Pets to Dubai: A Shipper's Guide to UAE Pet Imports (2026)
Moving pets to Dubai is shipper territory. In Pet Holiday Club's rules base, pets entering the UAE must travel as manifest cargo under IATA live animal conditions, so an owner can't simply take their dog on board. Add a government import permit, a UAE-specific health certificate and a cap on how many pets one person can import each year, and most families relocating to Dubai hand the whole move to a professional.
That makes UAE moves good business, and easy to get wrong. This guide sets out what shippers need to check, in the order it matters: the restrictions that decide whether a move can happen at all, the medical work, the documents, travel day, and arrival. Every requirement below comes from our rules base for dogs travelling from the US to the UAE, which draws on the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and USDA APHIS.
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Check these restrictions before you quote
Three rules can stop a UAE move outright, so check them at the first enquiry.
Two pets per person, per year. Individuals are capped at two pets a year. Returning UAE-resident animals are exempt. A family with three dogs needs a plan before you quote, not after.
Minimum age. The pet must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated against rabies. From high-risk countries, the minimum age at import is 15 weeks.
Privately owned companions only. Pets leaving the US must be privately owned companion animals, not intended for research or resale.
Check the airline at the same time. Our rules base flags that snub-nosed breeds face severe restrictions or outright embargoes on many airlines, and that live animal space is limited per aircraft.
Medical requirements
Requirement | Rule | When |
ISO microchip | ISO 11784/11785, 15 digits; the number must match the passport and every travel document | Before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination |
Rabies vaccination | A primary vaccination is valid for 1 year only, even with a 3-year vaccine; booster within 12 months of the primary | At least 30 days before travel; pet at least 12 weeks old |
DHPP or DHPPiL | Current combined vaccine against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and parainfluenza | At least 30 days before travel |
Parasite treatment | Flea, tick and tapeworm (Echinococcus) | Within 10 days of travel |
Rabies titer test (RNATT) | Result of at least 0.5 IU/ml at an approved laboratory | Only for imports from high-risk countries |
Two details cause most rework. First, a rabies shot given before the microchip doesn't count, so the order matters as much as the dates. Second, record the microchip number on every rabies certificate. Our rules base strongly recommends it, and it removes any doubt at the border.
Documents
MOCCAE import permit. The permit must be obtained from MOCCAE before the pet travels, through its digital services system (MOCCAE: Import permit for pets). The applicant registers an account first. The permit is valid for 90 days from the date of issue, so time the application against the flight. No supporting documents are needed when applying, but all of them must be presented on arrival.
UAE veterinary health certificate. The UAE has its own template: Annex No. 3, "Model of Veterinary Health Certificate for Exporting Cats and Dogs into the UAE." It must be certified by the government veterinarian in charge in the exporting country, and it covers parasite treatment and crate compliance. For exports from the US, the certificate is issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS before the pet travels. Confirm the current endorsement method on the APHIS UAE page before you submit.
Owner pledge (dogs). The owner signs a formal pledge not to transfer ownership of the dog, abandon it or breed it, and to follow UAE legislation. Build it into client onboarding so it isn't missed at the last minute.
Travel day
Manifest cargo, under IATA conditions. The crate must be clean and disinfected, well ventilated, leak-proof and allow visual inspection.
Book the pet's space early. Our rules base recommends booking as early as possible: at least 48 to 72 hours before departure, and 7 days or more for airlines that need longer notice for cargo.
Check in early. Allow at least 4 hours before departure for pets flying in cargo on international flights.
Carry the paperwork. All entry and airline documents, a harness or collar, and dry food and water in sealed containers.
Arrival in the UAE
On arrival, the pet goes through the Red Channel for customs declaration of live animals. All veterinary documents are presented, and the pet may have a brief veterinary examination. Two things can end the move at this point:
The microchip. If the number doesn't match the documents or can't be read, all documents are invalid. That can mean denial of entry, quarantine or return, at the owner's expense.
Illness or parasites. Any active signs of illness or infestation can also lead to denial of entry, quarantine or return.
Scan the microchip at collection, and again before handover, and compare it digit by digit with every document.
Run every UAE move from one checklist
Pet Holiday Club assembles every requirement above into one route checklist from our rules base of 1,661 requirement items across 238 countries and 131 airlines. It's matched to origin, destination, species, breed and airline, set out in journey order (restrictions, medical, documents, travel day, arrival), with lead times counted back from the travel date. Owners upload the pet's documents, and the scanner flags gaps before you book the flight.
See how Pet Holiday Club works →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pets fly in the cabin to Dubai?
No. In our rules base, pets entering the UAE must travel as manifest cargo under IATA live animal conditions.
How long is a UAE pet import permit valid?
90 days from the date of issue. Apply before travel, and time it so the permit is still valid when the pet arrives.
How many pets can one person import to the UAE?
Two pets per year. Returning UAE-resident animals are exempt from the limit.
Do dogs from the US need a rabies titer test for the UAE?
Yes. The US counts as a high-risk country, so a rabies titer result of at least 0.5 IU/ml is required.
Which health certificate is used for pets going to the UAE?
MOCCAE's own template, Annex No. 3, certified by the government veterinarian in the exporting country. From the US, it's issued by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by APHIS.
When can the vet issue the health certificate?
Enter your arrival date, get the days to book the vet.
What happens if the microchip can't be read on arrival?
All documents are invalidated, which can lead to denial of entry, quarantine or return at the owner's expense.
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