Moving to Dubai With a Pet — Import Guide (2026)

Relocating to Dubai with a pet is completely doable — thousands of families do it every year — but it rewards planning. The UAE has clear, document-driven rules for importing dogs and cats, and getting a single step out of order (an unscanned microchip, a rabies shot given on the wrong date, a missing import permit) is the most common reason pets are delayed at the airport. The good news: there is no general quarantine in the UAE if your paperwork is in order.

This guide walks through the full process of bringing a pet into Dubai from abroad, in the order you should actually do it. Rules are set by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and can change, and some requirements depend on the country you are travelling from — so treat this as a roadmap and confirm the current details on the official MOCCAE channels (or let an experienced Dubai vet or pet relocation company handle it for you).

1. Microchip first. Your pet needs an ISO 11784/11785 compatible 15-digit microchip. This must be implanted and scannable before the rabies vaccination, because every later document references that chip number. If your pet was microchipped with a non-ISO chip, bring your own scanner or have a compatible chip noted.

2. Rabies vaccination. After the microchip, your pet must have a valid rabies vaccination. It generally needs to have been given a minimum number of days before travel and still be within its validity window on the travel date — so don't leave it to the last week.

3. Check if a rabies titer (blood) test is needed. Depending on the country you are exporting from, the UAE may require a rabies antibody titer test (RNATT/FAVN) from an approved laboratory, with a waiting period after the blood draw. This is the step with the longest lead time, so check it early.

4. Apply for the UAE import permit. The owner (or their agent) applies to MOCCAE for an import permit, usually via the official UAE government portal/app, shortly before travel. The permit is issued per consignment and is valid for a limited window, so timing matters.

5. Origin health certificate. Close to the travel date, an official/government-authorised vet in your origin country issues an export health certificate confirming the microchip, vaccinations and that your pet is fit to fly. Some countries require this certificate to be endorsed by their government authority (for example the USDA in the US or APHA in the UK).

6. Fly and clear customs. On arrival, the documents are checked at the airport's animal reception. With everything in order, pets are typically released the same day without quarantine.

Before you book the flight, make sure you can tick all of these:

• ISO-standard 15-digit microchip (implanted before the rabies shot) • Valid rabies vaccination certificate (correct dates relative to travel) • Full vaccination record — for dogs typically DHPPiL, for cats typically FVRCP • Rabies antibody titer test result, if required for your origin country • UAE import permit from MOCCAE (issued shortly before travel) • Veterinary health certificate from the origin country, issued close to departure and endorsed if required • Pet passport (where applicable) and your own ID/residency documents

Keep originals with you and carry colour copies. A small folder of clearly labelled documents saves real stress at the airport.

Breed restrictions. The UAE restricts or bans the import of certain dog breeds considered dangerous (and crossbreeds of them). If you have a guarding or bull-type breed, confirm its status on the current MOCCAE list before you commit to anything — this is not a step to assume.

How pets fly. Most cats and dogs enter the UAE as manifested cargo on approved airlines rather than in the cabin, and there are limits on how many animals one person can import on a single permit. Your airline will have its own crate (IATA-compliant), breed and temperature rules — Dubai's summer heat means airlines may apply seasonal embargoes on certain routes or snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds, so book early and confirm.

Snub-nosed breeds. Flat-faced breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, etc.) face extra airline scrutiny because of breathing risks in transit. Check your airline's specific policy.

Can my pet travel in the cabin if it is under 8kg? Not on Emirates. The airline states that animals are not permitted in the cabin, with the exception of falcons on certain routes and guide dogs on certain routes. Pets travel in the hold as checked baggage or as cargo. Other airlines flying into the UAE set their own rules, so confirm with the airline you are booking rather than with a forum post.

Checked baggage or cargo, and who decides? Emirates says it depends on the circumstances, and that a carrier whose length, width and height add up to more than 300cm must go as cargo. Species listed under CITES always go as cargo. In practice most owners moving to Dubai end up booking through a pet relocation company that handles the cargo booking, the paperwork and the airport collection.

How many pets can I bring? The MOCCAE import permit allows a maximum of two companion animals per person per year, with an exception for resident animals returning to the country. The permit is valid for 90 days, so do not apply too early.

What about flat-faced breeds? Airlines apply extra restrictions to snub-nosed dogs and cats because of the breathing risk in transit, and several are reported to refuse some bulldog breeds outright and to allow others only in the cooler months. These policies change and differ by airline, so treat anything you read, here included, as a prompt to call the airline and ask about your exact breed on your exact route.

What crate do I need? An IATA compliant travel crate, sized so the animal can stand, turn and lie down. Buy it early. A dog that meets its crate for the first time at the airport has a much worse journey than one that has been sleeping in it for a month.

Who do I call to arrange all this? A pet relocation company. The ones operating in the UAE are listed at onepasspet.com/dubai/relocation with their phone numbers and reviews. Ask each for a written quote that separates the flight, the permit, the crate and the airport handling, because that is where quotes differ most.

Start early. If your origin country requires a rabies titer test, begin three to six months before your move because of the test's waiting period. For countries without a titer requirement, four to eight weeks is usually enough to line up the permit and health certificate — but earlier is always safer, especially in the busy June–September and holiday periods.

Budget realistically. Total cost varies widely by origin country, pet size, airline, crate, and whether you use a relocation company. The main line items are the microchip and vaccinations, the titer test (if needed), the import permit, the origin health certificate and endorsement, the flight (priced by crate size), and optional door-to-door relocation services. Get quotes for your specific route rather than relying on a single headline number — and confirm current government fees on the official MOCCAE channels.

You do not have to do this alone. A Dubai veterinary clinic experienced in pet travel can handle your pet's UAE-side registration, microchip checks, vaccinations and the documentation, and can advise on what your origin country requires. Specialist pet relocation companies can manage the whole door-to-door move — permits, crate, airline booking and airport clearance — which many busy families find well worth the cost.

Browse trusted, reviewed veterinary clinics across Dubai on OnePass Pet to find one that handles international pet travel, and message them directly to confirm they can support your import before you arrive.