the end with your excess "contraband" :). Now I make sure I stick to 4L per person.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 08:55

My DH must be the only person to get stopped for bringing in too much booze, He had 4 litre of spirts and 24 cans of beer and got stopped, although they were really good and let him return to duty free for a refund on the excess, although maybe they should never have sold it all to him in the first place!

5400

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 08:41

Oh, thank you, everyone, that's really good to know about the import of alcohol, will definitely be asking for my favourite brand of ouzo from the Athens duty-free shop :) The last time I travelled in Europe, the hand-baggage liquids rule applied for going through Passport Control, and then evaporated once past security, when you could buy alcohol from duty-free. Is that still the case, then, as I really don't want to ask our friends to fill their suitcases with bottles? :) <em>edited by simpleasabc on 13/04/2011</em>

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EW GURU

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 08:39

DH came back from a business trip yesterday and bought eight bottles of wine at duty free. The cashier didn't bat an eye. simpleasabc, different rules apply. it is not allowed in a shipment of your personal belonging.Meaning that one can not import the vine cellar with x-hundred bottles or the collection of rare Whiskies.... however, if you travel in/out and use the regular duty free allowance you can buy the alcohol up to 4 litre wherever you like. Done this many many many times..... in fact my friend always buys 8-12 litres when he comes into DXB...and just says that they are a company of 3 people when asked....not a single time this has been an issue. Fact is....Duty Free is a GOLDMINE for the government and therefore they will not stop you buying more at the spot upon arrival :-))

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 08:32

simpleasabc, different rules apply. it is not allowed in a shipment of your personal belonging.Meaning that one can not import the vine cellar with x-hundred bottles or the collection of rare Whiskies.... however, if you travel in/out and use the regular duty free allowance you can buy the alcohol up to 4 litre wherever you like. Done this many many many times..... in fact my friend always buys 8-12 litres when he comes into DXB...and just says that they are a company of 3 people when asked....not a single time this has been an issue. Fact is....Duty Free is a GOLDMINE for the government and therefore they will not stop you buying more at the spot upon arrival :-))

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 08:31

It IS true that most moving companies err on the conservative side when it comes to importation of certain goods. eg. We were advised to leave any religious artifacts at home when in fact, there is absolutely no problem bringing bibles and what-not into the UAE. When it comes to liquids, alcoholic or not, you can't ship them in a container at all. Really, it's for your own comfort they advise this anyway, as just about any liquid, left out on the docks in 45-degree heat, will undergo some sort of chemical reaction! :D But as for bringing in stuff in your suitcase, pretty much anything goes. Just follow the 4-litre rule with alcohol though, and if you have stuff packed, don't buy extra in duty free unless you want to run the risk of being caught. ;) I've never paid any attention to the supposed rule about only buying booze in duty-free arrivals anyway. Besides, there's an awful lot of great alcohol that simply can't be bought in Dubai; it has to be bought in France, UK or wherever. So I just buy what I want but stick to the volume rule. :) . <em>edited by WaxMuch on 13/04/2011</em>

5400

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 08:30

Shippers won't pack and move alcohol but I'm not sure how it stands on bringing it in your own suitcase. I guess the worst they will do is confiscate it (I hope that's the worst, anyway!). I've brought booze in my checked luggage before. Ah, thanks, S D - I've just thought, I've got the Dubai Explorer and Red Tape books, shall see what they say about this :)

5499

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 08:28

Shippers won't pack and move alcohol but I'm not sure how it stands on bringing it in your own suitcase. I guess the worst they will do is confiscate it (I hope that's the worst, anyway!). I've brought booze in my checked luggage before.

5400

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 08:24

Now I'm really confused, we were told we couldn't import alcohol at all when we were moving here, we had to give all our alcohol away before coming here and were told we were only allowed to buy it at the Duty-Free shop in arrivals. Do the strict rules about what you are allowed to bring in food and drink wise only apply when you are bringing in a container? Or were we wrongly advised by our movers in the first place? As to the olive oil and vinegar, I might risk the bottles in my own suitcase (though last time we did this, one broke and as you can imagine, it was a bit of a pain to clean up), but I'm not going to impose on friends to do it for me, just in case.

98

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 08:18

hhhh ? you can import alcohol bought elsewhere. i always bring Russian Vodka (directly from Russia) as they don't sell them at Dubai Duty Free. No problem at all. Limit is 4 litre hard liquor. Wrap them nicely and place them in the suitcase covered with the clothes....of course also perfumes are allowed - as long as you don't import 100 gallons for sale :-)

1257

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 07:32

Oh my word, anytime I come back from O/S, my suitcases are JAMMED with stuff, such as red/white wine vinegar, chilli jam, harissa paste, flavoured oils, verjuice, balsamic ... you name it! Never EVER had a problem. And I have to be rattling like an old man's teeth struggling through Customs [undeclared'> with my contraband! :D

1913

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 07:21

Why couldn't they pack it in their suitcases? Well wrapped bottles in the middle of a case should be fine. I just came back from Spain with a bottle of wine, olive oil and balsamic in my case and all were fine. Not sure why you say you can only bring in alcohol bought at Dubai Duty free? You can bring in other alcohol too. <em>edited by plum2 on 13/04/2011</em>

5400

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 07:17

Would they be allowed to fly with them as hand baggage? Wouldn't it exceed the carry-on liquids allowance? Strikes head at self's idiocy - of course, I *knew* there was a problem with hand-baggage :) Thanks, S-D, ah, well, that's my vinaigrette down the tubes then, can hardly ask them to pack it in their suitcases :)

5499

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 07:13

Would they be allowed to fly with them as hand baggage? Wouldn't it exceed the carry-on liquids allowance?

5400

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 07:12

Hi, Plum2 - yes, it's the duty-free shop at arrivals which confuses me, I know you can only bring in alcohol bought there, but am worried about the other stuff. Not sure if foodstuffs are allowed to be imported or also have to be bought at the arrivals duty-free? Sorry to persist, but really don't want stuff to be confiscated!

1913

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 13 April 2011 - 07:07

They can bring in Ouzo as part of their duty free alcohol allowance. They sell alcohol which people can buy on arrival. Not sure of the allowance but it's about 4 bottles each. All the other goods you mention can be brought in. <em>edited by plum2 on 13/04/2011</em>

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