Pet Transport UAE to Pakistan: 2026 Process for Dogs and Cats

The UAE is home to a large Pakistani expat community, and the question of moving a dog or cat back to Lahore, Karachi, or Islamabad comes up more than you might think. Sometimes it is a family returning after years abroad. Sometimes it is a dog who has lived in Dubai since puppyhood, and the owner has no intention of leaving it behind.

The good news is that the UAE to Pakistan route is manageable. There is no titre test, no long waiting period, and several airlines make the journey multiple times a day. The central task is Pakistan’s import permit from the Animal Quarantine Department, known as the AQD NOC. Get that right, and the rest follows.

What Pakistan requires from incoming pets

Pakistan’s Animal Quarantine Department (AQD) sits under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. It is the authority that regulates live animal imports. For dogs and cats arriving from the UAE, the AQD requires:

• An AQD NOC (No Objection Certificate) obtained before travel
• An official veterinary health certificate from a UAE-registered official vet
• A current rabies vaccination
• An ISO-compatible microchip

The NOC is the step most people underestimate. It is not a document you obtain on arrival. It is an import clearance you apply for in advance, and the AQD issues it once it has reviewed the animal’s details and vaccination records. Processing typically takes four to six weeks, though it can be faster if the application is complete and accurate. Applying through a Pakistan-based agent who knows the AQD process reduces the chance of a delay from a missing or incorrectly formatted document.

There is no rabies titre test requirement for pets from the UAE entering Pakistan. A current rabies vaccination on record, confirmed in the health certificate, satisfies the vaccination requirement.

The UAE side of the process

Before your pet can leave Dubai or Abu Dhabi, you need a health certificate from a UAE official vet. In the UAE, this means a vet registered with the relevant authority in your emirate: in Dubai, this is typically through the Dubai Municipality or Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE). The certificate confirms the animal is healthy, microchipped, and vaccinated. MOCCAE or the relevant authority endorses the certificate.

The certificate is issued close to travel, generally within 10 days of departure, and must be current and valid on the date your pet arrives in Pakistan. The UAE endorsement authenticates it as an official document for Pakistan’s AQD inspection.

Your regular vet in Dubai may or may not be able to issue the official certificate. Many expat pets in the UAE are seen by private practices, and not all of those are registered as official vet providers for export certification. If your vet cannot issue the endorsed certificate, they can usually refer you to a government-registered vet who can. Some specialist pet relocation companies in the UAE handle both the UAE certificate and the AQD NOC application as part of a combined service.

Airlines from the UAE to Pakistan

Several carriers connect the UAE to Pakistan’s three main airports: Lahore Allama Iqbal International (LHE), Karachi Jinnah International (KHI), and Islamabad International (ISB). Frequency is high, with multiple flights per day on the main routes.

Emirates operates from Dubai International (DXB) to all three Pakistani cities. Emirates SkyCargo accepts pets on these routes as manifested cargo. It is the most established carrier for UAE to Pakistan pet cargo, with good cargo handling at Dubai and experienced ground staff.

Etihad operates from Abu Dhabi International (AUH) to Karachi and Islamabad. Etihad Cargo accepts pets. If you are based in Abu Dhabi or the western UAE, the AUH departure avoids the Dubai traffic entirely.

flydubai connects Dubai to Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad and may accept pets on some routes. Confirm current pet acceptance with flydubai cargo before booking, as low-cost carrier policies can change.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operates from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to all three Pakistani cities. PIA Cargo accepts pets. The PIA route is a familiar one for Pakistani families relocating, and PIA staff on this corridor are generally experienced with pet documentation requirements.

Air Arabia operates from Sharjah (SHJ) to Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. For owners based in Sharjah or Ajman, this is a convenient departure point. Confirm pet cargo acceptance before booking.

For most dogs and cats, the journey from the UAE to Pakistan is two to four hours, which is a short enough duration that in-hold stress for a well-prepared animal is manageable.

Choosing between Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad as your arrival city

Your arrival city choice is usually determined by where you are relocating to, but it is worth knowing that each airport’s AQD inspection capacity differs.

