AE
United Arab Emirates
✈️
TR
Turkey
Pet Transport from United Arab Emirates to Turkey
12
Sourced facts for this journey
8 Oct 2026
Independently checked
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
The UAE's export certificate stays valid for 30 days, yet Turkey wants it issued 2 days before you travel. Time the vet visit for those last two days. Emirates flies Dubai to Istanbul Airport 21 times a week, and Etihad runs up to four direct flights a day from Abu Dhabi.
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Official rules on this page checked
What does the United Arab Emirates require for Turkey before the flight?
- The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment says the export health certificate is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
Ministry of Climate Change and Environment: animal health certificate for export and re-export of live animals, checked 7 October 2026 - Turkey's Istanbul Airport veterinary border control page for travelling pets says the veterinary health certificate must be issued by the sending country's competent authority 2 days before travel.
Istanbul Airport Veterinary Border Control Point: travelling with cats and dogs, checked 7 October 2026
Which airlines take pets from the United Arab Emirates to Turkey?
- Emirates' Dubai to Istanbul page says it operates 21 flights a week between Dubai International (DXB) and Istanbul Airport (IST), a flight of 4 hours 35 minutes.
Emirates: flights from Dubai to Istanbul, checked 7 October 2026 - Etihad's Abu Dhabi to Istanbul page says there are up to four direct flights a day depending on the schedule, landing at Istanbul Airport (IST).
Etihad Airways: flights from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul, checked 7 October 2026 - Turkish Airlines lists Dubai (DXB) to Istanbul (IST) as a route with fares on its own site.
Turkish Airlines: flights from Dubai to Istanbul, checked 7 October 2026 - On Turkish Airlines a cat or dog can travel in the cabin when the animal and its carrier weigh 8 kg or less, in a carrier no bigger than 23 cm high, 30 cm wide and 40 cm long.
Turkish Airlines: traveling with pets, all terms and conditions, checked 7 October 2026 - Turkish Airlines sends a pet whose cage or carrier is bigger than 75 cm high, 75 cm wide and 125 cm long through Turkish Cargo.
Turkish Airlines: traveling with pets, all terms and conditions, checked 7 October 2026 - Turkish Airlines says it cannot accept Bull Terriers and the bull-type breeds it names, including American Staffordshire Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brasileiros and American Bullies, with their mixes.
Turkish Airlines: traveling with pets, all terms and conditions, checked 7 October 2026 - Turkish Airlines says dangerous breeds such as the American Bulldog (its page also lists Rottweilers and Dobermans) cannot travel as passenger baggage and can go in the cargo hold only if Turkish Cargo accepts them.
Turkish Airlines: traveling with pets, all terms and conditions, checked 7 October 2026
Where does the journey connect and land?
- Pets arriving on the Emirates and Etihad flights land at Istanbul Airport (IST), and the Agriculture Ministry's Istanbul Airport Veterinary Border Control Point publishes the conditions for cats and dogs travelling with passengers.
Istanbul Airport Veterinary Border Control Point: travelling with cats and dogs, checked 7 October 2026
Where can the rabies blood test be done?
- The European Commission's list of designated non-EU laboratories for the rabies antibody titration test has a United Arab Emirates entry, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) in Dubai, PO Box 597.
European Commission: designated laboratories, non-EU countries, checked 7 October 2026 - Turkey's border control page asks for the rabies titre test to be done at an accredited laboratory, at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.
Istanbul Airport Veterinary Border Control Point: travelling with cats and dogs, checked 7 October 2026
Which Turkey rules depend on a pet coming from the United Arab Emirates?
None of the Turkey rules we have verified names the United Arab Emirates on its own.
The rules that apply to every pet entering Turkey, whatever the origin, are listed with their official sources in our Turkey guide.
What does the United Arab Emirates require before your pet leaves?
- Export permit: A copy of the importing country's import permit is required for live animal exports, but companion animals are exempt from this document. Applies to dogs and cats leaving the UAE.
Request for a veterinary health certificate for exporting or re-exporting live animals (Arabic), checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: MOCCAE issues the veterinary health certificate for exporting live animals after examination; it covers companion animals. Applies to dogs and cats leaving the UAE.
Request for a veterinary health certificate for exporting or re-exporting live animals (Arabic), checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: The export health certificate is valid for 30 days from issue. Applies to dogs and cats leaving the UAE.
Request for a veterinary health certificate for exporting or re-exporting live animals (Arabic), checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: Fee is AED 100 for a personal consignment of up to 2 animals including companion animals (AED 400 standard). Applies to personal export of up to 2 dogs or cats.
Request for a veterinary health certificate for exporting or re-exporting live animals (Arabic), checked 1 October 2026 - Other conditions: MOCCAE requires any additional documents or test reports requested by the importing country to be provided with the export certificate application. Applies to All pet dogs and cats.
Request for a veterinary health certificate for exporting or re-exporting live animals (Arabic), checked 1 October 2026
FAQ
Common questions
The European Commission's list of designated non-EU laboratories names the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Dubai for the UAE. Turkey's border control page asks for an accredited laboratory, so confirm with it before you book the blood test.
Yes, if the dog and its carrier weigh 8 kg or less, and the carrier is no bigger than 23 cm high, 30 cm wide and 40 cm long. A cage bigger than 75 by 75 by 125 cm goes through Turkish Cargo.
Turkey designates American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Staffordshire Terrier and American Bully as dangerous animals and bans bringing them in. Turkish Airlines also says it cannot accept Bull Terriers and the bull-type breeds it names, with their mixes.
Emirates and Etihad both list Istanbul Airport (IST) for their flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and Turkish Airlines sells Dubai to Istanbul flights too. The Agriculture Ministry's Istanbul Airport veterinary border control point publishes the entry conditions for pets travelling with passengers.
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Sources
Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.
- USDA APHIS · United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
- IATA · International Air Transport Association, Live Animals Regulations