Taking your pet abroad from the UAE: the export guide

Whether you’re relocating or heading home, taking your pet abroad from the UAE is very doable — but it’s the destination country’s rules that set the pace, and some have long lead times. Here’s what to expect and how to plan around it.

It’s the destination that decides

The first thing to understand is that the UAE side of an export is usually straightforward — it’s the country you’re travelling to that sets the demanding requirements. Rabies-free countries and islands tend to have the strictest rules. Always start by confirming your destination’s import requirements, then work backwards.

The rabies titer test

For many destinations, the critical step is a rabies titer test — a simple blood test that confirms the rabies vaccine has produced enough protective antibodies. The catch is the mandated waiting period between the test and travel, which can run to several months. This is the number-one reason pet moves get delayed, and the number-one reason to start early.

The export health certificate

Close to your travel date, an export health certificate is issued through MOCCAE confirming your pet is healthy and meets the destination’s rules. It must be obtained within 10 days of travel, and the MOCCAE request itself can take up to 30 days to process, so start well before your flight rather than close to it.

Airlines, crates and breed restrictions

Book pet travel as early as you can — spaces are limited. Your pet will usually need an IATA-compliant crate sized correctly for them. Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds face airline restrictions, especially in hot months, because they’re more prone to breathing difficulties in transit — check with the airline well ahead.

A realistic timeline

For strict destinations, plan three to six months (up to seven or eight for the strictest destinations) ahead to comfortably fit in the titer test and its waiting period. For countries with lighter requirements, a few weeks may be enough. When in doubt, earlier is always safer.

How we help

Our relocation team manages the full export process — vaccinations, titer tests, documentation and airline coordination — and we’ve sent family pets to destinations around the world. Give us your destination and date, and we’ll build the timeline for you.