Pet import requirements for the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates at a glance

The detail

United Arab Emirates is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East. Typical air gateways on file in clude DXB, AUH, SHJ, RKT, and DWC. Not required but highly recommended.

Import requirements

• If originating from a low-risk country, puppies/kittens are eligible to enter the UAE from 12 weeks of age.
• If coming from a high-risk country, then they must be at least 15 weeks old.

The rabies low-risk listed countries Albania, Australia, Austria, Andorra, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, 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 (with the exception of Melilla), Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the Bahamas, United Kingdom, Vanuatu.

• Internal health certificate
• Deworming & flea treatment within 14 days from the traveling date.
• Rabies test from high risk country.

Pets can arrive in the UAE as manifested cargo and can be as excess baggage if the airline approves it,Overview of Requirements for Imports into the UAE:

The following documents explain everything you might need to know and are provided by Dubai Kennels and Cattery (DKC). For links to the government website, please refer to the Government Contacts page. • UAE Model Veterinary Health Certificate for Exporting Cats and Dogs into the UAE

• UAE Entry Requirements - UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment website with the current import requirements for dogs and cats (just scroll down to locate!)

• Transiting Pets Through the UAE

Personal import is allowed for no more than 2 cats or 2 dogs or a dog and a cat annually, except for the exit and entry of resident animals, if they are identified by a fixed microchip and the health requirements for import are fulfilled.

UAE IPATA members with valid UAE animal activity license can import up to 5 pets per Import permit.

Import for for re-sale (e.g. pet shops) and working animals are classified as commercial moves (e.g. police and Customs dogs).

Pets can enter UAE as accompanied baggage, in-cabin, depending on the airline they fly.

The UAE government limits the number of pets which can be imported into the UAE to a maximum of two per person (i.e. per passport) annually. However, some of the UAE IPATA members are able to import 5 pets per person/passport.

Customs clearance at the UAE airports generally takes in the region of 3.5 - 5.5 hours from the time of flight arrival.

Identification and microchip

Required prior to rabies vaccinating. It is recommended that the microchip meet ISO standards, but this is not mandated.

Rabies and vaccinations

Rabies (no mandatory waiting period to enter the UAE after the rabies vaccination has been administered. However, the UAE has agreed health certificates in place with some countries that require a min. of 21 days to have passed).

• The vaccination should be done at age not less than 12 weeks and the validity of the vaccine well be in accordance with the manufacturing company.

Please note that a rabies vaccination administered any earlier than 12 weeks of age is not recognized.

Vaccinations for Dogs

• Rabies, a valid vaccination applied according to in struction of vaccine manufacturer, in itial dose should not be applied before 12 weeks of animal age.
• Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
• Canine Parvo Virus
• Infectious Canine Hepatitis.
• Leptospirosis (canicola and icterohaemorrhagiae) (Can be dispensed with and replaced by lab test in case that the exporting country does not apply vaccination)

Vaccinations for Cats

• Rabies, a valid vaccination applied according to in struction of vaccine manufacturer, in itial dose should not be applied before 12 weeks of animal age.
• Feline Pan Leukcopenia.
• Feline Rhinotracheitis.
• Feline Calicivirus.

Tests and treatments

Rabies blood test IS required for the HIGH RISK countries.

Test terms as following:

1-In case that the pet is vaccinated for the first time or discontinuity of the vaccination: a period not less than 21 days must pass from vaccination against Rabies.

2- in case that the animal has a valid booster vaccination, It does not require an in terval of 21 days after vaccination, and the test can be done directly.

3-The test result should not be less than (0.5 IU / ml).

4-The validity of the Rabies Testing certificate is a maximum of 365 days, in a condition that the rabies vaccine is valid and continue and no booster dose was given, otherwise the test should be repeated in accordance to these clause 1 or 2.

Rabies blood test IS NOT require for the LOW RISK country:

List of low risk countries:

Australia, Austria, Andorra, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, French Polynesia, Falkland Islands, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Malta, Caledonia. New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Palau, Latvia, Albania, Croatia, Maldives, Spain (excluding Melilla) Cyprus, Korea, Montenegro, Seychelles, Suriname, Micronesia, Greece, Marshall Islands, Bahamas, Lithuania, Macedonia.

