Question
Can I travel to Dubai and the Oman if I am positive and on medication?
11 October 2012. Related: All topics, Travel.
Hello – can I travel to Dubai and the Oman if I am positive and on medication?
I have read that they will not allow you to enter the country if medication is found on you. Is this true?
I am undetectable for over a year now with CD4 of 250 (slowly rising).
Do I need any confirmation letter from my doctor? If so, what should it say? And should I carry this on me all the time?
What about the rest of the middle east?
Many thanks
Answer
Hello,
Regulations relating to traveling with HIV can be complicated. In many countries there are different regulations depending on the type of stay-whether it’s a tourist visit or to work. i-Base are not experts in this area, and these regulations can change over time.
Details of entry restrictions for different countries can be found on the HIV travel website.
In the past many HIV positive people have traveled to countries which are restricted. How this has been done is mentioned at this previous question.
I will transit Sharja UAE for 5 hours only going to OMAN with meds with me. will i have problem in sharja airport? In oman i can explain them properly which i am only visiting. but in sharje Uae im a bit afraid im only connecting flight to sharja. il put my meds in my checked baggage.
Hi Halima,
Thanks for your comment.
Does that means people living with hiv don’t have a life to live. This is unfair, they should find way out for people like that, they are also humans. Thanks
Hi Samke,
People with HIV aren’t allowed to work in Dubai. If your status was known you will be deported. You also can’t access ARVs in the UAE. Please see here: http://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=189
Hi i got a job from Dubai i have to go next month but i am HIV + what should i do i they going to allow me to travel.should i carry my med
Hi Joseph,
Unfortunately Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is not friendly for HIV positive people. However, there are no health checks at the border, no health certificates must be presented on entry. So short term stays are therefore possible, however not free of risk. It is not allowed to import antiretroviral medication for personal use. This may lead to deportation as you can see from the comment below.
Are tourist on visa do hiv testing before coming into Dubai
You can NOT travel to Dubai when you take your medicine with you and they find it, they put you back on a flight to your country, it happend to me in March 2018!!!! They where very rude to me, let met wait for 3 hours and never told me why.
Hi Jennifer,
Oman is one of the few countries globally that isn’t very welcoming to people who are living with HIV. If you’re positive and you wan to live and work there you won’t be able to as the following explains:
http://www.hivrestrictions.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=138
And yes, its not fair nor does it make any sense.
Can someone living with HIV and on medication work and live in Oman? Can he or she order for her medicine From her country when the need arise. HIV is not a killer disease, so think the ban should be lifted. bcoz to my best of knowledge, these people happen to live the best kind of life so far they make sure that nothing bad happens to them.