Is Marijuana Legal in The United Arab Emirates?

Recreational and medical marijuana are illegal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Though drug laws have been easing in recent years, law enforcement still takes unauthorized drug use or possession of any kind very seriously.

Medical Marijuana Laws in The United Arab Emirates (UAE)

There have not yet been notable changes in the law to allow for medical marijuana use in the UAE.

Even with some easement of harsh drug laws, it is unclear when or if medical marijuana could ever be legalized in the United Arab Emirates.

What to Know About About Medical Cannabis in The UAE

If you plan on visiting Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any other UAE city, you should leave your cannabis at home, even if you are a medical patient.

Still, with recent changes to the laws, there is a lot of additional context and info that could be helpful to know about cannabis in the UAE.

Laws Are Changing

Despite harsh drug laws remaining prevalent in the country, there have been some genuinely positive and surprising changes to specific drug laws in the UAE.

Most notably, minimum sentences for first-time drug use have been reduced drastically, shifting from a minimum of two years of jail time to only three months. And while non-citizens were previously deported following detainment, this is no longer a guaranteed outcome.

Perhaps the most surprising change to the UAE’s cannabis policies, however, concerns products containing THC, like edibles. While such products are still banned, baking a batch of THC brownies will not usually result in jail time.

Instead, products containing THC will be taken and destroyed. This does not seem to apply to cannabis flower itself.

You should still not risk bringing any cannabis-infused products to the United Arab Emirates (you may still get arrested and punished, even for cannabis-infused edibles), but it is a sign of progress that the country has begun to show leniency in certain areas.

Many Laws Are Still Harsh

It may seem contradictory, but while there have been signs of progress in some areas of the law, the UAE continues to enforce its strict prohibition on illegal drug use in other areas.

One well-known example is the case of Peter Clarke, a U.S. citizen who was detained in 2021 for drug possession following a positive drug test.

Though Clarke had legally used cannabis in Nevada before his trip to the UAE, cannabis still appeared in his system, deemed adequate grounds for his arrest. Clarke was eventually deported back to the United States but spent nearly two months in jail and paid hefty financial penalties.

Even though the laws are changing, you should still be as careful as possible concerning marijuana use in the UAE, and you may even want to refrain from using cannabis prior to your trip.

CBD Is Banned

Although some exceptions may exist, cannabidiol products (CBD products) are generally banned in the UAE. This is the case even if they are hemp-derived and contain not tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Can You Grow Cannabis In The United Arab Emirates?

No, you cannot grow cannabis in the UAE. And with the risk of prison time, you should not take the chance.

The Bottom Line

Cannabis users should celebrate the shift in certain aspects of the United Arab Emirates’ drug policies while remaining incredibly cautious and refraining from marijuana use when in the Middle Eastern country.

While your cannabis product might just be taken away and destroyed, you could also become the next Peter Clarke.

Keep up with the current cannabis laws if you plan on visiting the UAE anytime soon to ensure that you do not end up on the wrong side of the law.