All countries not listed above (high risk) require the RNATT prior to travel.

If coming from ANY OTHER country (minimum residency 6 months), a rabies titre test from an accredited laboratory is required. There is no mandatory waiting period satisfactory test results. The pet can travel to the UAE as soon as the test results have been received and the results are valid for up to 12 months PROVIDED that the rabies vaccination upon which the blood was drawn is still valid at the time of arrival in the UAE and no further rabies booster vaccination has been administered.

Please note that if a cat or dog is returning to the UAE under the same valid UAE administered rabies vaccination it departed the UAE on, plus a copy of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment "Veterinary Health Certificate for Live Animals" issued for export, the rabies titre test is not required, provided that no further rabies vaccination booster has been administered. All other entry requirements must still be met.

Cats and dogs residing in UAE (Resident/Returning Pet)

They must comply with the following health and technical requirements:

A. The animal must have obtained a veterinary health certificate from the Ministry of Climate Change & Environment before leaving the country.

B. Identified by microchip.

C. accompanied by an authorized veterinary certificate issued by the competent authorities from the exporting country.

D. The animal was vaccinated against rabies before its departure from the UAE and this vaccination is valid until its return with no further rabies boosters administered. Should the UAE rabies vaccination expire, if coming from a high-risk for rabies country, a titre test will be required.

All other UAE entry requirements must be fully met with the exception of the RNATT, if the above technical requirements have been met.

Internal and external parasite treatments are mandatory for all dogs and cats within 14 days of travel, and these should be of ficially documented in either the health certificate or the passport/vaccination book of the animal. For the external parasite treatment, it is recommended that the active in gredient in the product used be either Fipronil or Permethrin. For the in ternal parasite treatment, it is recommended that the active in gredient in the product used be Praziquantel.

Health certificate and permits

All cats and dogs must arrive with an original valid health certificate which has been issued or certified by an of ficial government/ministry veterinarian in the country of origin. This must be issued or certified within 24 hours of departure if the country of origin has an agreed health certificate in place with the UAE which follows the MOCCAE model.

Should your country of origin not have an of ficially agreed health certificate in place with the UAE, an in ternational export health certificate issued by an of ficial government/ministry veterinarian in the country of origin must be gained and accompany your pet throughout their relocation, along with their other documents in original. The health certificate must contain both an "issue" and a "validity" date.

Required. Validity of permit is for 90 days.

• Applications must be made on-line and pending no system problems are issued following the on-line payment at the time of the application.

N.B. The UAE Import Permits are system generated i.e. the uploaded documents are not checked. If the data has been in correctly entered, at the time of arrival (and assuming all in order), a new Import Permit will need to be applied for and the UAE Ministry will charge for this.

USDA Requirements - USA to UAE (Includes details on: Pets coming From USA to the UAE, For pets residing in the UAE that are returning to the UAE, For pets transiting the UAE and Dog breeds not allowed entry into the UAE)

Health Certificate for USA to UAE- Provided by USDA

Quarantine

There is NO mandated quarantine. However, if the full UAE entry requirements have not been met, pets may be quarantined at one of the UAE Ministry-approved boarding facilities until they meet the UAE requirements. In more extreme cases (underage, banned breed etc.) they may be re-exported at the owner's expense, or even, in extremely rare cases, taken into custody and euthanized by the authorities.

Restrictions and banned breeds

The United Arab Emirates does not permit the import or transit of the following breeds, their crosses or their hybrids:

Any Bull Terrier (Pit Bull Terrier or American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier or other), Japanese Tosa (Tosa Inu, Tosa Fighting Dog, Japanese Tosa), any Mastiff breeds - Argentinian Fighting Dog (Dogo Argentino, Argentinian Mastiff), Brazilian Fighting Dog (Fila Brasileino, Brazilian Mastiff), American Bully, Canario Presa, Wolf Dog Hybrid (any dog mixed with a wolf).

However, exceptions in clude service dogs, emotional support dogs or dogs which provide some kind of medical support, all in accordance with the regulating requirements. Special permission needs to be gained from MOCCAE directly by the owner.

