UAE drug laws: Consuming abroad still risks legal trouble, experts warn

Individuals who consume drugs while traveling abroad can still face severe legal repercussions in the United Arab Emirates if traces of these substances are found in their system upon entering or returning to the country. Legal experts emphasize that the location of consumption is secondary to the detection of narcotics within UAE jurisdiction, which is sufficient to trigger criminal liability.

“

The key issue is proving where the consumption occurred. If narcotic substances are detected while the individual is in the UAE, authorities may proceed based on the fact that the person is present within the country's jurisdiction.

Salah Alrashdi, a legal consultant at Al Azm Legal Consultancy, explained that proving where drug consumption took place is a key challenge in such cases. However, if narcotic substances are detected while an individual is present in the UAE, authorities can proceed with prosecution based on the fact that the person is within the country's legal boundaries. This principle was illustrated in a case where a young man was found to have narcotic substances in his system following a police response to an altercation, leading to legal action regardless of where he had consumed the drugs.

Igor Abalov, Managing Partner at Lawford Legal Advisors LLC-FZ, highlighted that UAE law treats drug consumption as a standalone criminal offense, separate from charges like possession or trafficking. Article 12 of Federal Decree-Law No. 30 of 2021 explicitly prohibits the use of narcotic or psychotropic substances outside of approved medical treatments. Abalov stressed that the presence of drug metabolites in a person's body can establish criminal liability, irrespective of the consumption location.

“

The misconception many people have is that if drug use took place abroad, there can be no consequences inside the UAE. What people need to understand is that the legal assessment is based on the presence of the substance when the individual is within the UAE.

Furthermore, Abalov pointed out that the legality of a substance in other countries, such as cannabis in Canada or the Netherlands, holds no bearing in a UAE court. The law does not recognize exceptions based on foreign jurisdictions. Drug metabolites can also remain detectable in the body for extended periods after consumption, underscoring the risks for travelers.

“

The fact that cannabis is legal in countries such as Canada or the Netherlands has no legal relevance before a UAE court. The law does not provide an exception based on the legality of the substance in another jurisdiction.