Airport security: You should not carry these items on board

The demand for air travel across the Arabian Gulf is continuing to grow year-over-year and the regulatory bodies are looking to adopt safety measures countering risks, threats and incidents.

Due to ongoing airport expansion, over 450 million passengers are expected to travel until 2020, and this is leading to an increase in security for passengers, as well as physical security.

While airline passengers have to deal with constant changes in airport security, airline baggage rules, and even in the kinds of items that are prohibited and restricted from airline flights, a lot of the basic common sense suggestions for flying safely and with minimum hassle haven't changed much at all.

Before you head to the airport you should take the time to get familiar with common security and baggage rules.

While the following descriptions of banned or restricted items are based on Abu Dhabi airport rules and guidelines, most countries have similar restrictions.

This annex provides guidance on what may be considered to be a prohibited item within the context of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme:

1. Firearms: Any weapon from which a shot may be fired by the force of an explosion or compressed air or gas, including starter and flare pistols.

2. Knives and Cutting Tools: Including sabres, swords, cardboard cutters, hunting knives, souvenir knives, martial arts devices, professional tools and such other knives with blades of 6cms long or longer and / or knives considered illegal by local law.

3. Bludgeons: Blackjacks, billy clubs, baseball bats or similar instruments.

4. Explosives/Ammunition/Flammable Liquids/Corrosives: Any explosive or incendiary components, which by themselves or in conjunction with other items can result in an explosion or fire. These include explosive materials, blasting caps, fireworks, gasoline, other flammable liquids, ammunition etc, or any combination of these items. Any corrosive or toxic substances, including gases, whether or not under pressure.

5. Disabling or Incapacitating Items: All tear gas, mace and similar chemicals and gases, whether in pistol, canister or other container, and other disabling devices such as electronic stunning / shocking devices.

6. Other Articles: Such items as ice picks, alpenstocks, straight razors and elongated scissors which, even though not commonly thought of as a deadly or dangerous weapon, could be used as a weapon, including toy or 'dummy' weapons or grenades.

7. Articles: Of any kind giving rise to reasonable suspicion that an item may be used to simulate a deadly weapon; such articles shall include but not be limited to: objects resembling explosive devices or other items that may give the appearance of a weapon or dangerous item.

8. Chemical/Biological Attack Items and Substances: The possibilities for chemical/biological attacks include the use of chemical or biological agents to commit unlawful acts. Such restricted chemical/biological substances shall include but not be limited to the following: sulphur mustard, vx, chlorine, sarin, hydrogen cyanide, anthrax, botulism, smallpox, tularaemia and viral haemorrhagic fever (v.h.f).

4. Explosives/Ammunition/Flammable Liquids/Corrosives: Any explosive or incendiary components, which by themselves or in conjunction with other items can result in an explosion or fire. These include explosive materials, blasting caps, fireworks, gasoline, other flammable liquids, ammunition etc, or any combination of these items. Any corrosive or toxic substances, including gases, whether or not under pressure.

Items indicating the nature of the chemical/biological substance or suspicion of such nature shall be immediately notified to the airport operator, police, military or other relevant authority and isolated from public terminal areas.

According to Dubai Airports the items you cannot bring into the UAE are:

1. All narcotic drugs.

2. Gambling tools, machines.

3. Ivory and rhinoceros horn.

4. Trammel (fishing net with three layers).

5. Forged or duplicate currency.

6. Any printed material that contradicts Islamic teachings and/or decency, or that deliberately implies immorality or turmoil.

7. Cooked and homemade foods.

8. Radios, self-defence equipment, sharp-edged knives and swords.
  
9. Pets and skins of endangered animals subject to CITES convention.

10.  Weapons, ammunition and military equipment. Fireworks and explosives included in the list.

11. Trees, plants and soil.

As with any international airport, regulations pertaining to LAGs (liquids, aerosols, and gels) carried in hand luggage are also applicable at Sharjah International Airport.

All liquids must be in containers no bigger than 100ml, and should be placed in clear, re-sealable 20x20cm plastic bags.

Each passenger is permitted to only carry one such plastic bag which is presented at the x-ray screening point.

Medicines and special foods such as baby food which is required on board should be carried separately. You may be asked to provide proof of authenticity for the medicine. Any bottle over 100ml must be kept in the checked-in luggage.

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