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Moving to Dubai with Your Pet
An import permit before your pet flies, a titre test from most countries, and a cargo arrival at DXB. We handle the Dubai end for you.
Moving to Dubai is exciting, and your dog or cat should be part of the first week, not a worry hanging over it. The UAE has no fixed quarantine for a correctly prepared pet. What it does have is a strict paper trail: an import permit issued before your pet flies, a list of required vaccines, a rabies blood test from most countries, and an arrival by cargo with a veterinary inspection at Dubai Airport. canisfelis is based in Dubai, so we handle the permit, the clearance at Cargo Village and the drive home, and we work with your vet and airline at origin to get every document right.
Requirements at a glance
| Dogs | Cats | |
|---|---|---|
| Import permit | Required before shipping, from MOCCAE. AED 200 per pet, usually issued in 1 working day, valid 90 days. A pet can't enter on an expired permit | Same |
| Pets per person | Up to 2 a year (2 dogs, 2 cats, or 1 of each). Resident pets returning home are exempt | Same |
| Microchip | Permanent microchip. The number on the health certificate must match the chip | Same |
| Minimum age | 12 weeks from a low-risk country, 15 weeks from a high-risk country | Same |
| Vaccines | Rabies (first dose at 12 weeks or older, valid per the manufacturer), distemper, parvovirus, infectious hepatitis, leptospirosis (a lab test can replace lepto if the origin country doesn't vaccinate) | Rabies (first dose at 12 weeks or older), panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus |
| Rabies titre (blood) test | Required from every country not on MOCCAE's low-risk list. Result at least 0.5 IU/ml | Same |
| Parasite treatment | Internal and external parasite treatment within 14 days before shipping, recorded on the health certificate or passport | Same |
| Health certificate | Issued by the competent veterinary authority in the country of export | Same |
| How pets arrive | As cargo. Emirates says all itineraries ending in Dubai carry animals as cargo, and no cats or dogs fly in its cabin | Same |
| On arrival | MOCCAE inspection and release permit: AED 500 per dog | AED 250 per cat |
| Breed rules | 16 banned breeds (see below) | Bengal and Serval cats need a fifth-generation pedigree certificate |
The titre test: who needs it and when
MOCCAE splits countries into low-risk and high-risk for rabies. Every country not on the low-risk list is high-risk, and pets from high-risk countries need a rabies antibody titre test from a laboratory approved by the export country's authorities.
Low-risk countries (MOCCAE's current list): Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, French Polynesia, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Portugal, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain (not Melilla or Ceuta), Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vanuatu.
That means pets coming from the United States, Canada, India, the Philippines, South Africa, France and many other countries need the test.
- Pass mark: at least 0.5 IU/ml.
- First vaccine, or a lapsed one: the blood sample can't be taken until at least 21 days after the rabies vaccination.
- Valid booster already in place: no 21-day gap, the sample can be taken straight away.
- Validity: 365 days, as long as the rabies vaccination stays valid and continuous and no booster is given after the test. If a booster is given after the blood sample, the test has to be repeated.
- No waiting period after the result: MOCCAE's rules don't set a wait between the blood test and travel.
Arriving without the test: a pet that meets every other rule can have blood taken at arrival, but it is then held in quarantine or a MOCCAE-licensed pet shelter until the result comes back. We plan so that doesn't happen.
Your timeline: weeks before the flight
- 8+ weeks out
Free WhatsApp consultation. We check the breed against the ban list, your pet's microchip, vaccination booklet and age, and whether your origin country is low- or high-risk. We also check the airline's own breed rules.
- 6–8 weeks
Vaccines brought up to date (rabies plus the core vaccines). From a high-risk country, the titre blood sample is taken: 21 days after a first rabies vaccine, or straight away if a booster is current. IATA crate measuring and crate training start now.
- 4–6 weeks
Cargo booking into Dubai International (DXB). Emirates SkyCargo reviews your pet's details, crate photos, vet reports and vaccination certificates before it accepts the booking.
