Flying from the UAE? Check these baggage restrictions before you pack

Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia restrict banned items in both cabin and checked baggage, Gulf News reported.

Passengers flying from the UAE this holiday season should check the rules before packing. A wrongly packed power bank or liquid could mean repacking at the airport or confiscation.

What items are not allowed in baggage on UAE airlines?

All four airlines ban fireworks, explosives, pepper spray or mace, and hoverboards or similar self-balancing devices. Spare lithium batteries and power banks generally cannot go in checked baggage. Rules also vary by airline, destination and transit point, so passengers should check their carrier before packing.

The holiday season is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Thousands of UAE residents fly abroad for vacations, family visits and winter breaks.

Rules cover batteries, electronics, food, medicines, aerosols and sports equipment.

What items are not allowed in Emirates baggage?

Emirates bans explosives, dangerous chemicals and other hazardous items from cabin and checked baggage. Banned items include:

• Fireworks and explosives
• Pepper spray, mace and stun devices
• Dangerous chemicals and hazardous substances
• Hoverboards, mini-Segways and smart balance wheels
• Smart bags with non-removable batteries

Large knives, axes, drills and saws cannot go in cabin baggage. E-cigarettes and personal vaporizers are allowed only in cabin baggage and must be protected against accidental activation.

Passengers can carry one power bank of up to 100Wh. It must stay in cabin baggage, not in the overhead locker. It cannot be used or charged during the flight.

Spare or loose lithium batteries must go in cabin baggage and be protected against short circuits. Emirates allows up to 20 spare batteries, subject to limits. Drones are not allowed in cabin baggage but may be accepted in checked baggage, subject to battery rules.

Cabin liquids, gels, creams, pastes and drinks must generally be in containers of 100ml or less. They must fit in one transparent, resealable 1-liter bag. Baby food, milk, medicines and special dietary items may qualify for exemptions.

Travelers flying to, from or through the US, Australia or New Zealand can face extra restrictions on powders. Alcohol between 24% and 70% ABV is allowed within Emirates' limits. Alcohol above 70% ABV is prohibited.

What items are not allowed in checked luggage at Etihad?

Etihad's restrictions depend on the item and whether it is in cabin or checked baggage. Spare batteries and power banks must not go in checked baggage. They must be carried in the cabin and individually protected.

Safety or disposable razors with enclosed blades are allowed in the cabin. Other razors must go in checked baggage. Toy guns and toy weapons are not allowed in the cabin.

Spear guns and harpoons need advance approval and permits. Cremated remains cannot go in cabin baggage but may be accepted in checked baggage or as cargo with the required documents.

Lithium-ion batteries up to 100Wh are allowed within Etihad's limits. Batteries between 100Wh and 160Wh need authorization. Batteries above 160Wh are not accepted.

Power banks cannot be used or charged onboard. E-cigarettes, e-pipes and personal vaporizers must go in cabin baggage. Smart bags with non-removable batteries are not accepted.

Drones may be carried subject to battery limits. Batteries must not exceed 160Wh. Passengers can carry up to two spare drone batteries in cabin baggage if individually protected. Drones with non-removable batteries of unverifiable capacity will not be accepted.

Solid food can generally be carried if properly packed. Soups, sauces, jams, stews and pastes count as liquids or gels and face the 100ml cabin limit. Etihad also bans strong-smelling perishables such as durian, champedek, pedalai, marang and jackfruit. Fruit and vegetables may be restricted depending on the destination.

Passengers traveling from Jeddah with an Umrah or Haj visa can carry Zamzam water. The limits are up to 100ml in cabin baggage and up to 5 liters in checked baggage, when suitably packaged. Cooking and olive oil face separate packaging and quantity limits.

What are the Flydubai baggage restrictions?

Flydubai bans many dangerous goods from all baggage. They include:

• Pepper spray, mace and Tasers
• Fireworks, flares and explosives
• Ammunition
• Petrol, diesel and lighter fluid
• Butane, propane and other flammable gases
• Poisons and insecticides
• Corrosive chemicals
• Acids, bleaches and peroxides
• Fertilizers and weed killers
• Radioactive or magnetized materials
• Damaged, defective or recalled batteries and electronic devices
• Lithium batteries above 160Wh
• Realistic toy guns and weapon replicas
• Hoverboards and self-balancing devices
• Motorized rideable suitcases
• Firearms and other weapons

Any item prohibited by the country of departure, transit or arrival is also not accepted.

