What does a dog need to enter the United Arab Emirates?

Four things are non-negotiable: the chip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old, an import permit issued online before departure, and a veterinary health certificate.

1. 1

   ISO microchip

   Before the rabies vaccination

   A 15-digit chip to ISO 11784/11785, implanted before the rabies vaccination. The order matters: a chip implanted afterwards invalidates the vaccination record for import.

2. 2

   Rabies vaccination

   At least 21 days before departure

   Administered after the microchip and at least 21 days before travel. A booster within an unbroken vaccination history counts from the day it is given.

3. 3

   Rabies antibody titre test

   Three months before departure, if required

   Only for departures from countries not on MOCCAE's low-risk list. Blood drawn at least 21 days after vaccination, then a three-month wait before entry. Around 50 countries — the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy among them — are exempt.

4. 4

   Core vaccinations

   Current on the day of departure

   Distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis and leptospirosis, current at the time of travel.

5. 5

   MOCCAE import permit

   Within 30 days of arrival

   Applied for online before departure and valid for exactly 30 days from issue. A permit that expires in transit is not accepted.

6. 6

   Veterinary health certificate

   Days before departure

   Issued by an official veterinarian, with the microchip number matching every other document.

Worth knowing

• Minimum age is 12 weeks from a low-risk country and 15 weeks from a high-risk one.
• On scheduled commercial services MOCCAE requires pets to arrive as manifest cargo; Etihad holds an exception for accompanied baggage. In-cabin arrival on private and shared flights is arranged case by case — your aviation specialist confirms it with MOCCAE for the specific aircraft and date.
• Some breeds are refused entry outright. Check yours before booking anything.