Taking an airband scanner to Dubai

[mijeevez]

I have a Uniden radio scanner which I would like to take with me to Dubai for a couple of days. I have had a live chat with a Dubai customs rep and he said it was  not allowed. I did not specify that it was to listen to Air Traffic, merely that it was a radio receiver and it doesn't transmit.

I don't think that it is illegal to listen to ATC in Dubai as you can listen in with LiveATC. I was wondering if anyone has been to Dubai with an airband receiver or any opinions on whether I should take it or not.

I thought of taking off the antenna and mixing up the radio with a bunch of chargers, cables and phones.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

[ashawley]

Seems like a radio scanner would be allowed if you checked it in your luggage:

Permitted Customs-Exempted Luggage:

• [...]
• Radio systems, combined broadcasting apparatus, CD and DVD players with agreeable quantities.
• [...]

Permitted Luggage & Items http://www.dubaicustoms.gov.ae/en/eServices/ServicesForTravellers/CustomsDuties/Pages/PermittedItems.aspx