由 caicai8478 Chinese medicines exported to Dubai must strictly comply with the bilateral laws and regulations of China and Dubai (UAE) and international medicine trade regulations, otherwise they may face detention, fines or even legal risks. The following are key precautions and suggestions to reduce the risk of detention:
- Compliance requirements
China export qualifications
It is necessary to obtain China’s “Drug Production License” or “Drug Business License”.
Special categories such as anesthetic/psychiatric drugs require an “Export Permit” from the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).
Dubai Import Permit
Drugs must be registered with the UAE Ministry of Health (MoHAP), and unregistered drugs may be detained.
Importers must hold a UAE drug trade license and provide import approval (application must be made in advance).
Halal certification
Drugs containing animal ingredients (such as gelatin and glycerin) must pass halal certification, otherwise they may be rejected.
- Document preparation (core to avoid detention)
List of necessary documents
China: Pharmaceutical GMP certificate, packing list, commercial invoice, certificate of origin, certificate of free sale (CFS) issued by NMPA.
Dubai: Import approval, MoHAP registration certificate, Arabic label (must include ingredients, expiration date, batch number, etc.).
Special requirements
A copy of the doctor’s prescription (in Chinese, English/Arabic) is required for prescription drugs.
Cold chain drugs must be recorded in temperature control throughout the process, otherwise they may be destroyed due to improper storage.
- Labels and packaging
Arabic labels
All drugs must be labeled in Arabic (with English attached), including:
Drug name, ingredients, production date, expiration date, storage conditions, manufacturer information.
Goods that are not labeled or have inconsistent labels may be detained by customs.
Prohibited content
There shall be no efficacy claims such as “treating COVID-19” that are not approved by the UAE.
- Customs risk points
Common reasons for detention
Incomplete documents (such as lack of import approval, unregistered).
The drug ingredients contain substances banned in the UAE (such as cough medicines containing morphine and codeine).
Expired or approaching the expiration date (Dubai usually requires a remaining validity period of ≥ 6 months).
Customs clearance suggestions
Entrust a local licensed customs clearance agent (Dubai Customs is strict on drug inspections).
Confirm the latest MoHAP policies with the importer in advance (regulations may be frequently adjusted).
V. Other considerations
Transport options: It is recommended to use air transport + professional logistics companies (such as DHL and FedEx’s pharmaceutical cold chain services) to avoid failure of sea transportation temperature control.
Legal risks: The UAE cracks down on counterfeit drugs severely. If they are identified as “counterfeit”, they may face criminal charges.
VI. Emergency handling
If the drug is detained:
Contact the importer to submit additional documents (such as expedited registration or additional test reports).
Complain to MoHAP through a lawyer, or apply for return (storage fees must be paid).
Summary: Strict registration, complete documents, and compliant labels are the key to avoiding detention. It is recommended to obtain pre-qualification from a local UAE agent before the first export, or choose pharmaceutical warehousing services in Dubai Free Zone (such as DWC) to reduce risks.