FR
France
✈️
AE
United Arab Emirates
Pet Transport from France to United Arab Emirates
6-10 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
Moderate
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from France to United Arab Emirates
typically takes around 6-10 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test may be required depending on your pet's origin, so check the requirements below.
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Overview
Bringing your dog or cat from France to United Arab Emirates takes some coordination, but the requirements are well defined. Expect about 6-10 weeks. Nothing here is unusually complex, but the deadlines matter. No routine quarantine applies as long as every requirement is met.
Whether a rabies titre test is needed depends on your pet's origin, so confirm against the rules below. Map your dates against the steps below and you will stay on track.
Step by step
The France to United Arab Emirates process
1
Before any vaccinations. Must be done first.
Get your pet microchipped (ISO 11784/11785)
Responsible: Your veterinarian
2
At least 21 days before travel (after microchip)
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Your veterinarian
3
Blood drawn 30+ days after vaccination. 90-day wait after successful result.
Rabies titre test (RNATT blood test)
Responsible: Your veterinarian + approved laboratory
4
Lead time: Check with authorities
Apply for import permit from United Arab Emirates
Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)
5
Within 10 days of travel (check destination-specific requirements)
Obtain health certificate / veterinary clearance
Responsible: Official veterinarian
6
2-4 weeks before travel. Confirm pet space availability.
Book IATA-compliant flight and arrange pet cargo/cabin booking
Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)
7
3-4 hours before departure for cargo pets
Travel day: arrive early, present all documentation
Responsible: You + airline cargo desk
Checklist
United Arab Emirates: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before rabies vaccination |
| Rabies vaccination | Required. Minimum age: 12 weeks. Vaccination must be administered after microchipping. Titre test may be required from certain countries. |
| Rabies titre test | Required for: Pets from certain non-approved or high-risk countries. Not required for: Pets from approved countries (UK, USA, Canada, Australia, EU countries, etc.). Minimum: 0.5 IU/ml |
| Quarantine | No routine quarantine. Penalty quarantine up to varies days if non-compliant |
| Import permit | Required. Import permit MUST be obtained before travel. Different emirates have different application processes. Allow 1-2 weeks for processing. |
| Health certificate | Required. Veterinary health certificate / Official health certificate. Issued by: Government veterinarian or government-endorsed veterinarian in country of export. Certificate must confirm: rabies vaccination status, microchip number, pet is free from infectious disease, fit to travel |
Leaving France
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No formal export permit. Health certificate and EU pet passport serve as documentation. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | Airline cargo/cabin fees (varies by carrier, pet weight, and crate size) |
| 2 | IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire) |
| 3 | Veterinary fees (vaccinations, health certificate, microchip) |
| 4 | Import permit application fee (United Arab Emirates) |
| 5 | Government endorsement/USDA endorsement fee (if applicable) |
| 6 | Pet transport agent fee (if using a relocation service) |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds face cargo restrictions on most airlines. Check breed-specific policies before booking.
⚠ Microchip MUST be implanted before rabies vaccination. Vaccination given before microchip is invalid and the clock restarts.
⚠ Temperature embargoes apply during Gulf summer months (June to September). Airlines may refuse pet cargo when ground temperatures exceed 30C.
Restricted breeds
United Arab Emirates breed rules
- Pit Bull Terrier (and related types) (restricted)
- American Staffordshire Terrier (restricted)
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier (restricted in some emirates)
- Rottweiler (restricted but not outright banned in most emirates)
- Dogo Argentino (restricted)
- Fila Brasileiro (restricted)
- Japanese Tosa (restricted)
- Perro de Presa Canario (restricted)
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Lufthansa
Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo transport available. Transport of large animals to certain destinations not possible due to local circumstances. Fighting dog breeds subject to special rules
Singapore Airlines
Cargo: Pets travel as cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions. Temperature embargoes apply on certain routes/seasons
Air France
Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo transport available. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions/seasonal embargoes. French regulations on dangerous dog breeds apply
United Airlines
Small pets allowed in cabin
American Airlines
Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo: American Airlines Cargo handles pet transport
Cathay Pacific
Cargo: Pets travel as manifested cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted during summer months. Hong Kong AFCD import regulations must be met
Etihad Airways
Cargo: Pets travel as cargo through Etihad Cargo. Brachycephalic breeds subject to seasonal restrictions. Temperature embargoes during Abu Dhabi summer months
Air Canada
Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo: Air Canada Cargo handles pet transport in heated/pressurized hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo year-round
South African Airways
Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo: Pets travel as checked excess baggage in hold or through SAA cargo
What United Arab Emirates requires
Getting a pet into United Arab Emirates is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.
Avoiding the common mistakes
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
FAQ
Common questions
The process takes 6-10 weeks from start to finish. The rabies titre test requires a 3-6 month waiting period after the blood draw before your pet can travel, so start early.
No routine quarantine for pets entering United Arab Emirates with the correct documentation. No routine quarantine. Penalty quarantine up to varies days if non-compliant
Required. Import permit MUST be obtained before travel. Different emirates have different application processes. Allow 1-2 weeks for processing.
Required. Veterinary health certificate / Official health certificate. Issued by: Government veterinarian or government-endorsed veterinarian in country of export. Certificate must confirm: rabies vaccination status, microchip number, pet is free from infectious disease, fit to travel Your France vet must be approved to issue official veterinary certificates. The certificate must be issued within the timeframe required by United Arab Emirates: usually 10 days before travel. Present the original at check-in.
Yes. Required for: Pets from certain non-approved or high-risk countries. Not required for: Pets from approved countries (UK, USA, Canada, Australia, EU countries, etc.). Minimum: 0.5 IU/ml The microchip must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination for the vaccination to be valid. Start this process as early as possible.
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