Originally Posted by haloola (Post 8875219)

Hi All,

I am in the final processes of planning my move to UAE, mostly finishing packing - what to bring with me, what to send by sea freight etc.

I'm curious to hear about your experiences with customs - good and bad. Specifically there are a few things that concern me:

- Bringing the contraceptive pill if you're a single female (in anticipation of likely comments there's more than one reason to take them :) ). Being single I wasnt sure if I'd be able to get them from a doctor over there?

- Do they check external harddrives? I have ripped those dvds without protection to save space. If they found them and considered them to be pirated would they just remove them or would I face charges?

- I have many work-related data dvds that I can't afford to lose - I gather they might confiscate them and check the contents before giving them back? Are they less likely to be checked if I take in the hold rather than send by freight?

- And this seems daft but what about mouthwash containing alcohol?!

Any general advice or related to the above gratefully received.

Oh - off topic but was wondering if it is allowed for unmarried men and women to share the same apartment? I'm thinking of when male friends or colleagues want to visit.

Originally Posted by haloola (Post 8875219)

Hi All,

I am in the final processes of planning my move to UAE, mostly finishing packing - what to bring with me, what to send by sea freight etc.

I'm curious to hear about your experiences with customs - good and bad. Specifically there are a few things that concern me:

- Bringing the contraceptive pill if you're a single female (in anticipation of likely comments there's more than one reason to take them :) ). Being single I wasnt sure if I'd be able to get them from a doctor over there?

- Do they check external harddrives? I have ripped those dvds without protection to save space. If they found them and considered them to be pirated would they just remove them or would I face charges?

- I have many work-related data dvds that I can't afford to lose - I gather they might confiscate them and check the contents before giving them back? Are they less likely to be checked if I take in the hold rather than send by freight?

- And this seems daft but what about mouthwash containing alcohol?!

Any general advice or related to the above gratefully received.

Oh - off topic but was wondering if it is allowed for unmarried men and women to share the same apartment? I'm thinking of when male friends or colleagues want to visit.

Originally Posted by haloola (Post 8875219)

Hi All,

- Bringing the contraceptive pill if you're a single female (in anticipation of likely comments there's more than one reason to take them :) ). Being single I wasnt sure if I'd be able to get them from a doctor over there?

You probably get a couple of months' worth at a time, talk to your GP and you'll get a lot more than that. Any half-decent GP will prescribe some more, with a stern warning about STDs etc, unless you wanna explain yourself all over again...

- Do they check external harddrives? I have ripped those dvds without protection to save space. If they found them and considered them to be pirated would they just remove them or would I face charges?

Probably not. Are you really gonna bring DVDs when you move to a new country? THAT is the suspicious part.


- I have many work-related data dvds that I can't afford to lose - I gather they might confiscate them and check the contents before giving them back? Are they less likely to be checked if I take in the hold rather than send by freight?

Dunno.

- And this seems daft but what about mouthwash containing alcohol?!
I think we have mouthwash here. They started selling toothbrushes last year, and toothpaste last month, and I'm sure I saw some mouthwash...


Any general advice or related to the above gratefully received.

Oh - off topic but was wondering if it is allowed for unmarried men and women to share the same apartment? I'm thinking of when male friends or colleagues want to visit.
NO.

Originally Posted by Roadking (Post 8875324)

So what you are asking is; can you bring porn disguised, both as dvd and illegally downloaded, as work related movies, together with enough contraceptives to serve the whole of the Middle East...or at least a night at the York Hotel... and can you fund this enterprise through a booze ring disguised as mouthwash.....or should you just smuggle this stuff in yar knickers? AND you want to do this in a house of burlesque....is that about right?

Originally Posted by Spugsy (Post 8875333)

They hardly check anything when you come in, DVDs maybe but if they are all packed away you should be fine.

You can buy the pill over the counter at Boots, HArd Drives should be ok they never checked mine or my mac, you cannoy share if not married, but everyone does so don't worry.

Oh and can you bring me a couple of greggs pasties over please?

Originally Posted by seven seas (Post 8875338)

Final steps of planning? Do you know ANYTHING about this place?
Do some more research.

Originally Posted by haloola (Post 8875353)

Err - yeah. And that's what I'm doing.

Originally Posted by lionheart (Post 8876097)

One useful tip when coming through customs at any Arab airport is to put all your womens lingerie at the top. It really embarrasses them and they cannot close the lid quickly enough to let you through.:)

Originally Posted by Roadking (Post 8876124)

That's brave of you to out yourself on here LH. Well done.

Originally Posted by lionheart (Post 8876097)

One useful tip when coming through customs at any Arab airport is to put all your womens lingerie at the top. It really embarrasses them and they cannot close the lid quickly enough to let you through.:)

Originally Posted by glynster (Post 8876343)

lightly soiled is best Ive heard.:eek::eek: