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Pet Travel from the UK to the United Arab Emirates: Dog & Cat Import Requirements

Travelling with your pet to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) requires careful planning and strict compliance with the country’s import regulations. Dogs and cats entering the UAE must meet specific requirements including vaccinations, import permits, and an official Export Health Certificate (EHC) issued by a UK Official Veterinarian. This step-by-step guide explains everything you need to know about pet travel from the UK to Dubai and the UAE, helping you prepare your pet safely and avoid delays during the import process.

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Step-by-Step Guide: Importing Your Dog or Cat from the UK to the United Arab Emirates

Step 1: Check Your Pet Is Eligible to Travel to the UAE

Before starting the export process, it is important to ensure your pet meets the United Arab Emirates (UAE) import requirements. The UAE has strict regulations designed to protect animal health and ensure pets travel safely.

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Key eligibility rules include:

  • Minimum age: Dogs and cats must be at least 4 months old to enter the UAE.

  • Import limit: Each person may import a maximum of two pets per year (dogs or cats combined).

  • Cargo transport: Pets entering the UAE must travel as manifest cargo, rather than in the aircraft cabin or as checked baggage.

 

Restricted Dog Breeds

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The UAE also restricts the import of certain dog breeds. Dogs may be refused entry if they are purebred or crossbred with any of the following breeds:

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  • Pit Bull Terrier / American Pit Bull Terrier

  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier

  • American Staffordshire Terrier

  • American Bully

  • Japanese Tosa (Tosa Inu / Tosa Fighting Dog)

  • Dogo Argentino (Argentinean Fighting Dog / Argentinean Mastiff)

  • Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Fighting Dog / Brazilian Mastiff)

  • Tibetan Mastiff

  • Neapolitan Mastiff

  • Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff)

  • Boerboel

  • Bullmastiff

  • Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff)

  • Presa Canario (Canary Mastiff)

  • Bully Kutta (Alangu Mastiff / Indian Mastiff)

 

Important: If your dog is recorded as a crossbreed, UAE authorities may request a written declaration confirming the breeds involved. This helps prevent delays or refusal of entry during the import approval process.

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If you are unsure how your dog’s breed should be recorded on the export documentation, we can help advise you before beginning the certification process.

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Step 2 - Microchip Requirements (UAE)

Before your appointment, your pet must be fitted with a working microchip that can be read reliably.

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  • The microchip should normally meet ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 standards.

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  • We will scan and confirm the microchip during your certification appointment to ensure it matches all documentation.

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  • If your pet has a non-standard microchip, prior permission may be required, and you (or your agent) may need to ensure a compatible microchip scanner is available at the UAE border.

 

Our advice: if you are unsure whether your pet’s microchip is ISO-compliant, contact us early and we can guide you before travel.

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Step 3 – Vaccinations (Rabies + Core Vaccines) (UAE)

To travel to the United Arab Emirates, your pet must be up to date with both rabies vaccination and the required core vaccinations before export.

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Rabies vaccination (required)

 

Your pet must have a valid rabies vaccination using a licensed vaccine.

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  • If this is your pet’s first rabies vaccination, it must be given at least 21 days before travel.

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  • Pets must be at least 12 weeks of age at the time of vaccination.

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  • The most recent rabies vaccination should generally be within the last 12 months before export, unless the vaccine manufacturer specifies a longer validity period.

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Core vaccinations (required)

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In addition to rabies, the UAE requires pets to be vaccinated against core infectious diseases, and these vaccinations must have been administered within 12 months before export.

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For dogs, this includes vaccination against:

  • Distemper

  • Infectious canine hepatitis (Adenovirus)

  • Parvovirus

  • Leptospirosis

 

For cats, this includes vaccination against:

  • Feline panleukopenia (enteritis)

  • Feline viral rhinotracheitis (herpesvirus)

  • Feline calicivirus

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These vaccinations must be current at the time of travel and recorded in your pet’s veterinary records.

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Important timing note

 

If vaccinations need to be updated before travel, it is generally advisable not to administer rabies and routine vaccines on the same day, as this can create complications when validating vaccination records for export documentation.

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Step 4 — Book Your Pet’s Flight

Once your destination requirements and timeline are confirmed, you should arrange your pet’s flight with an airline or approved pet transport company.

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When booking:

  • confirm the airline accepts pets for your chosen route

  • check whether your pet must travel as manifest cargo or accompanied baggage

  • ensure the arrival airport is approved for live animal entry where required

  • confirm crate size and airline transport rules

  • share your planned flight date with us so we can schedule all veterinary checks, tests, and certificate timing correctly

 

We recommend booking flights before the final certification appointments, but only after the medical and permit timelines have been reviewed to avoid date conflicts.

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Step 5 - UAE Import Permit (Required Before Travel)

To bring a dog or cat into the United Arab Emirates, you must have a valid UAE import permit issued by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE).

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  • The import permit should be arranged in advance of your export appointment, as it forms part of the entry requirements for the UAE.

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  • The permit is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.

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  • We strongly recommend checking that the details on your permit (including owner details, pet details, and travel dates) match the supporting documents you will be using for export.

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  • We will require a copy of the import permit prior to our final appointment. 

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If you are unsure where to apply, the permit is obtained through MOCCAE’s online services portal.

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Step 6 — Request the Export Health Certificate (EHC 3926)

Before we can certify your dog for travel to the United Arab Emirates, the official Export Health Certificate (EHC 3926) must be requested from DEFRA.

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To start this process:

 

We guide you through this request step to make sure the correct certificate is issued and linked to your export — please do not apply for a certificate without confirming the details with us first.

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Step 7 - Parasite Treatments (Required Within 14 Days of Travel)

For travel to the United Arab Emirates, your pet must receive parasite treatments less than 14 days before shipping (travel date).

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External parasite treatment (fleas/ticks)

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Your dog or cat must be treated for external parasites using either:

  • Fipronil (CATS & DOGS)

  • Permethrin (DOGS ONLY)

 

This must be given within 14 days of travel.

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Internal parasite treatment (worms)

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Your dog or cat must also be treated for internal parasites (worms) using an anthelmintic containing:

  • Praziquantel (CATS & DOGS)

 

This must also be given within 14 days of travel.

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We will ensure the treatments are recorded correctly in your export paperwork so your pet meets UAE entry requirements.

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Step 7 - Official Veterinary clinical examination

Your pet will need a veterinary health check within 24 hours of travel to confirm they are clinically well and safe to fly.

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Once this examination has been completed, we can issue the Export Health Certificate (EHC) at the end of the appointment. This is the official APHA-approved document, signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV), confirming that your pet meets the UAE’s entry health requirements.

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