Moving with Pets

If you're moving from the UK to the UAE with a dog or cat, the process is mostly mechanical - but it takes longer than people expect (typically 4-6 months from start to arrival) and it's easy to miss a step that pushes the whole move out by weeks.

This guide covers the import process, the rabies titre test that everyone asks about, the airline options, and the typical costs. The fastest path is to use a specialist pet relocator - but it's useful to understand the steps even if you outsource them.

The headline picture

The end-to-end timeline

1. 1. Confirm your pet is allowed

   Day 1

   Cats: most breeds OK. Dogs: most breeds OK, but the UAE bans several breeds (American Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, Argentine Dogo, Brazilian Mastiff, Tosa Inu, Japanese Tosa, Wolf hybrids, and others). Restricted-breed dogs are refused entry - confirm before doing anything else.

2. 2. Microchip your pet (if not already)

   Same day vet visit

   Must be an ISO 11784/11785-compliant 15-digit microchip. Older non-ISO chips need a backup scanner at UAE entry - better to re-chip if your pet is on an older chip standard.

3. 3. Rabies vaccination

   1-3 weeks after microchipping

   Must happen after the microchip is implanted. Standard UK rabies vaccine (Nobivac, etc.) is acceptable. Note the date - this is the start of the titre test clock.

4. 4. Wait 30 days, then take the rabies titre blood sample

   30 days minimum after rabies jab

   The blood sample is sent to an EU-approved lab (typically VLA Weybridge or APHA in the UK). The sample must show a rabies antibody titre of at least 0.5 IU/ml. Results take 2-3 weeks.

5. 5. Wait the titre test waiting period

   3 months from sample date

   The UAE requires 3 months from the date of the titre blood sample to import. This is the longest gate - start early. Without this 3-month wait, your pet cannot enter the UAE except via quarantine in a third country (very expensive).

6. 6. Apply for the UAE import permit

   2-4 weeks before flight

   Apply via the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) - online via UAEcare or via a relocator. The permit is valid for a specific date range and a specific arrival airport. Submit your titre certificate, vaccine record, and microchip details.

7. 7. Pre-export vet visit + EU Animal Health Certificate

   1-10 days before flight

   A UK Official Veterinarian (OV) issues an Export Health Certificate. The pet must be examined within 10 days of travel. The OV checks the microchip, vaccinations, and titre, and stamps the export paperwork.

8. 8. Flight and arrival

   Day of travel

   Pet flies as cargo (most cases) or as accompanied baggage (smaller pets, certain airlines). At Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport, the pet clears customs with a vet inspection - typically 2-4 hours after the plane lands. The relocator or your appointed agent collects.

9. 9. Settle in the UAE

   Days to weeks

   Most UAE rental properties are pet-friendly but not all - confirm with the landlord before signing a tenancy. Vet care in the UAE is excellent and typically more expensive than the UK; budget accordingly.

The 3-month titre rule explained

This is the part that confuses people most. The sequence:

1. Microchip the pet (date X)
2. Vaccinate against rabies after the microchip (date Y, where Y > X)
3. Wait at least 30 days after the rabies vaccine
4. Take a blood sample for the rabies titre test (date Z, where Z >= Y + 30 days)
5. The sample must show 0.5 IU/ml or higher
6. Wait 3 months from date Z before importing to the UAE

So if your sample is taken on 1 January and shows a passing titre, the earliest your pet can fly to the UAE is 1 April. If the titre is below 0.5 IU/ml, you re-vaccinate and re-test, which adds a minimum of 30 + sample-processing days to the timeline.

Costs (per pet)

A breakdown for a typical UK-to-Dubai move with a relocator:

• Microchip (if not done): £20-£50
• Rabies vaccination: £50-£80
• Titre test (blood sample + lab fee): £60-£120
• UK Export Health Certificate (Official Vet visit): £200-£400
• UAE import permit: AED 200-500 (£40-£110)
• Crate (IATA-compliant): £100-£300 (size-dependent)
• Flight as cargo: £800-£2,500 (size and route-dependent)
• Relocator agency fee (if used): £500-£1,500
• UAE arrival handling and clearance: AED 500-1,500 (£100-£320)

Typical totals: small dog or cat £1,800-£3,000; large dog £3,000-£4,500.

Specialist relocators

Doing it yourself is technically possible - but the timeline complexity, the IATA crate specs, and the airline cargo bookings are easy to get wrong. Most UK-to-UAE pet movers use a specialist:

• PBS Pet Travel (UK-based)
• Pet Relocators UAE / Pet Movers UAE
• Animal Couriers
• Jet Pets

Costs typically include UK collection, airport handling, flight booking, UAE clearance, and door-to-door delivery in the UAE. A relocator's flat fee is £500-£1,500 on top of the unavoidable government and vet fees.

Airlines

Best practice for pet travel from the UK to the UAE:

• Emirates SkyCargo - direct UK to UAE, well-established pet handling, the most common choice
• British Airways IAG Cargo - direct UK to UAE
• KLM AirCares - via Amsterdam, slower but well-rated for pet welfare
• Lufthansa Cargo - via Frankfurt, well-rated
• Etihad Cargo - direct UK to Abu Dhabi

Most pets fly as manifest cargo (separate from passengers, in a temperature- and pressure-controlled hold). Smaller pets can fly as excess baggage or in-cabin on certain airlines, but the UAE typically requires manifest cargo for arrival processing.

UAE-side requirements at arrival

Your pet arrives at Dubai International (DXB), Al Maktoum International (DWC), or Abu Dhabi International (AUH). The relocator handles the clearance:

• Manifest cargo arrival inspection
• Veterinary inspection by UAE Ministry inspector
• Customs clearance and duty (minimal for pets)
• Release to relocator or owner

Pets that arrive without a valid import permit, or whose paperwork is mismatched, can be held at the airport for up to 7 days and may incur boarding fees of AED 200-500/day.

Settling your pet in the UAE

• Vet care: UAE vets are generally excellent and English-speaking. Major chains: British Veterinary Centre (Dubai), German Veterinary Centre, Modern Veterinary Clinic. Costs are typically 1.5-2x UK rates.
• Insurance: pet insurance is available in the UAE but less developed than the UK. Bupa, Petplan UAE, and a handful of others offer plans.
• Walking: most Dubai neighbourhoods have parks; Marina, JLT, Greens, Mira are popular with dog owners. Hot months (May-October) require early-morning or post-9pm walks.
• Pet-friendly housing: about 60-70% of UAE rentals accept pets. Confirm with the landlord and add a pet clause to the tenancy contract.

Restricted dog breeds (current)

The UAE bans the import and ownership of:

• American Pit Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Argentine Dogo
• Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasileiro)
• Tosa Inu / Japanese Tosa
• Wolf hybrids and similar
• Several large mastiff breeds (varies by emirate)

The list updates periodically - confirm with MOCCAE or a relocator before assuming your dog is eligible. If your dog is on the restricted list, the only options are to leave the dog with friends/family in the UK or, in rare cases, move to a country where the breed is legal.

Next steps

• Start the timeline early - 4-6 months before your move is the right window to start microchipping and vaccination if you haven't already.
• Engage a relocator quote in parallel with your own move planning. Most quote within 24-48 hours of a request.
• Read the Property Guide for the pet clause to add to your UAE tenancy.