Microchip identification
The permanent microchip number must match the official health certificate. Compare it across the travel file.
THE UAE PET IMPORT GUIDEBringing your dog
Bringing your dog
or cat to Dubai.
Know what to prepare. Know what happens next.
Moving to Dubai with a pet? Match UAE entry rules with your departure-country documents and airline requirements. Start here before you book.
THE QUICK ANSWER
What do I need to bring a pet to Dubai?
A MOCCAE import permit, matching microchip identification, vaccination evidence and an official health certificate form the core travel file. Rabies antibody testing depends on the origin. Airline acceptance and arrival arrangements must also be confirmed.
MOCCAE · Ministerial Resolution 109 of 2021For privately owned dogs and cats.Want the whole move managed? Explore our relocation service →
BUILD THE TRAVEL FILE
UAE pet import requirements: what to check first
Start with your pet’s existing records. Have the exact requirements checked before scheduling appointments or committing to a flight.
Vaccination record or pet passport
Keep identity details and vaccination evidence together. Have the required vaccines and their validity checked for your dog or cat.
Rabies antibody test, where required
Testing requirements depend on origin and vaccination history. Check the sampling sequence before arranging the test.
Official veterinary health certificate
Use the certificate and endorsement process required by the competent authority in the exporting country.
Parasite treatment record
MOCCAE specifies internal and external parasite treatment within the 14 days before shipment, recorded in the health certificate or passport.
MOCCAE import permit
Obtain it before import. The current MOCCAE service lists 90-day validity; check the expiry on the permit actually issued.
THE DETAIL THAT CHANGES THE PLAN
Where is your pet travelling from?
The UAE is the destination, but the departure country determines how you obtain and endorse the travel documents. Use the guidance for your actual origin.
Bringing a pet from the UK
GOV.UK provides export health certificate 3926 for dogs and cats travelling to the UAE. Follow its current application route and guidance with your official vet; Northern Ireland has a separate application process.
GOV.UK · Export health certificate 3926Bringing a pet from the US
USDA APHIS sets out the US certification and endorsement steps. Its current guidance includes rabies titre evidence and a USDA-endorsed health certificate for this route.
USDA APHIS · Pet travel from the US to the UAEIndia, Europe or elsewhere?
Tell us the departure country and city. We review the export authority’s documents, UAE entry conditions, transit and airline arrangements together.
Check my origin →Permit-validity wording is not consistent across every published origin guide. Use the issued MOCCAE permit and confirm any conflicting instruction with the relevant authority before travelling.
COUNTRY APPROVAL + AIRLINE ACCEPTANCE
Can my pet fly in the cabin, or will they travel as cargo?
The answer depends on the operating airline, airport, route and pet. Confirm the pet booking separately from your own passenger ticket.
Flying with Emirates
Ordinary cats and dogs are not accepted in the passenger cabin. Emirates distinguishes cargo from checked-baggage arrangements according to the itinerary and conditions; check the method available for your journey.
Emirates · Pet travel rulesFlying with Etihad to Abu Dhabi
Etihad accepts eligible small cats and dogs in the cabin on permitted routes. Its published limit is 8 kg including the carrier, with a minimum pet age of 16 weeks. Approval, carrier rules and destination documents still apply.
Etihad · Travelling with petsChoose the crate for the pet.
IATA’s guidance requires room to stand and sit upright, turn normally and lie naturally. Check the airline’s container requirements before buying; one crate size will not suit every dog or cat.
IATA · Traveller’s Pet CornerGive preparation its own time.
Introduce the travel crate before departure so it is familiar. Ask your vet about fitness to travel and discuss any medication with the vet and airline; sedation for air transport is generally discouraged.
IATA · Traveller’s Pet CornerAFTER THE FLIGHT
What happens when my pet arrives in Dubai?
Arrival still involves document, handling and release arrangements. Confirm who is authorised to collect your pet and whether onward delivery is included.
- 01
Arrival documents & handling
The responsible person or agent coordinates the shipment documents and the relevant carrier or handling-agent steps.
- 02
Entry checks & release
MOCCAE examines the pet at the entry point and releases it after checking compliance with the permit and applicable requirements.
MOCCAE · Import of pets (cats / dogs) - 03
Collection or delivery
Agree the handover location, contact person and transport plan in advance. The collection time depends on the actual clearance, not just the scheduled landing time.
PLAN THE BUDGET
How much does bringing a pet to Dubai cost?
Budget for the whole journey: preparation at origin, transport and the UAE arrival stage.
Pet Express’s import coordination and clearance fee is AED 1,500 per shipment, excluding VAT. Flights, permit-related charges, airline handling, crate, veterinary work and delivery are separate unless included in your written quotation.
KEEP THIS CLOSE
Before you confirm the move
- Pet eligibility, travel method and proposed date checked.
- Documents and veterinary appointments mapped to the route.
- Written quote reviewed for origin, flight and destination charges.
- Named contact for departure, arrival and final handover agreed.
- Airline booking, document validity and collection arrangements reconfirmed.
This planning checklist supports a route review; it is not an import approval.
STRAIGHT ANSWERS
Questions pet owners ask
Can I bring my dog or cat to Dubai?
Yes, subject to the UAE’s entry conditions and airline acceptance. Start with the pet’s species, breed, age, origin and vaccination history, then check the documents and travel method for that move.
Do I need a pet passport or an import permit for Dubai?
They serve different purposes. A vaccination record or pet passport records your pet’s identity and health history; the MOCCAE import permit authorises the import. The official health certificate is a separate travel document.
MOCCAE · Ministerial Resolution 109 of 2021Does my pet need a rabies titre test to enter the UAE?
It depends on the origin and applicable return conditions. MOCCAE requires antibody-testing evidence for high-risk origins. Have the origin classification, vaccination history and test timing checked together before arranging a flight.
MOCCAE · Ministerial Resolution 109 of 2021Will my pet need quarantine in Dubai?
Plan for inspection and release at the entry point. Release depends on meeting the applicable conditions; confirm any hold or quarantine requirement for your origin and pet before travel. Do not assume that landing means immediate collection.
MOCCAE · Import of pets (cats / dogs)Can I bring more than one pet?
Tell us about every pet at the first enquiry. Personal-import limits, permits and airline acceptance need checking for the whole household. Adding pets to Route Check starts that review; it does not confirm that all can travel on one booking.
How early should I start preparing?
Start when you know the likely origin and travel month. Existing vaccinations, any testing, certificate arrangements and pet space on the flight determine the schedule. Permit processing time alone is not the preparation time for the move.
Can I arrange the import myself?
You can handle parts of the preparation yourself. First establish who will arrange the airline booking, official documents and arrival clearance. If you want one team to coordinate the entire move, request a Pet Express relocation plan.
What should I send Pet Express first?
Send the origin, destination, pet type and breed, number of pets and approximate travel date. You can enquire before every document or crate measurement is ready. The team will clarify what is needed next.
Sources & updates
Sources checked 9 October 2026. Requirements and charges can change; check the conditions for your pet, origin and operating airline before booking.
YOUR PET. YOUR ROUTE.
WHATSAPP PET EXPRESS ↗Start with your route. We’ll help with the rest.
Tell us where your pet is travelling from, who is coming and roughly when. You don’t need a complete document file to start the conversation.
THE ROUTE CHECK
Start with the route.
Tell us the basics for a human route review. This is an enquiry, not an automatic travel approval.
01 / ROUTE & PET
02 / YOUR CONTACT
03 / REQUEST RECORDED
02 / YOUR CONTACT
03 / REQUEST RECORDED