In the Emirate of Dubai, the breeds mentioned below cannot reside in an apartment; must be leashed and muzzled, in public and must be registered with the Veterinary Services Division:

Husky, English Bulldogs, Perro de Pressa Mallorquin, Bull Dog, Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, and Shar Pei.

Customs, agents, and airports

Required for custom clearance only for destination agents. Not required for in dividuals. Pet owners can gain the BoE directly from Customs.

Not required but highly recommended

Airports:

• Dubai International Airport, Dubai (IATA: DXB, ICAO: OMDB)
• Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi (IATA: AUH, ICAO: OMAA)
• Sharjah International Airport, Sharjah (IATA: SHJ, ICAO: OMSJ)
• Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai World Central) (IATA: DWC, ICAO: OMDW)

Ground:

• Al Guwaifat Port - Center for Agricultural and Veterinary Quarantine, Al Ruwais, Abu Dhabi (info@moccae.gov.ae)
• Hatta Port - Dubai Hatta St., Dubai (info@moccae.gov.ae)
• Khatm Almilaha Port - Khatm Al Shaklah Center for Agricultural and Veterinary Quarantine, Al Ain Area - Khatem Al Sheklah St, Abu Dhabi (info@moccae.gov.ae)
• Ras Al Dara Port - Al Darah Center for Agricultural and Veterinary Quarantine Al Darah Area - Al Jeer St, Ras Al Khaimah (info@moccae.gov.ae)

Water Port (Cattle only):

• Jabel Ali Port Center for Agricultural and Veterinary Quarantine. Gate 8. Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai
• Al Hamriya Port Center for Agricultural and Veterinary Quarantine, Hamriya Port, Dubai

Best Airports:

Dubai International Airport – DXB

Abu Dhabi International Airport – AUH

Sharjah International Airport - SHJ

Airports listed on this destination file: DXB, AUH, SHJ, RKT, DWC.

At UAE airports, customs clearance usually takes within three to five hours from the time of the flight's arrival.

Export notes

All animals leaving the United Arab Emirates must have a "Veterinary Health Certificate for Live Animals" obtained from the Ministry of Climate Change & Environment.

• Any other animal—aside from dogs and cats—must have a Certificate of Origin from the Chamber of Commerce.
• Copy of the import permit / approval permission issued by the importing country, except for companion animals.

Any documents / reports for additional tests requested by the importing country.

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

Please note that for animals or pets falling under CITES, it is a requirement that the owners be fully resident in the UAE at the time of making the application for the CITES Import Permit.

Birds: Please contact an IPATA member. Except for Australia, Canada, UK, the GCC countries and South Africa, the entry requirements must be requested on a case-to-case basis from the Ministry Vet (Ministry of Climate Change & Environment).

In addition, the list of countries, from which the UAE will permit the entry of birds can change frequently.

Other Animals: rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc. apart from the Import Permit, they must be accompanied by:

• health certificate issued by a Ministry/Government vet in the country of origin
• Certificate of Origin (usually obtained from the Chamber of Commerce in the country of origin) and
• Commercial in voice.
• Depending on their species and country of origin, they must also meet additional requirements.

For any other animals, it is recommended to first seek further in formation from an IPATA member or the UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment.

All dogs must be leashed when in public places. Dogs are not permitted in public parks, on public beaches, shops/malls and (with very few exceptions), hotels and restaurants.

Emirate of Dubai:

• Registration with Dubai Municipality is required annually, along with the renewal of the annual vaccinations. DHPPI + L and Rabies for dogs, Flu/Enteritis and Rabies for cats. For more details you can call 04 321 4430

Official contacts

Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

Mailing address: P.O. Box: 1509 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Phone: +971 (4) 214 84 24

Fax: +971 (4) 265 58 22

Email: info@moccae.gov.ae

WebsiteMinistry of Climate Change and Environment

Mailing address: P.O. Box: 1509 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Point of Contact Name: Eng. Muna Omran Al Shamsi – Head of CITES - Biodiversity Department

Phone: +971 (4) 214 84 44

Fax: +971 (4) 265 58 22

Email: cites@moccae.gov.ae, moalshamisi@moccae.gov.ae

WebsiteCurrent as of June 2025

Disclaimer

Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2025-06-27.

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