For many families, a move to Dubai is not complete until the dog or cat arrives too, and children usually ask about the pet long before they ask about schools. Importing a pet into the UAE is very doable, but it runs on permits, vaccination records and airline rules that must line up exactly. Start early, work through the steps in order, and your pet’s journey will be far calmer for everyone, including the youngest travellers.
Step 1: Check your pet is eligible to enter
The UAE allows cats and dogs from most countries, classed by rabies risk, and the conditions differ by group. Some dog breeds are banned or restricted, including several fighting and mastiff-type breeds, so confirm your breed is permitted before booking anything. Your pet must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies with the vaccination given after the chip was implanted, and old enough to meet the minimum age rules. Countries in the higher-risk group require a rabies antibody (titre) test from an approved laboratory, with a waiting period after a successful result. Write down every date now; a single vaccination given a day too early can restart a waiting period and separate your pet from the children for weeks longer than planned.
Step 2: Get the import permit and health papers
- Apply for the pet import permit through the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) online services; permits are usually valid for a limited window, so time the application to your flight.
- Book a vet visit in your home country for the official export health certificate, completed within the required days before travel.
- Make sure vaccinations, parasite treatments and the microchip number are recorded identically on every document.
- If your pet needs a titre test, use an approved lab and keep the original report for travel.
- Pay the permit and inspection fees shown on the official portal; fees are typically a few hundred dirhams per pet as a guide, so check MOCCAE for current amounts.
Step 3: Book the flight and the right crate
Most pets arrive in Dubai as manifested cargo, even when the family is on the same flight, and airlines apply their own breed, temperature and crate rules. Choose an IATA-compliant crate big enough for your pet to stand, turn and lie down, and let your pet sleep in it at home for weeks beforehand; children can help by feeding treats in the crate so it smells like a safe place, not a punishment. Book through the airline’s cargo or pet desk, confirm the arrival airport handling agent, and ask who clears the pet on arrival and what identification they need. In summer, flight timings may be restricted for animal safety, another reason to start planning months ahead.
Step 4: Arrival, registration and settling in
On arrival your pet is inspected by the authorities, documents are checked against the permit, and release usually follows the same day when everything matches. Then the Dubai routines begin: register and microchip details with a local vet, keep rabies vaccination current as UAE law requires, and check your building and community rules on dogs before you sign a lease, because some apartments restrict pets. Help children settle the pet gently: quiet first days, a familiar blanket, and no endless visitors. In summer, walk dogs early and late, carry water, and never leave any pet in a parked car. Within a few weeks most family pets are fully part of Dubai life, beach walks, desert trips and all.
Before the travel day, assemble one folder, physical and scanned, containing the permit, health certificate, vaccination record, titre report if you have one, and your own ID and contact details, and share copies with the person meeting the flight if that is not you. Label the crate clearly with your pet’s name, your Dubai mobile number and a feeding note. Agree as a family who handles the airport collection so children are not waiting in a hot car park, and plan a quiet first evening at home with water, familiar food and a safe room ready before the crate door opens.
FAQ
How long does the whole import process take?
Allow at least one to three months as a guide, and longer if a rabies titre test and waiting period apply to your country group. Starting early is the single best way to keep the family together on moving day.
Can my pet fly in the cabin with us?
On most routes into the UAE, cats and dogs must travel as cargo in the hold under airline pet rules; falcons and some service arrangements are exceptions. Confirm directly with your airline when you book.
Are any dog breeds banned in the UAE?
Yes, several breeds and crosses are prohibited or restricted under UAE rules, and the list is updated from time to time. Check the current MOCCAE list for your exact breed before making any travel bookings.
Planning the rest of your family move? Browse DXB Talk and the step-by-step guides in the How-To section.
