A pharmacy is the first place you go to with a minor ailment: a cold, an upset stomach, a headache, an allergy. In Dubai this is straightforward: there are plenty of pharmacies, they stay open late, and there are 24-hour ones and delivery. But there are also important nuances with prescriptions and banned medicines. Let’s break it down. This is part of the guide to medicine in Dubai.
What Pharmacies There Are in Dubai
The market is dominated by a few large chains, present across the city — in shopping centres, residential districts and at hospitals:
- Aster Pharmacy
- BinSina Pharmacy
- Life Pharmacy
- as well as Marina Pharmacy, Boots and hospital pharmacies.
Pharmacies in Dubai are modern shops with medicines, cosmetics, vitamins and health products. The staff speak English, and the pharmacists are qualified and will help you find a substitute.
24-Hour Pharmacies
Many pharmacies of the big chains operate around the clock, and pharmacies at hospitals with an emergency department are almost always open 24/7. The most convenient way to find the nearest on-duty pharmacy is:
- in the chain’s app (BinSina, Aster, Life);
- on maps by searching for “24 hour pharmacy”;
- at the nearest hospital.
Prescriptions
The dispensing rules are as logical as everywhere else:
- Over-the-counter remedies (fever reducers, cold remedies, allergy remedies, plasters, pain relief) — freely available.
- Prescription medicines — against a valid prescription, which the pharmacist checks.
- Controlled and strong medicines — strictly by prescription, and some require prior authorisation.
If you are bringing medicines with you, keep a prescription or a doctor’s note in English on hand — it heads off questions both at the pharmacy and at customs.
Medicine Delivery to Your Home
All the large chains offer delivery, including express delivery (within the city, from half an hour to a few hours). You can order through the app or website:
- over-the-counter items — straight away;
- prescription ones — after the prescription has been uploaded and checked by the pharmacist;
- controlled medicines are usually excluded from delivery — they are handed over in person on presentation of an Emirates ID.
Usual Medicines and Bans
Many usual medicines are on sale or have equivalents under different brand names — tell the pharmacist the active ingredient and they will find a substitute. But here is the key warning: some medicines are controlled or banned in the UAE — this applies to medicines containing codeine, a number of painkillers, sleeping pills and CBD. Before bringing a medicine kit, be sure to check against the guide to banned medicines in the UAE and the general rules of conduct in Dubai.
With a familiar medicine kit, a prescription in English and a pharmacy app to hand, minor ailments in Dubai are sorted out in half an hour — and for anything serious there is always the ambulance (998).
