Legal · Prohibited Items
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Hand-carry means a person walks your shipment through airport security and two customs borders. Some things can never do that; some can, but only with the paperwork prepared first. This list is checked on every enquiry, asking us to skip it is asking us to decline the job.
Transparency note: this document is published so clients and couriers can see exactly how we work. It is a working framework, not legal advice; where figures are stated they are our standard defaults and can be varied in a signed agreement. A review by qualified UAE counsel is part of our compliance roadmap and the current version is marked below.
Never carried, no exceptions
- Explosives, ammunition, weapons and weapon parts, including replicas and deactivated items.
- Narcotics, psychotropics and controlled substances of any schedule, including khat and unprescribed medication in commercial quantity.
- IATA dangerous goods not permitted in the passenger cabin: flammables, compressed gases, oxidisers, corrosives, toxic and infectious substances category A, radioactive material.
- Standalone lithium batteries beyond airline cabin limits; damaged or recalled batteries in any form.
- Counterfeit goods and unlicensed copies of protected works.
- Goods originating from, or destined to, comprehensively sanctioned countries, entities or persons.
- Human remains; live animals; endangered species and their products (CITES) without permits, and ivory in any form.
- Obscene material and items prohibited under UAE law or the law of any point on the routing.
- Undeclared currency or bearer-negotiable instruments above reporting thresholds, and any cash carriage without our compliance sign-off.
Carried only with documented pre-approval
| Category | What we need before quoting it as bookable |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals & medicines | Product identity, licences on both ends, temperature profile; controlled substances are declined. |
| Biological samples (UN3373, exempt) | Classification, triple packaging to IATA PI 650, import permits where the destination requires them. |
| Jewellery, precious metals, high value | Declared value, provenance documentation, all-risk cover, KYC on both parties. |
| Currency & negotiable instruments | Compliance approval, declarations at every border, amounts within lawful limits, rarely approved, never improvised. |
| Cultural artefacts & art | Export permits from origin, provenance file, import documentation. |
| Dual-use technical goods | Export-control classification (EAR/EU dual-use or equivalent) and licences where required. |
| Alcohol & tobacco samples | Destination import allowance confirmed, licensed consignee, quantities in sample range. |
| Drones, transmitters, satellite gear | Destination regulatory approval, several countries seize these at the border regardless of intent. |
| Equipment containing installed lithium batteries | Within airline cabin limits, terminals protected, airline approval where wattage requires it. |
The grey-zone rule
If you are unsure which side of this page your item is on, say what it actually is when you ask for the quote. An honest “can this fly?” costs nothing; a surprise at security costs the assignment and possibly more. Our desk answers 24/7 at bookings [at] onboardcourier [dot] ae.
Version 1.0 · August 2026 · drafted for review by UAE counsel before reliance