- 2–4 weeks
We apply for the MOCCAE import permit (AED 200 per pet, 1 working day, valid 90 days). It must be issued before your pet ships.
- Final 14 days
Internal and external parasite treatment, recorded on the certificate. Your vet completes the health certificate and the origin country's veterinary authority issues or endorses it. All originals travel with the air waybill.
- Arrival day
Your pet lands at DXB as cargo and goes to the Emirates SkyCargo temperature-controlled pet facility. MOCCAE's vets at Dubai Airport Cargo Village check the permit, scan the chip and inspect the paperwork, then issue the release (AED 500 per dog, AED 250 per cat). We collect your pet and bring them home.
- First weeks in Dubai
Register your cat or dog with Dubai Municipality, which keeps the emirate's pet registration and microchip records, and book a first visit with a Dubai vet.
How pets arrive in Dubai
- Manifest cargo, not baggage: Emirates states that for all itineraries ending in Dubai, animals must travel as cargo, and it doesn't allow cats or dogs in the cabin (only guide dogs and, on some Pakistan routes, falcons). The excess-baggage option exists only for flights leaving Dubai.
- Emirates SkyCargo: pets departing, arriving or transiting through Dubai are housed in a dedicated, temperature-controlled Pet Lounge with animal care staff on site. Pets are loaded last and offloaded first. Transit pets need at least a 6-hour connection in Dubai.
- Direct shipping: MOCCAE requires pets to ship directly from the exporting country. If the route crosses another country, your pet must not be mixed with other animals in transit.
- Snub-nosed breeds: Emirates SkyCargo does not carry a list of snub-nosed dogs and cats (including Pugs, all Bulldogs, Boxers, Shih Tzus, Persians and British Shorthairs) except under specific conditions in the winter season, November to April. Emirates SkyCargo's minimum age is 15 weeks, which it may raise to 27 weeks from a high-risk country.
Flying with another airline? We confirm its rules for your route before anything is booked.
Banned dog breeds
MOCCAE bans the import of these breeds into the UAE:
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- American Bully
- Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasileiro)
- Argentinian Mastiff (Dogo Argentino)
- Tibetan Mastiff
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- French Mastiff (Dogue de Bordeaux)
- Boerboel
- Bullmastiff
- Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff)
- Bully Kutta (Alangu Mastiff, Indian Mastiff)
- Perro de Presa Canario (Canary Mastiff)
- Japanese Tosa
- Presa Canario
The only exception is for service, emotional-support or medical dogs, which need certified training and medical documents and a signed pledge from the owner. Emirates SkyCargo also refuses these breeds "or their hybrids" for import into the UAE, so a cross of a banned breed should be treated as banned. If your dog's papers say "mix", talk to us before booking anything.
What does it cost?
The government fees are published: AED 200 per pet for the MOCCAE import permit, plus AED 500 per dog or AED 250 per cat for the release on arrival. Origin-country vet work, the titre test, the health certificate and the cargo fare all depend on where your pet is coming from and the size of the crate. So we quote on request, free and itemised.
Frequently asked questions
Does my pet need quarantine in Dubai?
Not if the paperwork is complete. Pets are inspected on arrival and released once they meet the permit and import rules. A pet that arrives without a required titre test, or missing a vaccine or parasite treatment, can be held in quarantine or a licensed shelter until it's sorted.
My country isn't on the low-risk list. Does that mean a long wait?
Usually not. The titre blood sample can be taken 21 days after a first rabies vaccine, or straight away if your pet's booster is current, and MOCCAE sets no waiting period after the result. Just don't give a rabies booster after the blood test, or the test must be repeated.
Can my pet fly in the cabin or as checked baggage to Dubai?
Not on Emirates. Emirates says animals on itineraries ending in Dubai travel as cargo, and it doesn't carry cats or dogs in the cabin. Your pet may arrive on a different flight from you, and we collect them from Cargo Village.
Is my dog's breed banned?
Check the 16 breeds listed above, and treat crosses of those breeds as banned too. Some breeds that are allowed in, such as Boxers, still face airline snub-nosed restrictions, so send us the breed on your pet's papers and we'll check both.