Karachi Jinnah International (KHI) handles the highest volume of international arrivals and has the most established AQD presence. If this is your first time navigating Pakistan’s animal import process, Karachi can be slightly more straightforward because the inspectors are familiar with international pet arrivals.

Islamabad International (ISB) is a newer airport and handles international cargo well. The AQD office there is active and processes import documentation for pets arriving on Gulf carriers regularly.

Lahore Allama Iqbal International (LHE) receives direct flights from Dubai on Emirates and PIA and has AQD inspection capability. It is the right choice if you are moving to Punjab.

In all three cities, the AQD inspector on arrival will check the microchip against your documents, review the health certificate, and verify the NOC. If all three match and are in order, your pet clears and is released to you. Non-compliant animals are held at the airport facility pending resolution.

Crate requirements and what to prepare

Pakistan AQD and the airlines require an IATA-compliant travel crate. This means rigid sides, appropriate ventilation, a secure door that cannot be opened from the inside, and sufficient size for the animal to stand, turn, and lie down comfortably. If you do not already have one, allow AED 200-600 for an IATA-rated crate of the right size.

For the flight itself, which is typically two to four hours:

• Line the crate with absorbent material in case of an accident
• Attach a small water container to the inside of the door (clip-on style)
• Do not feed your pet for four to six hours before the flight
• Include a familiar item (a worn t-shirt, a favourite toy) to reduce stress
• Make sure your contact details and destination address are visible on the crate exterior

Sedation is not recommended for air travel. Most vets in the UAE will not prescribe sedatives for flying pets because sedation can affect breathing and balance in a pressurised hold.

What the move costs

The total cost for a standard dog or cat move from the UAE to Pakistan typically runs from AED 3,000 to AED 6,000. The main cost items are:

• UAE official vet health certificate and endorsement: AED 300-800
• AQD NOC fee (Pakistan): modest fee, often PKR 1,000-5,000
• Pet cargo or hold fee (airline, UAE to Pakistan): AED 1,500-4,000 depending on aircraft type, route, and the animal’s weight and crate size
• IATA crate: AED 200-600 if you do not already have one
• Agent fees (if using a specialist): AED 500-1,200

The cargo fee varies the most. A small cat in a small crate on a short daytime flight will cost significantly less than a large dog with a large crate. Ask the airline for a cargo quote based on the total shipment weight (animal plus crate) before assuming a figure.

The timeline from start to finish

The UAE to Pakistan move is short in terms of preparation time compared to routes that require a titre test.

Six to eight weeks before travel: Start the AQD NOC application. This can be done directly through Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research online portal, or through a Pakistan-based agent. Have your pet’s vaccination records, microchip number, and breed and weight information ready.

Four to six weeks before travel: Confirm the airline cargo booking. Choose your departure city in the UAE and arrival city in Pakistan. Confirm live animal acceptance on your specific routing and dates.

Two to four weeks before travel: Organise the IATA crate if needed.

Within 10 days of travel: UAE official health certificate appointment with a MOCCAE-registered vet or government-registered official vet. The certificate is issued, MOCCAE endorsement obtained.

Travel day: Present the health certificate and AQD NOC with your pet at cargo check-in. Your pet travels in the hold as manifested cargo while you travel as a passenger, arriving at the same destination city.

Using a specialist agent

For a move of this type, a specialist agent is not strictly necessary if you are organised and have time to manage the process yourself. The paperwork is less complex than routes requiring titre tests or quarantine.

That said, an agent with AQD contacts in Pakistan can accelerate the NOC application, knows the current endorsement requirements on the UAE side, and has relationships with cargo teams at the airlines. For families managing a move with other logistics running in parallel, that coordination is worth the AED 500-1,200 fee.

Ask the agent specifically whether they have completed UAE to Pakistan moves in the past 12 months, and what they include in their service (NOC application, airline cargo booking, UAE certificate coordination, or just one of those). A full-service approach is cleaner, but confirm scope upfront.

Marcus Webb is a Senior Pet Relocation Consultant at PetTransportGlobal. He works on international cargo routings and documentation for dog and cat moves across the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe.