Preparing Your Pet for Dubai and the UAE

Dogs and cats need a prior MOCCAE import permit and compliant veterinary paperwork for entry to the UAE. The rules depend on the exporting country, vaccination history, species and breed. Travelling in the cabin does not remove those conditions.

The main MOCCAE requirements

MOCCAE’s official import service lists a 90-day permit validity. Its normal service target for ordinary pet applications is one working day; that is not a guarantee of approval or a complete preparation timeline. Personal imports are generally limited to two pets per person per year, with an exception for eligible returning resident pets.

Requirements include a permanent microchip, valid rabies and relevant core vaccinations, an endorsed veterinary health certificate and internal/external parasite treatment within 14 days before shipment. An approved rabies antibody report is required for high-risk exporting countries; it is not universal for low-risk origins. Check the current country list and the test’s vaccination, sampling and validity conditions.

Check the prohibited dog breeds and any special conditions before booking. For cats, confirm any breed or hybrid documentation. Do not assume a charter operator can override government restrictions.

Make the arrival practical

• Send the permit and draft health records for review before the final government endorsement.
• Confirm the arrival inspection, clearance, collection point and transfer arrangements.
• Book pet-accepting accommodation and obtain written confirmation covering the species, size and number of pets.
• Arrange a cooled transfer and a quiet settling-in space. Ask the veterinarian for a feeding, hydration and activity plan appropriate to the animal.
• Check local licensing, registration and housing rules for both dogs and cats; avoid assuming that cats never need local registration.

Transit is a separate planning question

A fuel stop, airport transit and entry into the UAE are different arrangements. Tell the team about every stop and whether the pet will leave the aircraft or transit area. Obtain route-specific confirmation from the relevant authorities instead of assuming that a transit is automatically exempt.

Discuss your route with SKYE PETS. Include your departure country, destination, intended dates, species, breed, age, weight and recent travel history so we can assess the journey and current flight options.

Put the permit expiry beside your arrival date

Keep the permit, endorsed certificate and vaccination dates in one folder, and share that version with the clearance contact. If the itinerary changes, have the preparing team assess the affected dates before paying for duplicate appointments. Choose accommodation from the Dubai hotel comparison that accepts the actual species and size of your pet.