PetTravelPass

Bringing a dog or cat to United Arab Emirates

Every pet needs a MOCCAE import permit (valid 30 days) and must arrive as manifested cargo; pets from countries not on MOCCAE's low-risk list also need a rabies titer test. Strict limit of 2 pets per person per year and a long list of banned dog breeds.

Which rules apply to you

United Arab Emirates sorts arriving pets by where they travel from. Find your group, then follow its steps.

Arriving fromTiter testWait after samplePermitQuarantine
All countries (titer test assumed)MOCCAE publishes a low-risk country list whose pets may skip the titer test, but we could not confirm the current list, so this page shows the stricter rule for everyone. Ask MOCCAE whether your country is on the low-risk list.Yes—YesOnly if rules not met

Step by step

  1. Microchip, then vaccinate

    ISO microchip, then rabies vaccine at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before travel, plus the core vaccines listed for low-risk countries.

  2. Rabies titer test

    Blood sample at an approved lab at least 21 days after a first vaccination, within 12 months before travel. Result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml.

  3. Get the MOCCAE import permit

    Apply online with MOCCAE once the flight is booked. The permit is valid 30 days.

  4. Treat for parasites

    Internal and external parasite treatment within 14 days before travel, recorded on the certificate.

  5. Official health certificate and cargo booking

    Government-endorsed health certificate including the titer result, and a manifested-cargo booking.

Pets without a valid titer result may be held in quarantine or refused at the owner's expense.

Good to know

Cats
Same documents as dogs, with feline core vaccines (panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus). No banned cat breeds; hybrid/wild-type cats (e.g. Bengal, Savannah) reportedly need extra pedigree proof.
Banned breeds
American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Tibetan Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Boerboel, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Bully Kutta, Perro de Presa Canario, Tosa, Crosses/hybrids of any of these
How many pets
2 pets per person per year (2 dogs, 2 cats, or 1 of each).
Parasite treatment
Internal and external parasite treatment within 14 days before travel, recorded on the health certificate.
Arrival
Manifested cargo only (no in-cabin or excess baggage). Usually via Dubai or Abu Dhabi airports.
  • Pets transiting the UAE need a MOCCAE transit permit.
  • Returning UAE-resident pets can skip the titer test if their rabies vaccine was given before leaving the UAE and is still valid.
  • Emirate-level ownership and licensing rules (e.g. Dubai, Abu Dhabi) apply after arrival.

What we could not confirm

  • MOCCAE's low-risk country list (pets from these countries may not need a titer test) could not be retrieved, so every origin is shown the titer rule. Check with MOCCAE before arranging a test.
  • The MOCCAE site could not be read directly; rules come from the USDA and Dutch NVWA export pages, which relay MOCCAE requirements.
  • The official list of low-risk countries could not be confirmed, so no ISO list is given. A secondary source says the USA, Canada, France, Poland and Norway are NOT on it.
  • The Dutch NVWA (2024) also lists Rottweilers, Dobermans and Boxers as banned and says pets from high-risk countries must be at least 27 weeks old. USDA does not list these breeds or this age. Confirm with MOCCAE.
  • Health certificate validity is unclear: USDA says the endorsed certificate is valid 10 days, NVWA requires an exam within 24 hours of shipping. The UAE's own timing could not be confirmed.
  • Permit fee (reportedly AED 200) and arrival inspection fees (reportedly AED 500 per dog and AED 250 per cat) are unverified.

Sources

Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Rules change: confirm with Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) before booking.