Many sharp objects, tools and sporting goods must stay out of the cabin. Examples include knives, scissors, box cutters, screwdrivers, hammers, saws, golf clubs, bats, hockey sticks, axes, ski poles, bows and arrows, swords, stun guns, fishing rods, handcuffs and non-toiletry aerosols. Passengers can carry one box of matches or one lighter, subject to conditions.

Cabin liquids, gels, pastes, creams and aerosols must generally be in containers of 100ml or less. They must fit in one transparent, resealable bag no larger than 20cm x 20cm, with a total capacity of 1 liter. Baby food and essential medical or special dietary liquids may qualify for exemptions, subject to screening.

Toiletry and medicinal aerosols have an extra limit of 2kg or 2 liters. Each item is limited to 0.5kg or 0.5 liter.

What items are not allowed in baggage on Air Arabia flights?

Air Arabia restricts dangerous goods, batteries, aerosols and other items. Power banks, spare batteries, e-cigarettes and personal vaporizers cannot go in checked baggage. Spare or loose batteries must go in cabin baggage only.

Lithium-metal batteries must not exceed 2g of lithium. Lithium-ion batteries must not exceed 100Wh. Passengers can carry up to two power banks, each up to 100Wh.

Power banks must stay in cabin baggage, not in the overhead locker. They must be stored in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat. They cannot be used or charged during the flight.

Banned items include:

• Pepper spray, mace and disabling sprays
• Tasers and other electro-shock weapons
• Strike-anywhere matches
• Blue-flame and cigar lighters
• Firearms and explosives
• Flammable fuels and paints
• Butane and propane
• Poisons such as insecticides and weed killers
• Corrosive substances
• Infectious materials
• Radioactive and oxidizing materials

Hoverboards, electric skateboards, Segways, self-balancing scooters and similar devices are also prohibited because of their large lithium batteries.

Personal electronic devices can go in checked baggage if fully switched off and protected from damage. Toiletries and aerosols are allowed up to 2kg or 2 liters per passenger. Each item must not exceed 0.5kg or 0.5 liter, and aerosol valves must be protected against accidental release.

What is the Air Arabia cabin and checked baggage allowance?

For cabin baggage, passengers can carry:

• One cabin bag: up to 55 x 40 x 20cm and 7kg
• One personal item: up to 25 x 33 x 20cm and 3kg
• Duty-free purchases, if the combined cabin allowance does not exceed 10kg

Passengers with an infant under two can carry one extra small bag of up to 3kg for baby essentials. Liquids over 100ml, sharp objects and flammable materials are not allowed in the cabin.

Air Arabia offers three pre-booked checked baggage options:

• 20kg: one piece maximum
• 30kg: two pieces maximum
• 40kg: two pieces maximum

Each checked bag must not exceed 32kg or 158cm in total dimensions. Availability and fees vary by route. Buying baggage at the airport may cost more than pre-booking.

Can you carry food in baggage when flying from the UAE?

Airline rules are only part of the picture. Solid food is generally easier to carry than liquids or gels. Soups, sauces, jams and pastes can fall under cabin liquid limits.

Meat and dairy products may be restricted at the destination. Fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds and other agricultural products may be prohibited or need declaration. Customs rules can be stricter than airline rules.

What should you check before packing for a flight?

• Check your airline: Each carrier has different baggage rules.
• Check cabin versus checked baggage: An item allowed in one may be banned from the other.
• Keep power banks in your cabin bag: Spare lithium batteries and power banks generally cannot go in checked baggage.
• Check your destination: Customs rules can restrict food, medicines and agricultural products even if the airline permits them.
• Check before you leave home: Rules can depend on the item, battery capacity, packaging, route and destination.

Passengers should not wait until the airport to find out an item must be removed. They should check their airline's latest baggage rules before they travel.