General information, not veterinary advice. Requirements are set by the destination authority and can change: confirm with the official authority, your accredited vet and your airline.
Pet imports into Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the United Arab Emirates go through the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE). The US side runs through a USDA-accredited veterinarian and USDA APHIS.
There is no long waiting period. The difficulty is a set of short windows that must overlap: 21 days, 14 days, 10 days and the import permit's validity.
Why a titer test applies from the US
MOCCAE requires the titer test only for imports from countries outside its low-risk list. The United States is not on the list, and APHIS confirms the test is required.
Before anything else: breed, age and number
Check these first: paperwork cannot fix them.
- Banned breeds. The MOCCAE list includes, with their mixes: Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Tibetan Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Boerboel, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Bully Kutta, Perro de Presa Canario and Japanese Tosa. Service, emotional support and medical dogs have a conditional exception.
- Age. From the US, your pet must be at least 15 weeks old at import, and the rabies vaccine must be started at 12 weeks of age or older.
- Number. One person may import at most two pets per year: two cats, two dogs, or one of each.
Bengal and Serval cats also need a fifth-generation pedigree certificate.
The import permit
You need a MOCCAE import permit before your pet ships. You apply through a MOCCAE digital services account, online or through the app. MOCCAE states that no special supporting documents are needed for a pet cat or dog.
On permit validity, two official sources disagree: MOCCAE's page states 90 days from issue, the APHIS page 30 days. To satisfy both, plan arrival within 30 days of the issue date.
The permit fee is AED 200 per animal, paid by credit card. MOCCAE's page prints the amount without a currency, so check it on the payment screen.
Health rules and their timing
Microchip. A permanent electronic microchip, with the number on the health certificate matching your pet.
Rabies vaccine. Given according to the manufacturer's instructions, and at least 21 days before arrival in the UAE.
Titer test. The result must be 0.5 IU/ml or more, from an official diagnostic laboratory named on the certificate. The timing depends on your pet's history:
- After a first or a lapsed rabies vaccination, the blood sample is taken at least 21 days after the vaccine.
- With a valid booster, the sample can be taken on the vaccination day or later.
- The US certificate requires the test no more than 12 months before export. MOCCAE states the result is valid for 365 days, provided the rabies vaccination stays valid and no booster is given after the test.
Other vaccines. The certificate covers distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis and leptospirosis for dogs, and panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus for cats.
Parasite treatment. Internal and external treatment within the 14 days before shipping, recorded on the certificate.
| Step | Rule | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
| Rabies vaccine | Started at 12 weeks of age or older | Date of birth |
| Blood draw (first or lapsed vaccine) | 21 days or more after the vaccine | Vaccine date |
| Titer validity | No more than 12 months before export | Blood draw |
| Rabies vaccine | Given at least 21 days before arrival | Arrival |
| Parasite treatment | Within the 14 days before shipping | Shipping |
| Health certificate | Valid 10 days after issuance | Issue date |
| Import permit | Arrive within 30 days to satisfy both sources | Permit issue |
The certificate and APHIS endorsement
The UAE uses a bilateral health certificate agreed with APHIS, with separate dog and cat versions. A USDA-accredited veterinarian with an NVAP number inspects your pet on the day of certification and completes it, including the titer result, vaccines and parasite treatments.
The certificate is valid for 10 days after issuance: your pet must arrive within that window, APHIS endorsement included. Your vet submits it through VEHCS. An APHIS veterinary medical officer endorses it with an original ink signature and an embossed seal, and the endorsed original travels with your pet.
If your pet transits another country, you sign an APHIS transit attestation confirming no contact with other animals.
Flying to the UAE
The APHIS page states that your pet must travel to the UAE as manifested cargo. On arrival, MOCCAE issues a release permit against a customs declaration or bill of lading, the vaccination record, the endorsed health certificate and the titer result. The release fee is AED 500 per dog and AED 250 per cat.
At the time of writing, airline pages state:
- Delta lists the UAE among destinations closed to cabin pets.
- Emirates does not accept cats and dogs in the cabin; itineraries ending in Dubai travel as cargo through Emirates SkyCargo.
- Etihad describes cabin travel for small pets into Abu Dhabi, and its own banned list adds Rottweilers, Dobermans and Boxers. It also wants the health certificate signed and stamped within five days before the flight.
As these pages differ, confirm the travel mode in writing before booking.
MOCCAE's listed entry points include Dubai Cargo Village, Dubai Airport Free Zone, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah Airport and Ras Al Khaimah Airport.
Plan it with the kit
The USA to UAE kit lines up these windows against your own flight. It contains a user guide, a timeline workbook that computes every date from the flight date, a vet visit brief, a document and airline checklist, and letter templates.
USA to UAE pet move kit
The UAE from the US: MOCCAE permit, 2-pet limit, rabies titer, 14-day treatments and the 10-day APHIS certificate, with the conflicting rules explained.
See the kit