Pet Transport UAE to France: 2026 Guide

The EU classifies certain countries as having controlled rabies risk standards equivalent to EU requirements. The UAE is one of those listed countries. This means pets travelling from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to France do not need the FAVN titre test or the 3-month wait from blood sampling that applies to pets from non-listed countries.

For a Dubai family moving to Paris, this cuts the preparation to four to six weeks. The requirements that remain are an ISO microchip predating the rabies vaccination, a current and valid rabies vaccination with the 21-day post-primary wait satisfied, and a MOCCAE-endorsed EU-format certificate issued within 10 days of travel.

French customs at CDG checks these items on arrival. No titre test records, no blood sample dates to track. If the documentation is complete and current, clearance proceeds without quarantine.

Emirates operates direct from DXB to CDG, making this one of the most convenient routes in the Middle East to EU corridor from a cargo-routing perspective.

All pets leaving the UAE require a MOCCAE (Ministry of Climate Change and Environment) export permit. This is a separate document from the health certificate itself and must be in place before departure. The permit can be obtained through the MOCCAE online portal or through a registered pet relocation agent.

Once you have the permit, a licensed vet in the UAE issues the EU-format International Veterinary Certificate. MOCCAE then endorses this certificate to give it official government standing for EU customs. The MOCCAE-endorsed certificate must be dated within 10 days of your travel date.

The health certificate is valid for 30 days from issue, but the 10-day EU requirement creates the effective deadline. Schedule your vet appointment and MOCCAE endorsement about five to seven days before departure. Allow one to two days for MOCCAE processing if the endorsement is not completed at the same time as the vet appointment.

France restricts certain dog breeds at the border. Category 1 covers attack dogs, primarily Pit Bull type dogs without LOF (French pedigree book) or FCI recognised breed registration. Category 1 dogs cannot be imported into France. Category 2 covers guard and defence dogs including Rottweiler and American Staffordshire Terrier with pedigree, which can enter France with restrictions (muzzle, leash in public, liability insurance).

For most breeds commonly kept in the UAE, including Huskies, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and similar, no breed restriction applies. If your dog is or resembles a Pit Bull type without official breed papers, verify the breed classification with your relocation agent or French customs before booking, since border refusal is possible.

French breed law is federal and applies uniformly across all regions. There is no regional variation as in Germany.