Emigrating to Dubai with your pet: dog, cat & co.

• 🧳 Entry requirements for pets to Dubai: Must be transported as manifested cargo with the help of a pet travel agency, microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, import permit, EU pet passport, health check, quarantine.

• Banned dog breeds in Dubai: American Bully, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and others.

• Costs for emigration with pets to Dubai: Due to vaccinations, health certificate, import permit, flight ticket costs, etc., you have to calculate from €3,500 to over €4,000 (e.g. two dogs) for emigration.

• 🏡 Living in Dubai with a pet: Be careful in summer heat, pet taxis for transport, apartment/house must be pet-friendly, Pet-friendly neighbourhoods and beaches are available.

• 📜 General rules for animals in Dubai: pet registration compulsory, annual renewal, vaccinations required otherwise penalty, leash and muzzle compulsory for dogs, walking allowed only in certain places.

Before travelling to Dubai with your pet, you must first ensure that your pet has all the necessary documents as well as vaccinations. Entry requirements may vary depending on the country of origin, but there are some general requirements:

• Vaccinations: Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies (original certificate - serum neutralisation test RSNT, within the last 90 days before departure with minimum titer of 0.5 IU/ml or higher) - However, coming from Germany this certificate is not mandatory.

• Health certificate: A health certificate issued by an official veterinarian is required. The final health certificate must be issued 1 day before. It must also be signed, stamped and translated into English.

• Import permit: You must have a Import authorisation from the competent authorities in Dubai. You can find all the information on the linked official website.

• EU pet passport: The EU pet passport is an official document that pet owners must have with them when crossing borders. The passport can be applied for at the veterinarian.

• Examination 48 hours before entry: Your pet must be examined for diseases and parasites by an official veterinarian within 24-48 hours before entry. You must get the results in English.

• Quarantine: In most cases, pets do not need to be quarantined upon arrival in Dubai. However, there are some exceptions. If your pet comes from a country that is classified as a rabies risk country, it may need to be quarantined for a certain period of time. Germany is considered a low-risk country.

Vaccinations for dogs:
Rabies, Canine distemper virus (CDV), Canine parvo virus, Canine infectious hepatitis, Leptospirosis (Ictohaemorragea - Canicola).

Vaccinations for cats:
Rabies, feline pan-leukopenia, feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus

Necessary treatments for dogs and cats within 14 days BEFORE dispatch:

1. Control of external parasites (Fipronil or Permethrin)

2. Deworming (anthelmintic with praziquantel)

The following dog breeds are prohibited not only in Dubai but in the United Arab Emirates in general:

• American Bully

• American Pit Bull Terrier

• American Staffordshire Terrier

• Argentine Mastiff (Dogo Argentino)

• Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasileiro)

• Tibetan Mastiff

• Neapolitan Mastiff

• French Mastiff (Dogue de Bordeaux)

• Boerboel

• Bullmastiff

• Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff)

• Bully Cowl (Alangu & Indian Mastiff)

• Perro De Presa Canario (Canary Mastiff)

• Doberman pinscher

• Japanese Tosa

• Canary Booty

1. preparatory measures (vaccination, doctor's visits, documents)

• Rabies vaccination only approx. 30 €* (dog)

• The 5-fold vaccination for dogs approx. 50 - 70 €*. 

• The official veterinary health certificate depends on the extent of the examinations and is between 20 - 65 €.

*Prices vary from veterinary practice to veterinary practice.

2. import permit fees: 

• 200 AED per dog/cat/pet for import permit only (approx. 50 €)

• 500 AED per dog for release/permit (approx. 125 €)

• 250 AED per cat for release/permit (approx. 62 €)

• 500 AED inspection fees on entry per cat (approx. 125 €)

• 1000 AED examination fees on entry per dog (approx. 250 €)

3. the flight ticket for your pet(s) depends on the departure time, departure airport and airline.

There are a few things to bear in mind when emigrating with your beloved four-legged friend.

And also important to know: In addition to the necessary vaccinations, registration with the Ministry of Climate Change, the pet travel agency, the flight - it is very expensive.

We can say from the experience of ourselves and our clients that emigrating with two dogs alone is for the transport approx. 4.000 € would cost.

You should expect to pay a little more than €3,500 - over €4,000 to bring your beloved four-legged friend (or even several pets) to Dubai.

Dubai is a partly pet-friendly city. There are many parks, beaches and other places where you can walk your pet. There are also many veterinary clinics and pet shops where you can find everything you need for your pet. It is important to consider the following things before emigrating with a pet:

1. Summer heat: Temperatures in Dubai can get extremely high in the summer. It is important to keep your pet indoors during the hottest hours of the day and limit walks to the cooler morning or evening hours.

2. Transport with pet: You don't have a car yet and want to get from A to B with your animals? In this case there are so-called Pet Taxis in Dubai. Pets are not allowed on public transport or in taxis.

3. Housing situation: Not all Flats or houses in Dubai are pet-friendly. It is important to check this in advance and clarify it with your landlord if necessary. Unauthorised pets in flats or villas can lead to termination without notice. 

4. These are the pet-friendly districts/areas in Dubai: Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills, Damac Hills, Dubai Downtown, Dubai Creek Harbour, Emirates Living, Emaar Springs, Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), The Greens, Sobha Hartland, Victory Heights.

5. Pet-friendly beaches in Dubai: Palm West Beach, Golden Tulip Al Jazira, The Pointe - Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Islands Beach, Jebel Ali Beach.

6. Dog-friendly beach clubs in Dubai and Umm al Quwain: Dubai: February30 and Lucky Fish (Both at West Palm Beach), Umm al Quwain: Kite Beach Center (with a food menu especially for dogs & off-leash walking allowed)

7. General rules for animals in Dubai:

• It is compulsory to register your pet. Registrations must be renewed annually.

• As described above, your pet must have all the necessary vaccinations. Non-vaccinated pets can result in a fine of AED 200 (approx. 50 €). 

• Dogs must be kept on a leash in public and large breeds must wear a muzzle. A violation costs AED 200 (about €50) for the first time and can increase for repeated violations.

• If your dog bites or attacks someone, you will be fined AED 5000 (approx. 1250 €).

• Neglected or abandoned dogs result in a fine of AED 500 (approx. €125) for the owner.

Emigrating to Dubai with pets requires some preparation and research. It is important to obtain all the necessary documents and vaccinations in advance and to be aware of the entry requirements and living conditions in Dubai. With the right planning, your move to Dubai with your pet can be smooth and stress-free.

Dubai offers a wonderful environment for pets. With its many parks, beaches and pet-friendly residences, it's a great place to live with your four-legged friend. However, it's important to follow the rules and regulations and make sure your pet is healthy and happy.

You would like to emigrate to Dubai, pay no income tax and are interested in a Company formation in Dubai interested? You don't have the right contact person who can guarantee a smooth implementation? Then get in touch now with our Team of experts  and book your free initial consultation. We will discuss your individual situation and show you possible solutions for your future in Dubai.