Travellers carrying currency, precious stones worth over Dhs60,000 must disclose them at UAE airports

Abdulrahman Saeed, Staff Reporter

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has said non-disclosure of currencies, precious metals and valuable stones carried by passengers arriving to or departing from the country is a crime. Imprisonment and fine or one of these two penalties shall be applied to whoever willfully fails to disclose, conceals information that should be disclosed, or provides incorrect information. The Court may order to seize the confiscated funds as well. 

The ADJD explained that the main reasons that could lead passengers to not disclose the amounts of funds, and precious metals or stones carried by them are lack of awareness of the seriousness of this act, evasion of customs duties as determined in the common customs law, and concealment of the origin of such fund, which may be obtained from illegal sources.

To avoid being held accountable and subject to legal action, the passengers departing from and arriving to the country, who carry amounts of money, metal or precious stones with value that exceeds the prescribed limit of Dhs60,000 or the equivalent in other currencies must disclose them to the concerned authorities, according to the disclosure system issued by the Central Bank.

The ADJD urges the passengers to follow all the instruction that show the maximum amount of currencies or precious stones and metals that are required to be disclosed.

This act may lead to that the money and items used in the commission of the crime be confiscated, the ADJD said, noting that such crime poses negative impact on the state economy, as well as the fiscal and monetary policy and private sector institutions. In addition, violators may face charges of money laundering or terrorist financing, the ADJD added.