United Arab Emirates Pet Import Requirements

Rabies (no mandatory waiting period to enter the UAE after the rabies vaccination has been administered. However, the UAE has agreed health certificates in place with some countries that require a min. of 21 days to have passed).

• The vaccination should be done at age not less than 12 weeks and the validity of the vaccine well be in accordance with the manufacturing company.

Please note that a rabies vaccination administered any earlier than 12 weeks of age is not recognized.

Rabies blood test IS required for the HIGH RISK countries.

Test terms as following:

 1-In case that the pet is vaccinated for the first time or discontinuity of the vaccination: a period not less than 21 days must pass from vaccination against Rabies.

2- in case that the animal has a valid booster vaccination, It does not require an interval of 21 days after vaccination, and the test can be done directly.

3-The test result should not be less than (0.5 IU / ml).

4-The validity of the Rabies Testing certificate is a maximum of 365 days, in a condition that the rabies vaccine is valid and continue and no booster dose was given, otherwise the test should be repeated in accordance to these clause 1 or 2.

Rabies blood test IS NOT require for the LOW RISK country:

List of low risk countries:

Australia, Austria, Andorra, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, French Polynesia, Falkland Islands, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Malta, Caledonia. New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Palau, Latvia, Albania, Croatia, Maldives, Spain (excluding Melilla) Cyprus, Korea, Montenegro, Seychelles, Suriname, Micronesia, Greece, Marshall Islands, Bahamas, Lithuania, Macedonia.

All countries not listed above (high risk) require the RNATT prior to travel.  

If coming from ANY OTHER country (minimum residency 6 months), a rabies titre test from an accredited laboratory is required. There is no mandatory waiting period satisfactory test results. The pet can travel to the UAE as soon as the test results have been received and the results are valid for up to 12 months PROVIDED that the rabies vaccination upon which the blood was drawn is still valid at the time of arrival in the UAE and no further rabies booster vaccination has been administered.
Please note that if a cat or dog is returning to the UAE under the same valid UAE administered rabies vaccination it departed the UAE on, plus a copy of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment "Veterinary Health Certificate for Live Animals" issued for export, the rabies titre test is not required, provided that no further rabies vaccination booster has been administered.  All other entry requirements must still be met.

Cats and dogs residing in UAE (Resident/Returning Pet)

They must comply with the following health and technical requirements:

A. The animal must have obtained a veterinary health certificate from the Ministry of Climate Change & Environment before leaving the country.

B. Identified by microchip.

C. accompanied by an authorized veterinary certificate issued by the competent authorities from the exporting country.

D. The animal was vaccinated against rabies before its departure from the UAE and this vaccination is valid until its return with no further rabies boosters administered. Should the UAE rabies vaccination expire, if coming from a high-risk for rabies country, a titre test will be required. 

All other UAE entry requirements must be fully met with the exception of the RNATT, if the above technical requirements have been met.

There is NO mandated quarantine.  However, if the full UAE entry requirements have not been met, pets may be quarantined at one of the UAE Ministry-approved boarding facilities until they meet the UAE requirements. In more extreme cases (underage, banned breed etc.) they may be re-exported at the owner's expense, or even, in extremely rare cases, taken into custody and euthanized by the authorities.

The United Arab Emirates does not permit the import or transit of the following breeds, their crosses or their hybrids:
Any Bull Terrier (Pit Bull Terrier or American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier or other), Japanese Tosa (Tosa Inu, Tosa Fighting Dog, Japanese Tosa), any Mastiff breeds - Argentinian Fighting Dog (Dogo Argentino, Argentinian Mastiff), Brazilian Fighting Dog (Fila Brasileino, Brazilian Mastiff),  American Bully, Canario Presa, Wolf Dog Hybrid (any dog mixed with a wolf).
However, exceptions include service dogs, emotional support dogs or dogs which provide some kind of medical support, all in accordance with the regulating requirements. Special permission needs to be gained from MOCCAE directly by the owner.
In the Emirate of Dubai, the breeds mentioned below cannot reside in an apartment; must be leashed and muzzled, in public and must be registered with the Veterinary Services Division:
Husky, English Bulldogs, Perro de Pressa Mallorquin, Bull Dog, Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, and Shar Pei.

At UAE airports, customs clearance usually takes within three to five hours from the time of the flight's arrival.