Bringing your pet to Dubai or Abu Dhabi? We’ve handled lots of pet exports to the UAE — let us help with yours.
Planning travel or a relocation to the United Arab Emirates with your pet can feel overwhelming. It generally involves navigating rabies testing and titer requirements and working with a customs broker on the other side.
We’re not new to pet shipping to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, so we know exactly what to do to ensure a safe, efficient journey for your pets. Our guide breaks down every step of the process, including when calling in the experts can simplify that process even further.
Eligible Pets and Country Restrictions
The UAE has both country- and breed-specific restrictions on traveling cats and dogs. It’s important to review those policies well before booking your flight, as it could determine whether your pet is eligible to fly at all.
Eligible Pets
The following dog breeds are prohibited from entry to the UAE, with the exception of service animals:
- American Bully
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Boerboel
- Bullmastiff
- Bully Kutta
- Cane Corso
- Dogo Argentino
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff)
- Japanese Tosa
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Presa Canario
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Tibetan Mastiff
- Wolf-dog hybrids
- Mixed or cross-breeds of any of the above
To complicate things even further, Dubai Municipality has its own rules around banned or restricted breeds, like muzzle or special licensing rules. A professional pet shipper can help you navigate these complexities if you’re unsure whether your pet is a good fit for the UAE.
For cats, any Bengal or several hybrids must travel with paperwork that they are at least five generations removed from that pedigree.
Airlines may have additional breed restrictions or requirements for both strong-jawed dogs and snub-nosed breeds of cats and dogs, like boxers, bulldogs, and Himalayan cats. While airlines like Emirates SkyCargo have begun transporting previously banned breeds, you may need to jump through a few extra hoops.
For example, strong-jawed breeds like rottweilers or Doberman pinschers may need to travel in a reinforced crate. We provide custom-built CR82 crates and IATA-compliant crates for pets who need them.
For snub-nosed breeds, you may need to submit additional paperwork filled out by your vet to account for a higher risk of travel, if they’re allowed to fly at all.
At Emirates, that includes a Brachycephalic Fit-To-Fly Assessment developed by the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA). The assessment considers physical features present in some snub-nosed dogs that may make it riskier for them to fly.
There may also be seasonal restrictions to consider, as airlines won’t transport pets in extreme temperatures. Temperature restrictions are generally even lower for snub-nosed breeds.
All pets should be at least 12 weeks old on their travel date if they’re coming from low-risk countries for rabies. Pets coming from high-risk countries should be no less than 15 weeks old.
Approved Countries
Import requirements are set based on the pet’s origin point and that country’s rabies risk.
Pets arriving from countries labeled as low-risk on the list won’t need to provide rabies titer test results as part of their import documents. This includes Australia, New Zealand, and many European countries, such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Countries not on that list, like the United States, are considered higher risk for rabies and will need to submit rabies titers as part of their health packets. Pet relocation services can help you navigate this piece if it sounds cumbersome. There are no additional country-specific restrictions.
Planning an international flight for your pet? We can help.
Microchip and Vaccinations
Although the UAE isn’t considered a rabies-free country, they do have strict protocols around rabies vaccination and microchipping, no matter the country of origin.
Microchip
All imported dogs and cats should have a permanent microchip that matches their health documents before travel. While they don’t specify the type, we always recommend ISO-compatible microchips to avoid any issues with chip readers at any point in your pet’s journey.
Those are also the most common forms of international travel overall, so they’re good to have if your pet is planning on taking more flights abroad.
Vaccinations
Cats and dogs traveling to the UAE need a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel. Dogs must also be vaccinated against leptospirosis, canine distemper, canine adenovirus type 2 (canine infectious hepatitis), parvovirus, and infectious canine hepatitis.
While it sounds like a lot, the last 3 listed typically come as a combination vaccine called DHPP (or DA2PP).
Cats must also be vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), feline panleukopenia (feline distemper), and feline calicivirus. This comes as a single vaccine called FVRCP.
Blood Tests and Treatments
Pets arriving from the United States, a higher-risk country for rabies, need a rabies antibody test to show sufficient protection against rabies. Blood samples should be collected no more than 12 months before travel.
If your pet is being vaccinated for the first time or has been revaccinated after a lapse, they’ll need to wait 21 days after their last round of vaccinations before a blood test. Pets with a history of valid boosters can have a sample taken on the same day as their most recent round of shots.
There is no waiting period after the rabies titer, so pets can move forward with travel as soon as you have their results. (Your pet’s rabies antibody titer must be less than or equal to 0.5 IU/mL.) You do not need rabies titer results to apply for an import permit to the UAE.
Cats and dogs also need documentation of external parasite treatments and internal parasite treatments within 14 days of travel. Fipronil is the recommended insecticide for cats and dogs; Permethrin can be used as an alternative for dogs. Praziquantel is the preferred dewormer for cats and dogs.
Since international health certificates should be endorsed 10 days ahead of travel, we recommend a vet visit that covers both the certificate and parasite treatments.
Import Documents
Import permit applications are available digitally through the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE). You can consult that site for other live animals, like pet birds, too. You’ll need to be registered with UAE Pass before completing your permit application, and pay your import permit fee when you apply.
