UAE Pet Import Requirements: How to bring a pet to the UAE 2026

• Import permit from the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
• Cats and dogs must be identified with a Microchip – implanted before rabies vaccine
• Valid health certificate stamped and signed by official\government vet within 5 days of travel
• Health certificate fit to travel from local vet within 10 days of travel
• Vaccination certificate for all of the vaccines your pet has received. The vaccine name, manufacturer, batch number, vaccination date, vaccine labels, and any treatments given to the animal should be included on the vaccination certificate. (including vaccination stickers)
• Documentation (on health certificate) of parasite treatments during the 14 days prior to travel.
• External parasite treatment (recommend Fipronil or Permethrin)
• Internal parasite treatment (recommend Praziquantel)
• Original copy and documentation on health certificate of your pet’s rabies titter test results which must be ≥ 0.5 IU. .
• The blood sample should not be collected until at least 3 weeks after vaccination.

Register in the UAE Moccae program

• Rabies vaccine (at least 21 days must elapse from vaccination before travel; the dog must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination)
• Canine distemper virus
• Canine parvovirus
• Infectious canine hepatitis
• Leptospirosis (icterohaemorrhagiae and canicola)

You need to fill out and pay for the import permit. Please note, it is only valid for 30 days.

After filling out the import permit form, you will receive a link by email, follow it, select your form (it is at the bottom of the page) and pay 200 dirhams. Print out this permit.
After receiving your boarding pass for the flight, you need to get a release permit.
You will receive a link by email (after paying for the import permit), click on it, then:

• initiate a release request,
• fill in your details,
• bill of lading – specify the flight number,
• job number – the number in the UAE.

Carrier – Etihad Airways.

Upload the documents:

• a pdf scan of all pages of the veterinary passport,
• antibody titers,
• a health certificate form for Etihad,
• a scan of your ticket,
• an international health certificate.

Then pay. For a dog, about 500 dirhams. The main thing is that the payment goes through.
Do not forget to print out all the documents and take them with you.

Officially about import permit for pets

List of breeds of dogs and cats that are prohibited from being imported into the UAE:

• Dogs:
  Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasileiro), Argentine 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
  (except those used as guide or emotional support animals)
• Cats:
  Bengal Cat, Serval
  A pedigree of up to five generations is required for importing Bengal and Serval cats as pets

In case of air transit at the same airport or sea transit at the same port, no transit permit is required and the animals must be isolated from any other animals. Prior transit permit must be obtained from the Ministry for cats and dogs that pass through the country as a transit consignment and must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate or vaccination document showing that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies and import permits from the importing country. Animals are treated in the same way as imported animals with respect to the classification of countries by danger level.

1. Veterinary passport:
This is the main document that contains information about the animal, its owner, as well as information about vaccinations, antiparasitic treatments and the presence of a microchip.

2. Microchip:
The European Union requires that the animal be microchipped before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination.

3. Rabies vaccination:
Vaccination must be carried out no earlier than 12 weeks from birth and at least 31 days before entry into the country.

4. European veterinary certificate:
This document is issued by an authorized veterinarian and confirms that the animal meets EU requirements.

5. Rabies antibody titer test:
If the animal is imported from a country with a rabies problem, a test confirming the presence of antibodies to the rabies virus in an amount of 0.5 IU/ml or more may be required. The test must be carried out at least 3 months before the date of transport.

6. Veterinary certificate
This certificate is issued by the state veterinary service and is necessary to obtain an international veterinary certificate.

7. Export permit:
In some cases, an export permit for the animal from the UAE Ministry of Natural Resources may be required.

Rabies vaccination:
Vaccination must be carried out no earlier than 12 weeks from birth and at least 31 days before entry into the country.

• Rabies antibody titer test:
If the animal is imported from a country with a rabies problem, a test confirming the presence of antibodies to the rabies virus in an amount of 0.5 IU/ml or more may be required. The test must be carried out at least 3 months before the date of transport.