Pet Transport from Ivory Coast to United Arab Emirates
Getting a pet from Ivory Coast to United Arab Emirates is a step by step process, and each stage has its own timing. Allow around 14-18 weeks and follow the steps in order to stay on track. Pets with correct documentation skip quarantine …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Ivory Coast to United Arab Emirates
typically takes around 14-18 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The Ivory Coast to United Arab Emirates pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
DSV endorsement and health certificate arranged.
Responsible: Owner and DSV-registered vet
6-8 weeks before travel, with a 2-week buffer.
2
Microchip implanted, then rabies vaccination given and recorded.
Responsible: Vet in Abidjan
Start of preparation.
3
FAVN or RSNT titre blood drawn at least 21 days after vaccination, sent to an approved laboratory.
Responsible: Vet and approved laboratory
3-6 weeks before travel.
4
Apply for the emirate import permit once the titre result is confirmed.
Responsible: Owner or agent
1-2 weeks before travel.
5
Book cargo with Emirates via Accra, or compare Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul.
Responsible: Owner or cargo agent
4-6 weeks before travel.
6
Collect the DSV-endorsed health certificate.
Responsible: DSV-endorsed vet
Within 10 days of travel.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter United Arab Emirates
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination used for titre testing.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination, with the titre blood sample drawn at least 21 days after the shot. Source: MOCCAE, moccae.gov.ae.
Rabies titre test
Cote d'Ivoire does not appear on MOCCAE's roughly 50-country low-risk list, so the FAVN or RSNT titre test applies, minimum result 0.5 IU/ml. No fixed forward wait applies once the result passes; it needs only to be dated within 3 to 12 months of travel. Source: MOCCAE, checked July 2026.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for a pet arriving with complete, correct documentation. Penalty quarantine at owner's expense applies only where paperwork is missing or wrong.
Import permit
Import permit from the municipality of the arriving emirate, valid 30 days from issue. Fee: roughly AED 200-300. Allow 1-2 weeks for processing.
Health certificate
DSV-endorsed certificate confirming microchip, vaccination and freedom from infectious disease, valid 10 days from issue to UAE entry.
Export permit (Ivory Coast)
No standalone export permit separate from the health certificate. The Direction des Services Veterinaires (DSV), under the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources (MIRAH), endorses the certificate.
Government endorsement
DSV endorsement required before an airline accepts the paperwork. No fixed turnaround published; confirm with a registered vet in Abidjan and allow at least two weeks.
Costs
What this route typically costs
DSV endorsement and vet documentation: FCFA 60,000-150,000 (roughly USD 100-250).
FAVN or RSNT titre test at an approved laboratory: USD 150-300.
Cargo fare, Abidjan to Dubai via Accra, Addis Ababa or Istanbul: USD 1,500-2,900.
Agent fees, if used: USD 250-500.
Total typical range: USD 2,100-4,000.
Critical points to read before you book
Emirates' service between Abidjan and Dubai is not truly nonstop. It routes through a scheduled stop in Accra, Ghana, on the same continuing aircraft. Booking confusion sometimes arises when this shows as a single flight number, so confirm the stop with the cargo agent.
MOCCAE's titre test rule has no fixed forward wait after a passing result, unlike the EU or UK's 90-day rule. Budgeting for a European-style wait here overstates the timeline by months.
The same pet moved to Australia instead faces a full 180-day residency requirement in an approved third country before DAFF opens a file. MOCCAE and DAFF disagree sharply on how much risk Cote d'Ivoire represents.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
EMIRATES
Emirates
Flies Dubai to Abidjan as a single continuing service with a scheduled stop in Accra, Ghana, on the same aircraft. No change of carrier is needed for this leg, even though it is technically a one-stop routing rather than a nonstop flight.
Cargo Only
ETHIOPIAN
Ethiopian Airlines
Connects Abidjan to Dubai via Addis Ababa, a genuine alternative if the Emirates schedule via Accra does not fit.
Cargo Only
TURKISH
Turkish Airlines
Connects Abidjan to Dubai via Istanbul, a third option worth comparing on price and cargo space.
Cargo Only
How United Arab Emirates handles incoming pets
United Arab Emirates has a clear set of import requirements that are manageable with some planning. Follow them in order and keep an eye on the dates that cannot move.
What experienced owners do
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
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.
FAQ
Common questions about Ivory Coast to United Arab Emirates pet transport
No. Emirates books it as a single continuing service, but the aircraft makes a scheduled stop in Accra, Ghana, en route. Confirm with the cargo agent how the animal is handled during that stop before booking.
Yes. Cote d’Ivoire is not on MOCCAE’s low-risk list, so the FAVN or RSNT titre test applies, with a minimum result of 0.5 IU/ml and blood drawn at least 21 days after vaccination.
No fixed forward wait. The result only needs to be dated within 3 to 12 months of the travel date, unlike the EU or UK’s 90-day rule that applies on this site’s other Ivory Coast routes.
Ethiopian Airlines connects via Addis Ababa, and Turkish Airlines connects via Istanbul. Both are worth comparing against Emirates’ Accra-routed service on schedule, price and cargo space.
DAFF classifies Cote d’Ivoire as a non-approved country, requiring 180 days of residency in an approved third country, typically France, before any Australian import proceeds. MOCCAE has no equivalent residency requirement for the UAE.
Airline guides
Emirates
Ethiopian Airlines
Turkish Airlines
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.
Get a free, fully itemised quote for your Ivory Coast to United Arab Emirates pet move. Our specialists will map out the entire timeline and costs. No surprises.