Airport Security

Our security procedures are designed to protect your safety and security when traveling through the airport.

Passenger Security Processes

Pre-screening of hold luggage: As you enter the check-in areas at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, you and your luggage will be screened, with the exception of customers using the Emirates First and Business Class check-in. Their hold luggage undergoes screening after check-in. You will be asked to put your luggage and other carried items through the X-ray machine while you walk through a metal detector. See Traveler Tips for advice on how to prepare for this process to make it as quick and simple as possible.

Check-in: The check-in area is the last point at which you can place sharp items and liquids over 100 ml into your hold luggage. If you do not, these will be confiscated at the next security point as they are not permitted in the aircraft cabin. You must also ensure that you are not carrying any dangerous goods in either your hold or cabin luggage.

Central security search: After the Immigration checkpoint you and your cabin luggage will be screened. See Traveler Tips on how to prepare for this process.

Transfer passengers: All customers transferring between flights at Dubai International will be screened before entry into the departure lounge. Please be aware that restrictions on liquids are also applied to transferring Customers. Items that you bought at your airport of origin may not be allowed through if they are not carried in an approved, sealed bag (Security Tamper Evident Bags).

Traveler Tips

Here are some tips to speed up your progress through security control:
  • Only carry items in your hand luggage that you really need for your journey, the rest should be checked in as hold luggage.
  • Do not carry any liquids, gels, creams, pastes or aerosols in your hand luggage unless essential for your journey. If you do need to carry these items make sure they are in containers of less than 100 ml volume and packed in a clear plastic bag (traveling with liquids)
  • Place any metal objects (mobile phones, MP3 players, keys, coins, watches, belts with metal buckles) inside your hand luggage
  • Take your laptop out of your bag and place it in a tray for screening through the X-ray
  • Do not carry any sharp items (prohibited items) in your hand luggage. These should be packed in your hold luggage.
Traveling with liquids

Only limited amounts of liquids may be carried through security control in hand luggage. The following restrictions apply to all liquids, creams, gels, pastes and aerosols (including bottled drinks, cosmetics, perfumes and other cosmetics)
  • Liquids may only be carried in containers holding up to a maximum of 100 ml
  • They must be carried in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag (no larger than 20 cm x 20cm) and all items must fit inside so that it closes
  • At security the bag should be removed from hand luggage and placed in a tray for X-ray screening
  • Liquids in quantities greater than 100 ml can be carried in hold luggage
  • Any liquids found at security control which do not comply with the above rules will be confiscated
Exceptions:
  • Baby milk and baby food can be carried in quantities greater than 100 ml. However, you should only carry what is required for the journey and you may be asked to tasted them as part of the security check.
  • Medicines required for the journey provided they are accompanied by a doctor’s letter
Shopping at the airport

For most destinations, anything that you buy after security control can be taken on board the aircraft, including bottled drinks, wines and spirits, perfumes and cosmetics in sizes over 100 ml.

However, if you are transferring to another flight before you reach your final destination, particularly within the EU, your purchases will be placed within a sealed plastic bag. If you are transferring within the USA or Canada you will need to place your purchases over 100 ml in your hold luggage before you check in for your connecting flight.

You can not take any liquids over 100 ml into Australia in hand luggage.

Security Tamper Evident Bags International security arrangements have been made between states to allow the purchase and carriage of liquids by transfer passengers providing they are carried in Security Tamper Evident Bags (STEBs). These bags meet an internationally-agreed standard and should be sealed, with the receipt placed inside and visible from the outside.

If you are carrying liquids in containers of greater than 100 ml capacity and these are not in a recognised STEBs bag, or the STEBs bag has been interfered with, these liquids will be confiscated at the transfer security point.

Prohibited items

Sharp items, or items which could reasonably be used as a weapon, must not be carried in hand luggage. This includes: scissors with pointed blades, knives, razor blades, tools, replica or toy guns, corkscrews and sporting bats. (click here for full list)

Other dangerous goods which cannot be carried in hand or hold luggage are: fireworks, flammable liquids and solids, instruments containing mercury, non-safety matches. (click her for full list of dangerous goods)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why can we no longer carry liquids in our hand luggage?
Everyday items, such as bottles of water, toothpaste tubes, cosmetics containers, can be tampered with and used as improvised explosive devices. The restrictions were brought in following an attempted plot to use liquid explosives on aircraft flying from the UK in 2006.

What can I do with liquids in containers over 100ml?
You can pack these items in you hold luggage and check them in, providing they are not listed as Dangerous Goods and therefore prohibited from carriage on an aircraft.

What happens if I get to airport and find that I have liquids in my hand luggage but I have already checked in my bags?
If the liquids are in containers of less that 100ml you can place these in one of the free plastic bags that you will find in the check-in areas and take them through security control. If the containers are greater than 100 ml you can either dispose of them in the special bins provided in the check-in areas or return to the desk and check them in if they are packed in a suitable bag.

Can I take my liquid medicine in my hand luggage?
You can take essential medicine in quantities sufficient for your trip. If these are in containers less than 100 ml they can be placed in a clear plastic bag and screened along with your other hand luggage. If they are in quantities greater than 100ml you should obtain a letter from your doctor and show this at security control.

I am a diabetic, can I carry my insulin and needles on board?
Yes, you can carry both insulin and needles in your hand luggage, but the insulin should be placed in a clear plastic bag.

Can I take a bottle of milk or sterilised water for my baby in a bottle greater than 100 ml?
You can take sufficient baby milk for your flight and it does not have to be in bottles less than 100 ml. However, you may be asked to open and taste the milk at the security control.

What about jars of baby food?
Yes, you can take jars of baby food in sufficient quantities for your flight. However, you may be asked to open these and taste them at security control.

Can I take my laptop computer in my hand luggage?
Yes, you can take a laptop computer in your hand luggage, however, you will need to take it out of its bag at the X-ray and place it in a tray for screening.

I am asthmatic, can I carry an inhaler?
Yes, you can carry an inhaler, but any spare canisters must be packed in your hold luggage.