Import permits are limited to 2 pets per year, so if you’re traveling with more than that, you’ll need to designate a loved one to apply for permits for additional pets.
The same restriction applies to health certificates. The UAE has a model certificate for up to 2 pets per person that gets filled out with relevant microchip and vaccination information. These are available from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Once certificates are filled out, they’re digitally sent for a USDA endorsement, with hard copies returned to you for customs clearance. This last piece should be done within 10 days of travel to the UAE.
Airline Information
All pets arriving in Dubai must do so as manifest cargo, whether they’re large or small. Pet travel in cargo is safe and often more efficient. It’s our preferred way for pets to fly internationally, as it typically means more flight options with fewer layovers.
Emirates is the only direct pet-friendly option for pet transport from LAX to Dubai. Airlines with connections include Qatar Airways, Air France, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
For arrivals in Abu Dhabi at Zayed International Airport, smaller pets may have the option of flying in-cabin if you fly on Etihad Airways. They can’t exceed 8kg, or about 17 pounds, and pet carriers shouldn’t exceed 16x16x9 inches if they’re traveling under the seat in front of you.
If you bought the adjacent seat, allowable pet carriers can go up to 19x17x19 inches. Pets traveling to Abu Dhabi in-cabin must still meet all other requirements for travel to the UAE. All direct flights to Abu Dhabi on Etihad, both in-cabin and as cargo, leave from the East Coast.
Customs Broker
Most airlines require that pets flying to Dubai as cargo do so with a customs broker. This is an agent that facilitates customs clearance for traveling pets and coordinates with officials in the UAE to make sure you meet permit requirements.
Dubai Kennels & Cattery (DKC) is our preferred partner for pet owners who are shipping pets to the UAE. They handle your pet’s pickup off the plane and ensure their documents get into the right hands for a speedy reunion.
The only way around a customs broker for pet import is traveling with a dog small enough for Etihad’s in-cabin service to Abu Dhabi.
Quarantine
There is no quarantine requirement for pets arriving in the UAE, assuming your pet looks healthy upon arrival and their paperwork is in order. Clearing customs can take a few hours. Working with a customs broker generally ensures there aren’t any additional delays due to missing paperwork or health information upon arrival.
How Tailwind Can Help
We frequently ship pets from the United States to the UAE, so we know how to handle the complex requirements of that journey. We can also help you put together the most stress-free itinerary ever: door-to-door service for a happy reunion in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
The total cost of shipping a pet to the UAE depends on various factors, including your origin point, flight itinerary, and vaccination history. Vet, import permit fees, and crate or kennel requirements add to that total. Expect to pay at least $2,000 to transport a pet from the United States to the UAE. A professional pet shipper can provide a detailed quote for the total cost.
We’re here to answer any of your questions about pet relocation to the UAE and any other destination country, and are here for our clients 24/7 when their pets’ travel days arrive.
Ready to get started? Each situation is a little different, so contact us to get an idea of the costs involved.
See What Our Clients Have to Say
Brad and the team were amazing. We had three dogs traveling from Los Angeles to Dubai. Our oldest is 15 and our youngest had never traveled. I was a nervous wreck but Brad talked me through the process, answered after hours and guided me when the USDA delayed our paperwork. On the day of his whole team was so calm that our dogs didn’t even think to be nervous. I’d definitely recommend Tailwind Global Pet and will use them in the future!
– Karina
I can’t thank Brady and his team from Tailwind Global Pet enough – they’ve been absolutely amazing to work with! We relocated our family from Los Angeles, CA to Dubai, UAE last week, including our feline family members Sookie, Floafy and Mittens. When I first started researching the process of relocating our cats, it was quite intimidating – so many requirements re. vaccinations, blood tests, import and export permits…I was stressed out and I also worried about how our kittens would fare with the long flight (16 hours).
After I was introduced to Brady at Tailwind Global Pet I felt so much more at ease – his calm and professional demeanor and reassurance made this whole process much easier! He was very organized, detailed, he answered all of my many (many!) questions and literally held my hand every step of the way. Brady kept me updated with pictures of our kitties once they were checked in for their flight, and he was even prepared with a larger sized back-up crate for one of our cats. This whole relocation process was expertly handled and organized by Tailwind Global Pet and I’m so very grateful to them! I’d recommend Brady and his team wholeheartedly to anyone who is in search of a pet relocation / shipping service. Our cats have adjusted wonderfully to their new surroundings within just a few short days, we’re still amazed how well they handled this huge transition.
– Nadine Y.
This was one of the most stressful situations ever; knowing we had to get our 16.5 year old and 2.5 year old “home” when we were half way around the world in a country on the CDC banned list. Well, they’re here in No CA with me as of last night, thanks in large part to Brady and his team. We never got the CDC permits so went with option 2; the dogs flew to LAX after 16 hours on the plane, cargo, alone, and were driven up to me (6+ hours on the road). Brady communicated regularly with Dubai Kennels & Cattery and us and explained clearly the processes. He also texted me before the travel started just to make that much needed connection and to set my mind at ease. He was thorough, detailed, timely and professional which gave my husband and me real comfort. Thank you Brady for getting my dogs home. I’m grateful.
– Cindee B.