Are some prescription meds outlawed in Doha, too?

August 22, 2010 8:34 PM

My mother can't fly through Dubai as a layover because she has perfectly valid prescription medications they will arrest her for if found (even just transiting). Is the same thing true of Doha? The difference in ticket prices between Doha/Dubai or somewhere else is significant.
posted by zachawry to Travel & Transportation (6 answers total)

Is the cost of a notary and embassy visit less than a rerouted flight?

From this site:

"[Controlled Medicines and Medications] are essentially available only in hospitals and in large community pharmacies, under the prescription of doctors. The Ministry of Health advises that unlicensed, controlled medicines can only be imported into the UAE through hospitals and not by individuals.

However, the Drug Control Department of the Ministry of health does have special regulations for personal import of such items: patients or travelers carrying prescribed prescription medications must have their prescriptions issued by licensed doctors, attested by a notary, and duly authenticated by a number of other parties. I.e., this is a lot of trouble to go through. If you are intent on brining in the necessary drug, then it would be prudent to speak to the UAE Embassy in your country before you set out. "
posted by skyl1n3 at 8:50 PM on August 22, 2010

Yes, I can guarantee you that there are some medicines that can be legally prescribed in some places that are illegal in Doha. If you would like a more helpful answer, please provide more information. The medication, the importance of the medication, and the frequency of usage might be information that allows people to brainstorm helpful answers.

Will the layover be so long that shipping the medications separately to the final destination is out of the question (taking into account that she could take the meds on the plane with her and consume them right before disembarking)? And does she have any reason to expect being strip-searched? If she will be there a while and/or will have a long connecting flight, keeping a couple of pills on her person shouldn't be too hard.
posted by GnomeChompsky at 9:04 PM on August 22, 2010

It sounds like it's just the layover that's the problem. Can she ship enough dosages of her meds for her trip to her final destination? Or find out now what she needs to do to get a refill when she lands there? Or will she need to have the meds on her person while she's in Dubai/Doha/other layover spot?
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 9:05 PM on August 22, 2010

Response by poster: I can't be specific about medications because I'm not sure myself, and even if I asked I'm not sure I would want to write it all over the Internet.

It looks like either shipping the meds and taking a few before getting on the plane, or paying twice as much to go through Europe, are the only two options.

Thanks.
posted by zachawry at 9:21 PM on August 22, 2010

Don't forget that layovers are sometimes longer, even much longer, than planned. If lack of these drugs would be life threatening if she was without for a day or three then accommodation of a lengthy delay should be planned for.
posted by Mitheral at 11:13 PM on August 22, 2010

Be careful about shipping them as well. There are medications that, because they are controlled, they may not be shipped either.
posted by onhazier at 5:48 AM on August 23, 2010