Which medicines need permission to bring into Saudi Arabia?

Controlled medicines (need advance clearance)

• Apply on the SFDA Controlled Drug System (cds.sfda.gov.sa) before travelling.
• You'll need a passport copy, a prescription or medical report issued within the past six months, and a photo of the medicine and its outer pack.
• You can bring up to a 30-day supply or the length of your stay, whichever is shorter.
• Check the active ingredient, not the brand name — a medicine sold freely in India can be controlled in Saudi Arabia.

Other prescription medicines

• Keep them in original packaging with a recent prescription.
• Carry them in hand luggage, with enough for delays.
• The Saudi Ministry of Health advises pilgrims with chronic conditions to carry documentation of their condition.

For your father: pregabalin and many sleeping tablets are commonly treated as controlled in Saudi Arabia. Check each active ingredient on the SFDA system, ask his doctor for a prescription listing the generic names and doses, and apply for clearance well before travel.

This is general information, not medical advice — his doctor decides on the medicines themselves.

Next step: our packing checklist and Saudi medication rules guide.