Bringing a dog or cat to the United Arab Emirates

From moderate to hard, depending on which of the authority's 2 origin groups your pet starts in.

Difficulty from Germany
Hard
Prep time
7 weeks
Quarantine
None
Authority
Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) — Animal Development and Health Department; release at the MOCCAE veterinary quarantine centres of the ports of entry
Rules researched 26 Sep 2026 · 12 sources
01

Requirements

Dog from Germany · 12 steps

It depends on where you're coming from. Pick your country, or compare the origin groups the authority itself uses below.

COMING FROM
Prep time 7 weeks

Dog from Germany (High risk (every country not listed elsewhere)): 12 requirements

Open as my dated checklist
  1. 01
    Import permit
    Import permit issued in advance by MOCCAE through its website / digital-services account (online form and card payment; no documents to upload for pet dogs and cats). Issued in 1 working day (5 working days for service, emotional-support or medical dogs). Valid 90 days from issue; a pet cannot enter on an expired permit. USDA's page still says 30 days.
    • At most 90 days before arrival — permit valid 90 days from issue (USDA says 30)
    Sources disagree — confirm with the authority
    Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Import of pets (cats / dogs) — service details, English (MOCCAE pet import service page, service code 122-003-008-000))· checked 26 Sep 2026
  2. 02
    Non-commercial limits
    An individual may import at most 2 pets per year (2 cats, 2 dogs, or 1 dog and 1 cat). Resident pets leaving and returning to the UAE do not count.
    Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Ministerial Resolution No. (109) of 2021 regarding regulating import of cats and dogs (English text published by MOCCAE))· checked 26 Sep 2026
  3. 03
    Microchip
    Permanent microchip; the number on the health certificate must match the implanted chip. MOCCAE names no ISO standard.
    Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Ministerial Resolution No. (109) of 2021 regarding regulating import of cats and dogs (English text published by MOCCAE))· checked 26 Sep 2026
  4. 04
    Rabies vaccination
    Valid rabies vaccination given according to the manufacturer's instructions; the first dose at 12 weeks of age or older. The vaccination must stay valid through arrival (Canadian certificate) — a booster after the titer blood sample means a new titer test (MOCCAE). The 21-day minimum comes from the US, Canadian and UK certificates.
    • At least 21 days before departure — not in the UAE texts — from the Canadian, US and UK export certificates
    Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Ministerial Resolution No. (109) of 2021 regarding regulating import of cats and dogs (English text published by MOCCAE))· checked 26 Sep 2026
  5. 05
    Rabies antibody (titer) test
    Rabies antibody titration test (method not specified) at a laboratory approved by the competent authority of the exporting country; result at least 0.5 IU/ml; the certificate shows sampling date, test date and method, or the result is written on the health certificate. Blood sample at least 21 days after a first vaccination or after a lapsed one; with a valid booster, any time after it. The test must be done before shipping — no waiting period after the sample is stated. The result stays valid 365 days if the rabies vaccination stays valid and no booster is given; otherwise the test must be repeated.
    • At least 21 days after the rabies vaccination — after a first or lapsed vaccination only; with a valid booster the sample can be taken at once
    • At most 365 days before arrival — the test certificate is valid 365 days, only while the rabies vaccination stays valid and no booster is given (otherwise the test is repeated)
    Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Ministerial Resolution No. (109) of 2021 regarding regulating import of cats and dogs (English text published by MOCCAE))· checked 26 Sep 2026
  6. 06
    Other vaccinations
    Dogs: canine distemper, canine parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis and leptospirosis. Leptospirosis may be replaced by a laboratory test if the exporting country does not vaccinate against it. (The US and Canadian certificates specify leptospirosis serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola.)
    Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Ministerial Resolution No. (109) of 2021 regarding regulating import of cats and dogs (English text published by MOCCAE))· checked 26 Sep 2026
  7. 07
    Parasite treatment
    Treatment against internal and external parasites within the 14 days before shipment, recorded on the health certificate or in the pet passport.
    • At most 14 days before departure
    Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Ministerial Resolution No. (109) of 2021 regarding regulating import of cats and dogs (English text published by MOCCAE))· checked 26 Sep 2026
  8. 08
    Health certificate
    Veterinary health certificate attested by the competent veterinary authority of the exporting country, with a statement that the animal was examined and showed no signs of disease; plus the vaccination record or pet passport showing microchip number, description (species, colour, sex, date of birth) and, for every vaccine, name, manufacturer, batch and date. MOCCAE states no validity period; the US, Canadian and UK certificates are valid 10 days from issue.
    • At most 10 days before arrival — not stated by MOCCAE — validity of the Canadian, UK and US certificates
    Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Ministerial Resolution No. (109) of 2021 regarding regulating import of cats and dogs (English text published by MOCCAE))· checked 26 Sep 2026
  9. 09
    Minimum age
    At least 15 weeks old on import (high-risk country).
    Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Ministerial Resolution No. (109) of 2021 regarding regulating import of cats and dogs (English text published by MOCCAE))· checked 26 Sep 2026
  10. 10
    Route restrictions
    Ship directly from the exporting country; if the pet passes through another country it must not mix with other animals in transit. The US and Canadian certificates carry an owner's declaration for this.
    Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Ministerial Resolution No. (109) of 2021 regarding regulating import of cats and dogs (English text published by MOCCAE))· checked 26 Sep 2026
  11. 11
    Transport rules
    Transport in line with IATA rules for live animals (container). MOCCAE's texts do not say whether the pet must arrive as manifested cargo — see the US-only step below.
    Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Ministerial Resolution No. (109) of 2021 regarding regulating import of cats and dogs (English text published by MOCCAE))· checked 26 Sep 2026
  12. 12
    Arrival inspection
    On arrival: online release request and card payment (release fee 500 per dog, 250 per cat), visual inspection by MOCCAE at the port of entry, electronic release permit. Documents for release: customs declaration or bill of lading, vaccination record / passport, certified health certificate, and the titer test certificate.
    Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Import of pets (cats / dogs) — service details, English (MOCCAE pet import service page, service code 122-003-008-000))· checked 26 Sep 2026

