Are common prescription medications available in UAE?
When we asked expats in UAE if common prescription medications are available in UAE, they wrote...
"Yes, common prescription medications are available in the UAE. Most medications can be purchased at pharmacies, with a valid prescription from a licensed doctor. Some medications may require additional approval from the Ministry of Health and Prevention before they can be purchased. In addition, some medications may not be available in the UAE, and may need to be imported from other countries," remarked another expat who made the move to UAE.
"There are no prescribed narcotics: codine and similar drugs are not legally available and traveling in with them can get you in big trouble. The UAE website has a detailed list of what is legal. There are pharmacies all over with an assortment of medicines. Some things like birth control and Voltorin are available over the counter but other things like cough syrup may require prescription. You may often skip the doctor and go to a trusted pharmacy and they will advise on what to take to get better," explained one expat living in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
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Are common prescription medications available in UAE?
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About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is one of the founders of Digital Nomad Exchange and the Founder and President of Expat Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange and Digital Nomad Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International
and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University
with a BA in International Business and German.
Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.
