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Pet Relocation from Dubai to the UK
No titre test, no 3-month wait and no quarantine for a correctly prepared pet. We time the paperwork to the hour.
Moving to the UK is a big step, and your dog or cat is coming too. The good news: the UAE is a "listed" country for Great Britain, so there's no rabies blood test, no 3-month wait and no quarantine for a pet that has been prepared correctly. What's left is getting the paperwork in the right order and the timing to the hour. That's the part we handle.
Requirements at a glance
| Requirement | What the UK needs |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO 11784/11785 chip, implanted (or scanned) before the rabies vaccine. If the chip can't be read on arrival, your pet can be refused entry or quarantined. |
| Rabies vaccine | Given at 12 weeks old or older, after the chip. Travel no sooner than 21 full days after the first vaccine (day 1 is the day after the jab). Boosters must have no gaps. |
| Waiting period | 21 days after the primary rabies vaccine. No wait after an on-time booster. |
| Titre (blood) test | Not required. The UAE is a listed country. |
| Tapeworm (dogs only) | A vet gives a praziquantel treatment 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in the UK, counted in UK time. Not needed for cats. |
| Health certificate | A Great Britain pet health certificate, completed by an official vet and endorsed by the UAE authority. Your pet must arrive within 10 days of endorsement. |
| UAE export certificate | A MOCCAE veterinary health certificate for export: apply online, the pet is examined at a MOCCAE quarantine centre (e.g. Dubai Airport Cargo Village), issued in 1 working day, valid 30 days. The fee is AED 100 for up to 2 pets travelling for personal reasons. |
| Declaration | You sign a declaration that the move is non-commercial (you're not selling or rehoming the pet). |
Step-by-step timeline
- 8+ weeks before the flight
Check the microchip reads and the rabies vaccine is in date. Check your dog's breed against UK and airline rules. Book the cargo space.
- At least 4 weeks before (if your pet needs a new or restarted rabies vaccine)
Get the microchip first, then the vaccine. The 21-day clock starts the next day.
- About 2 weeks before
We prepare the GB health certificate and check that every vaccine detail on it is right: manufacturer, product name, batch number and validity dates.
- Within 10 days of arrival
The GB health certificate is endorsed by the official vet. The MOCCAE export certificate is issued close to departure.
- 1 to 5 days before arrival (dogs)
A vet gives the tapeworm treatment and records the date and time.
- Flight day
Your pet is checked in at the cargo terminal in an IATA-compliant crate.
- Arrival
Your pet's documents are checked at the animal reception centre, then cleared through customs by a UK agent. At Heathrow, pets are usually ready to collect 2 to 4 hours after landing.
How pets fly to the UK
- Cargo only. The UK does not allow pets to fly into the country in the cabin, or as normal checked baggage. The only exceptions are recognised assistance dogs and chartered private planes. Your pet flies as manifest cargo in a pressurised, temperature-controlled hold.
- Approved airlines and airports only. From the UAE, approved carriers include Emirates SkyCargo (Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle) and Etihad (Heathrow, Edinburgh, Manchester). Most pets land at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC).
- Within 5 days of you. You (or someone you authorise in writing) must travel within 5 days of your pet. If not, stricter commercial import rules apply.
- Heat and flat faces. Emirates SkyCargo restricts snub-nosed breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs (all types), Boxers, Shih Tzus, Persians, British Shorthairs and Scottish Folds. These breeds can only fly under specific conditions in the winter season (November to April).
How much does it cost?
The total depends on your pet's size, the crate, the airline and the arrival airport, so we give a quote on request. Some official fees are fixed:
- MOCCAE export certificate: AED 100 (up to 2 pets).
- HARC handling at Heathrow: £104 to collect from the aircraft, plus £213 boarding with a paperwork pre-check, or £293 without one. Each extra pet costs £55.
- If the paperwork has errors, HARC charges £99. Serious errors can mean re-treatment, quarantine or your pet being sent back, all at your cost.
Restricted and banned breeds
It is illegal to own these dog types in the UK: Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and XL Bully. The only exception is a dog with a valid Certificate of Exemption. Whether a dog counts depends on how it looks, not its papers. If you're unsure, talk to the police force where you're moving before you book. HARC can't advise on this.
Frequently asked questions
Can my cat or small dog fly in the cabin with me?
No. Pets must enter the UK as cargo on an approved route. The only exception is recognised assistance dogs.
Can my pet go as excess baggage on my flight?
Not into the UK. This works for some other countries, which is why you'll hear it suggested, but the UK requires manifest cargo.
Does my pet need quarantine in the UK?
No, as long as all the rules are met. If they aren't, quarantine can last up to 4 months, at your cost.
Do I need a rabies titre test from Dubai?
No. The UAE is a listed country. You only need the microchip, the rabies vaccine and the 21-day wait.
How long does the whole process take?
At least 21 days if your pet needs a new rabies vaccine. If the vaccinations are already valid, it can be quicker. We recommend 6 to 8 weeks to secure cargo space.
What's the most common mistake?
Booking the flight first and fixing the paperwork later. The 10-day health certificate window and the 1-to-5-day tapeworm window have to fit around the flight. Other common mistakes are a vaccine record missing the product name, and a chip dated after the vaccine.
Can I fly to Europe and drive or take the ferry to the UK?
Some owners do. Your pet must then meet the EU's entry rules and use an approved ferry or Eurotunnel route. Ask us whether it suits your pet.
Will I pay UK import VAT on my pet?
Pets moving for non-commercial reasons qualify for Transfer of Residence relief. Apply for it before you travel.
Ready to move?
Tell us your pet's breed, weight and travel month, and we'll send you a clear plan and a free quote.
Other routes to and from Dubai
Sources
- https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain (and full guide: https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain/print), covering microchip, rabies, tapeworm, the UAE as a listed country, the GB pet health certificate and its 10-day window, cargo-only air travel, quarantine and the 5-day rule
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pet-travel-approved-air-sea-and-rail-carriers-and-routes/approved-air-routes-for-pet-travel (updated 9 Oct 2026), the approved airlines and airports
- https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/animal-health-welfare/heathrow-animal-reception-centre/pet-travel-scheme, covering Part 2 listed countries, endorsement, manifest cargo, ToR1 and the £99 error fee
- https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/animal-health-welfare/heathrow-animal-reception-centre/importing-your-dog-cat-or-ferret (updated 5 Oct 2026), covering HARC fees, collection in 2 to 4 hours and banned-breed advice
- https://moccae.gov.ae/en/services/animal-health-certificate-for-export-re-export-of-live-animals, the MOCCAE export certificate, its fees, its validity and the service centres
- https://www.skycargo.com/media/mwudvi4d/3502_eksc-emiratespets_leaflet_updates_v2.pdf, the Emirates SkyCargo snub-nosed restrictions and the 15-week minimum age
- https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/banned-dogs, the UK banned dog types
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/transfer-of-residence-to-great-britain, Transfer of Residence relief for pets
- Owner research (for the FAQs only, not facts): https://www.reddit.com/r/dubai/comments/1rhpw02/pet_relocation_from_the_uae · https://www.reddit.com/r/dubai/comments/1rmleh0/costs_for_pet_relocation_to_uk · r/dubai "Dog relocation from Dubai to UK" (snapshot: https://reddit.sentinel-team.org/posts/1v46ldl/snapshots/2026-07-24T19%3A59%3A00.991191Z)