Dog from Germany: 12 requirements.

In short: As for low-risk countries plus a rabies antibody (titer) test ≥0.5 IU/ml before shipping and a minimum age of 15 weeks. No waiting period after the blood sample is stated. No quarantine if compliant. US origin: USDA says manifested cargo only.

Always confirm with the destination's official authority and your airline before travelling.

Compare by origin group

The groups are the authority's own lists. Pick a cell to see that group's checklist above.

FromDogCat
Low risk
From United Kingdom: dog · cat
51 places
Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, French Polynesia, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Palau, Portugal, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vanuatu
High risk (every country not listed elsewhere)
From Germany: dog · cat
Still deciding where to go?
See the United Arab Emirates side by side with other destinations from Germany.
Compare with other destinations
02

Quarantine

None

No quarantine when the paperwork is in order

If the pet does not meet the rules: Detained in a quarantine or pet shelter licensed by MOCCAE, at the owner's expense, until it is confirmed that it meets all the required conditions (Ministerial Resolution 21/2025); otherwise re-exported..

Source:Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) (opens official site: Import of pets (cats / dogs) — service details, English (MOCCAE pet import service page, service code 122-003-008-000))· checked 26 Sep 2026
03

Official fees

2 official fees
import permitMinistry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE)
AED 200 per animal
release on arrival (dog)Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE)
AED 500 per animal

Official fees only. Vet, airline and courier prices are not part of the rules.

04

Going back to Germany

Moderate

Returning to Germany from the United Arab Emirates: 0 weeks; a rabies antibody test is needed. Timing set by: Rabies antibody (titer) test.

Germany guide
05

Approved entry points

5 airports
06

Breed bans

48 breeds
07

Transit through United Arab Emirates

2 rules
08

Leaving United Arab Emirates with your pet

7 rules
09

Rule changes

None dated

No dated change in the researched rules of the United Arab Emirates. Tell us if you know of one.

10

Good to know

7 notes
11

Checklists to United Arab Emirates

14 route pages

Step-by-step route pages for the origins people move from most, dated timeline and all.

12

Traveller reports

Share your trip

No traveller reports for the United Arab Emirates yet. If you have made this trip, tell the next person what was actually checked at the border.

Share your trip
13

Sources

12 official pages
Report a rule change

Every official page behind this guide, with the last day its text was confirmed unchanged.

Show all 12 sources