Travelling With Your Pet Dog to Dubai

Ask any pet shop Dubai owner, and they will tell you this: Dubai may have more restrictions in place about where pet owners can bring their pet dogs, but there are plenty of places in the emirate that welcome pets. The key here is to follow government rules and pet policies in individual establishments.

That being said, if you are travelling to Dubai for leisure or business, and you’re not staying long, it’s in your dog’s best interests to leave him at home. Air travel can be tiring for pets.  However, it is a different story when you are moving to Dubai for good or are staying in the United Arab Emirates for some time. Then, you don’t have a choice but to fly your beloved pet dog to Dubai with you.

What to Do and Expect When Travelling With Your Dog to Dubai

Bringing your dog to Dubai is considered dog importation. Accomplishing this is a two-step process.

Get an Import Permit and Pay the Fee

To travel with your pet to Dubai, you will need an import permit issued by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. You can get this import permit online from the MOCCAE website.

There are no documentary requirements to get an import permit, but there’s a fee of AED 200 per pet. Your pet dog must arrive in Dubai while the import permit is valid; the import permit will expire after 30 days.

Get Your Dog Released at the Airport

You must also fill out an online release form to release your ‘consignment’. This MOCCAE service costs AED 500 per pet dog.

To get your dog released to you upon arrival (subject to the result of an inspection by the authorities, of course), you will need to provide the following documents.

• Customs declaration or bill of lading 

• A valid pet import permit: Pet import permits expire in thirty days. Make sure you’re travelling with a valid pet import permit.

• Your pet dog’s immunisation card or animal passport: The microchip number listed on his passport must match the microchip implanted in your pet. The vaccination card or passport must also include all his vaccination records with complete details. Your dog must have a valid or qualified vaccination record for‌: rabies, canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis, and leptospirosis.

• Your dog’s health certificate: The health certificate should be issued by competent veterinary authorities from your country of origin.
• Lab test certificate indicating antibody titration test results for rabies: If you are from a country that the UAE deems high-risk for rabies, you will need to have your dog tested in a government-accredited laboratory in your country of origin. The test should have been conducted at least ninety days before the pet’s date of arrival and inspection. The certificate must include the sampling method and data. The test results from this test may also be indicated in the health certificate.

Important Information for Pet Owners Bringing Pet Dogs to Dubai

Remember to consider the following if you intend to fly with your pet dog to Dubai.

Mode of Air Travel

Your pet dog has to travel according to what is prescribed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Your dog will require its own ticket, and it will have to travel as manifested cargo and travel in the plane’s cargo hold. You must also comply with your airline’s own pet animal transport policies.

Microchip Status

Only dogs with a permanent microchip implant may be brought to Dubai.

Forbidden Breeds

Not all breeds are allowed in the UAE. The following breeds are not allowed into the country:

• Bull Terrier (Staffordshire, American Pitbull)
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• American Bully
• Mastiff (Brazilian, Argentinian, Tibetan, Neapolitan, French)
• Boerboel
• Bullmastiff
• Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff)
• Bully Kutta (Alangu Mastiff, Indian Mastiff)
• Perro De Presa Canario (Canary Mastiff)
• Japanese Tosa
• Presa Canario

Exemptions apply if the dog is a service animal, an emotional support animal, or serves a medical purpose.

Pet Crate Recommendations When Flying Your Pet Dog

When transporting your pet dog to Dubai, get him a comfortable, un-wheeled pet crate with a solid, leak-proof floor, handles, and a secure locking mechanism. It should be made of metal, rigid plastics, fibreglass, or metal mesh.

Make sure the pet crate is adequately sized. It should give your pet enough clearance to stand and ample space to move around.

Outfit the crate with a food bowl and a water container. These must be placed inside for your pet’s ease of access, but they must be refillable from the outside. You can provide a selection of dog treats. Dubai could be hours away (depending on where you are coming from, of course), so you cannot let your dog go hungry while in transit.

You can put one of your unwashed shirts inside the crate as this might reassure your dog while travelling in the cargo hold. However, do not put any hard toys inside that could injure your pet in case of turbulence.

For speedy processing upon arrival at the airport, tape a card with your dog’s name, details and your information on the pet crate. You can also tape a bag containing a leash and a collar to the outside of the crate.

Ready to Fly Your Pet Dog to Dubai?

If you intend to bring your pet dog to Dubai, get an import permit and prepare all the necessary documents to get him released without delay.

Read up on the airline’s specific policies and recommendations for pet travel to ensure you don’t encounter any issues. As with most things, meticulous preparation is key to travelling trouble-free with your beloved pet.