• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Customs and Dr's Letter.

Smile.

Member
Messages
14
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi everyone.

I will be flying in a couple of weeks and wanted to know if anyone has had a "layover" in Dubai before? I have one, for about two hours, and wanted to seek some advice as to how strict they have been with you in regards to your Type 1 medication? I will be taking my prescription to prove what I am carrying I have been prescribed. I also have a Dr's letter, from a few years back, saying I am Type 1 diabetic and need to carry insulin, needles etc. However, it's not in detail and doesn't specify, for example, what insulin I take (although this would be proved by the prescription) - do you think a more detailed letter is required?

I look foward to hearing from any of you.
 
I went through Dubai last year and had no issues with my insulin. I took doctors prescription but was never asked for it.

@farhaneh might be able to give advice.

@catherinecherub - Dubai is in United Arab Emirates, not Saudi Arabia (but very close) ;)
 
I know @robert72 and could not find a link for Dubia.
Was assured by someone in the know that the same applies in Saudi and UAEs.
Sorry for the confusion.
 
Hi everyone.

I will be flying in a couple of weeks and wanted to know if anyone has had a "layover" in Dubai before? I have one, for about two hours, and wanted to seek some advice as to how strict they have been with you in regards to your Type 1 medication? I will be taking my prescription to prove what I am carrying I have been prescribed. I also have a Dr's letter, from a few years back, saying I am Type 1 diabetic and need to carry insulin, needles etc. However, it's not in detail and doesn't specify, for example, what insulin I take (although this would be proved by the prescription) - do you think a more detailed letter is required?

I look foward to hearing from any of you.

Hi yes, I have just come back from Saudi 2 days ago with work.

I carry all my insulin, oral medications needles and meters in fact any diabetes related equipment in my hand luggage.

I have a letter from my diabetic nurse that has name date of birth and that I am diabetic, including that I am insulin dependant and carry this equipment with me.

It has no details of medication involved or carried and doesn't need to.

I carry all my medications in a single bag inside my laptop bag as they usually want this in a separate tray, I usually just take it out and put it in a separate tray to save any time. Like you see people put laptops in...

I've only once had the contents checked and they swabbed some of my pens but nothing to worry about...

I have travelled to many places in the world with meds and never had any show stoppers just be honest with what you have... To be fair their more interested in the amount of leads I carry as part of my job as an engineer.

I'd recommend a frio pouch or another form of cooling as Dubai although at the moment is winter is still around 20 degrees...

Don't worry you will be fine...

Have a great trip hopefully I haven't waffled and it makes sense feel free to get in touch...

Thanks

Izzy
 
I went through Dubai last year and had no issues with my insulin. I took doctors prescription but was never asked for it.

@farhaneh might be able to give advice.

@catherinecherub - Dubai is in United Arab Emirates, not Saudi Arabia (but very close) ;)

Haha... Very true...

It's the same for most countries... The only thing worth checking is some countries have some banned substances and medications but there is always a way around things like this and nothing to stop you still travelling with correct foot work carried out before to check

Thanks

Izzy
 
Haha... Very true...

It's the same for most countries... The only thing worth checking is some countries have some banned substances and medications but there is always a way around things like this and nothing to stop you still travelling with correct foot work carried out before to check

Thanks

Izzy
I wanted to take my Temazepam (was en route to Zambia) but we stayed overnight in Dubai, so that would have been a no no. Always worth checking what meds are allowed before travelling, but can't imagine any country not allowing insulin.
 
when i went dubai i had my customs letter from my dsn but they never even asked for it or even looked at my supllies even though they were in the hand luggage but ask for a customs letter explaining you need to carry medics just in case
 
Hi everyone.

I will be flying in a couple of weeks and wanted to know if anyone has had a "layover" in Dubai before? I have one, for about two hours, and wanted to seek some advice as to how strict they have been with you in regards to your Type 1 medication? I will be taking my prescription to prove what I am carrying I have been prescribed. I also have a Dr's letter, from a few years back, saying I am Type 1 diabetic and need to carry insulin, needles etc. However, it's not in detail and doesn't specify, for example, what insulin I take (although this would be proved by the prescription) - do you think a more detailed letter is required?

I look foward to hearing from any of you.
 
Back
Top