Bringing cats and dogs to Dubai legally — permits, vaccinations, crate rules, and what actually happens at the cargo terminal.
Dubai is pet-friendly but the import process is paperwork-heavy. Cats and dogs (and domestic birds) are allowed; some dog breeds and exotic species are restricted or banned. Always check MOCCAE for the current list.
Most pets fly as manifest cargo handled by specialist staff — not as standard cargo. Only very small pets (under ~8kg with carrier) may fly in-cabin on certain airlines. Emirates, Etihad and Lufthansa are the common picks.
Key steps, costs, documents and pro tips — plus the interactive tool that pairs with this chapter.
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