Can I bring three pets?
Not on a personal import. An individual can import up to 2 cats, 2 dogs, or one of each per year. Resident pets returning to the UAE are exempt.
We live in Dubai and are coming back after a trip. Is it simpler?
Yes, if you plan the exit. A returning resident pet needs a MOCCAE health certificate issued before it left the UAE, its microchip, a vet certificate from the country it's returning from, and a rabies vaccination that stayed valid the whole time. If the vaccine lapsed while you were away, your pet is treated as a first-time import.
Can my puppy or kitten come?
From 12 weeks old from a low-risk country, or 15 weeks from a high-risk one, and the rabies vaccine can't be given before 12 weeks. Emirates SkyCargo's own minimum is 15 weeks, and up to 27 weeks from a high-risk country.
What do I do after my pet arrives?
Register your cat or dog with Dubai Municipality and keep the rabies vaccination current. We'll point you to the next steps when we deliver your pet.
Ready to bring your pet to Dubai?
Message canisfelis on WhatsApp at +971 50 1900 804 with your pet's breed, weight, the country they're flying from and your travel date, and we'll send a free quote.
Other routes to and from Dubai
Sources (checked 17 Oct 2026)
Official, UAE
- MOCCAE, Import of pets (cats / dogs) service page (permit AED 200/head, release AED 500 dog / AED 250 cat, 90-day validity, 1 working day, 2 pets per person per year, ages, vaccines, titre rules and 365-day validity, 14-day parasite rule, low-risk list, banned breeds, returning residents, Dubai Airport Cargo Village veterinary quarantine centre): https://www.moccae.gov.ae/en/services/import-permit-pets
- MOCCAE, Ministerial Resolution No. 109 of 2021 regulating the import of cats and dogs (titre rules, arrival without lab test → detention until results, direct shipping): https://www.moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/2025/M109-21.pdf.aspx
- Dubai Municipality, news release 20 Jul 2026 (DM regulates pet entry into the emirate and runs pet registration, microchip and record updates): https://www.dm.gov.ae/nearly-183700-veterinary-services-delivered-in-h1-2026/
- UAE Government portal, Banning private ownership of dangerous animals (Federal Law No. 22 of 2016; dogs of approved breeds need a licence; leash and collar in public; updated 27 Aug 2026): https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/environment-and-energy/Nature-and-wildlife/banning-private-ownership-of-dangerous-animals
Airlines
- Emirates, Rules and charges for travelling with animals (itineraries ending in Dubai: cargo; no pets in cabin): https://www.emirates.com/english/help/faqs/what-are-the-rules-and-charges-for-travelling-with-animals/
- Emirates SkyCargo, Pets (dedicated Dubai facility for arriving pets, 6-hour transit minimum, last on/first off): https://www.skycargo.com/products/live/pets/
- Emirates SkyCargo, Emirates Pets leaflet (UAE-banned breeds "or their hybrids", snub-nosed restrictions Nov–Apr exception, 15/27-week minimum age, booking review): https://www.skycargo.com/media/mwudvi4d/3502_eksc-emiratespets_leaflet_updates_v2.pdf
- Emirates SkyCargo press release, 18 Dec 2025 (Pet Lounge for animals arriving in Dubai): https://www.skycargo.com/media-centre/emirates-skycargo-fur-st-choice-for-four-legged-flyers
Owner worries (Reddit, not used as fact)
- r/dubai, Pet import cost and process (quotes, "cargo manifest only" confusion): https://www.reddit.com/r/dubai/comments/riddsq/pet_import_cost_and_process
- r/dubai, MOCCAE import permit for cats (stuck on the permit form's entry-port field): https://www.reddit.com/r/dubai/comments/1itwf11/moccae_import_permit_for_cats
- r/dubai, Pet Relocation from the UAE (Cargo Village, paperwork): https://www.reddit.com/r/dubai/comments/1rhpw02/pet_relocation_from_the_uae