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Do I need a prescription for over-the-counter medicine in Dubai?

Last updated: May 2026
Dubai Practical Editorial Team· Collaborative authorship

Signed by: Sarah Al Qasimi (Lead Editor). Fact-checked by the full editorial team.

Paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines, and most basic OTC medications are freely available at pharmacies without prescription. Antibiotics, sleep aids (including some antihistamines used as sleep aids), and codeine-containing products require a valid prescription. Pharmacies are widely available in Dubai — Aster, Life, and Boots are the main chains.

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