For many families a pet is part of the family, and moving to the UAE without it makes no sense. The UAE allows dogs and cats to be imported, but the conditions are precise, and an animal that does not meet them is sent back at the owner's expense or confiscated. This article is based on the service page "Import of pets (cats / dogs)" of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), checked on 25 October 2026.
Two stages: import permit and release
| Stage | Steps | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Import permit | Register in the ministry's digital services system, fill in the application, pay the fee, permit issued | One working day; 5 working days for service, emotional support or medical dogs |
| Release at the port of entry | Release application, pay the fee, visual inspection and testing if needed, release permit issued | On arrival |
The import permit is valid for 90 days from the date of issue, and an animal may not enter on an expired permit.
Documents for release
- a customs declaration or bill of lading with the delivery details;
- a vaccination card or pet passport with the required details;
- a health certificate certified by the competent veterinary authority of the country of origin;
- only for entry from high-risk countries: a rabies antibody test certificate from a laboratory approved by the competent authority of the exporting country; the result may also be recorded in the health certificate.
No documents are needed at the import permit stage for ordinary pet dogs and cats. For service, emotional support or medical dogs, a training centre certificate, a medical report on the owner and the owner's undertaking not to transfer, abandon or breed the dog are required.
Main conditions
| Condition | Official rule |
|---|---|
| Number of animals for individuals | At most 2 cats, 2 dogs or one dog and one cat a year; resident animals returning are counted separately |
| Microchip | A permanent microchip; its number on the health certificate must match the implanted chip |
| Vaccination card or passport | The microchip number, a full description of the animal (species, colour, sex, date of birth) and the name, manufacturer, batch number and date of each vaccine |
| Rabies vaccine age | The first dose not before 12 weeks of age; validity per the manufacturer's instructions |
| Minimum age of the animal | 12 weeks from low-risk countries and at least 15 weeks from high-risk countries |
| Parasites | Preventive treatment for internal and external parasites in the 14 days before shipping, recorded in the certificate or passport |
| Shipping | Under IATA conditions; directly from the exporting country, and when passing through another country without mixing with other animals |
| Bengal and Serval cats | A fifth-generation pedigree certificate |
Rabies antibody test for high-risk countries
| Subject | Official rule |
|---|---|
| Required result | At least 0.5 international units per millilitre |
| First or interrupted vaccination | At least 21 days after the rabies vaccine |
| Valid booster vaccination | No 21-day wait needed |
| Certificate validity | 365 days, provided the rabies vaccination stays valid and continuous and no booster is given; otherwise the test is repeated |
The ministry's page lists only the low-risk countries; if your country of origin is not on it, ask the ministry about its status before planning. The list includes, among others, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Kuwait, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Vanuatu, the Netherlands, Spain (excluding Melilla and Ceuta), Cyprus, Korea, Greece and the Maldives. Iran and Türkiye are not on this list.
Required vaccinations
| Animal | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| Dog | Rabies; canine distemper; canine parvovirus; infectious canine hepatitis; leptospirosis (if the exporting country does not vaccinate for it, a test replaces it) |
| Cat | Rabies; feline panleukopenia; feline rhinotracheitis; feline calicivirus |
Banned breeds
These dog breeds may not be imported, except service, emotional support or medical dogs under the relevant conditions: Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasileiro), Dogo Argentino, Tibetan Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Boerboel, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Bully Kutta, Presa Canario and Japanese Tosa.
Fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Import permit per dog or cat | AED 200 |
| Release permit per dog | AED 500 |
| Release permit per cat | AED 250 |
Resident animals returning
A UAE-resident dog or cat returning after a trip must have obtained a veterinary health certificate from the ministry before leaving, have a microchip, travel with a health certificate from the country of origin, and have a rabies vaccination that stayed valid from before departure until return. If the vaccination expires in between, the animal is treated as a first import.
Two examples
These examples are hypothetical and only put the official conditions and fees above side by side.
Example 1: a dog and a cat from the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is on the low-risk list, so no antibody test is needed and the minimum age is 12 weeks.
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Import permits | 2 × 200 | AED 400 |
| Release of the dog | — | AED 500 |
| Release of the cat | — | AED 250 |
| Total ministry fees | — | AED 1,150 |
Shipping, the vet in the country of origin and the microchip are separate.
Example 2: a cat from a high-risk country. A 5-month-old cat that received its first rabies vaccine at 13 weeks.
| Condition | Status |
|---|---|
| Minimum age of 15 weeks | 5 months, about 21 weeks; met |
| Antibody test | At least 21 days after the first vaccine; result at least 0.5 |
| Parasite treatment | In the 14 days before shipping |
| Ministry fees | 200 + 250 = AED 450 |
Obtain the import permit so that the arrival date falls within its 90-day validity.
Practical points
- Plan the timeline backwards: rabies vaccine, a 21-day wait, the antibody test, parasite treatment in the last 14 days, then shipping.
- First check whether your country of origin is on the low-risk list.
- Make sure the microchip number is the same on every document.
- Check the dog's breed against the banned list.
- For questions, the ministry's call centre answers on 8003050.
Royal Golden does not give veterinary or legal advice. This article is general information, and the decision on the entry of any animal rests with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
Sources
- UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), Import of pets (cats / dogs) — https://www.moccae.gov.ae/en/services/import-permit-pets (checked on 25 October 2026)