Bringing your dog or cat from SA to the UAE is very doable, but it requires careful planning and a specific sequence of steps. Get the order wrong and your pet could be refused entry. Start the process at least 4 months before your move date.
Good news: There is no quarantine for dogs or cats entering the UAE from South Africa if your documents are in order. Your pet can come home with you the same day they land.
Before you do anything: breed restrictions
The UAE prohibits the import of certain dog breeds entirely. Check this before you start.
Banned breeds include: Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, any breed of Mastiff, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, Canario Presa, Boxer, American Bully, Brazilian and Argentinian fighting dogs.
- Maximum 2 pets per person per year (two dogs, two cats, or one of each). A relocation agent can arrange clearance for more.
- Minimum age: pets must be at least 15 weeks old at the time of import.
- Puppies and kittens under 27 weeks from high-rabies-risk countries (SA is classified as high-risk) face additional restrictions. Confirm with your vet and relocation agent.
The required steps, in order
The sequence matters. Steps done in the wrong order can invalidate earlier ones.
- Microchip (ISO 11784/11785 standard) — Must be implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccination. If done after, the vaccination may be considered invalid. Your vet must scan and confirm the chip number at every subsequent appointment.
- Rabies vaccination — Must be administered at least 21 days before travel for first-time or lapsed vaccination. If your pet has a valid booster, no waiting period is required. Must be within 12 months of travel date.
- Rabies titre test (antibody test) — SA is classified as a high-risk rabies country by the UAE. A rabies antibody titre test is required. Blood sample collected at least 21 days after vaccination. Result must show 0.5 IU/ml or above. Allow 2-4 weeks for results from an accredited laboratory.
- Parasite treatments — External parasite treatment (Fipronil or Permethrin recommended) and internal parasite treatment (Praziquantel recommended). Must be done 2 weeks before travel and recorded on the health certificate.
- UAE Import Permit — Apply to the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment at moccae.gov.ae. Valid for 30 days. Your pet must travel before it expires. Apply once your titre test results are confirmed.
- Veterinary Health Certificate — Issued by your SA vet within 10 days of travel. Must be endorsed by the South African State Veterinarian (Department of Agriculture). Bring the original; copies are not accepted.
- Travel as manifest cargo — Pets must travel as manifest cargo, not in the cabin. Book cargo space through your airline well in advance. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad and Lufthansa carry pets on SA-UAE routes.
- UAE airport clearance — A UAE government vet inspects your pet and checks all documents on arrival. Takes 3-6 hours. A UAE-side relocation agent speeds this up considerably.
Timeline: start at least 4 months before your move
- Month 4+ — Microchip implanted if not already done
- Month 4 — Rabies vaccination (if first time or lapsed)
- Month 3-4 — Rabies titre test blood sample collected (21 days after vaccination)
- Month 3 — Wait for titre test results (2-4 weeks)
- Month 2 — Apply for UAE import permit at moccae.gov.ae
- 2 weeks before — Parasite treatments administered
- Within 10 days of travel — Vet health certificate issued and endorsed by State Vet
- Day of travel — Pet travels as manifest cargo
Recommended: use a pet relocation agent
The documentation chain is complex and errors are expensive. A good agent handles both the SA side (vet coordination, State Vet endorsement) and the UAE side (import permit, airport clearance). Cost: typically AED 3,000-8,000 depending on service level.
- Sandy Paws — sandypaws.ae. Based at Dubai Airport Cargo Terminal. Highly rated for UAE arrivals.
- Snoopy Pets — snoopypets.com. Specifically praised by saffas for SA-UAE moves.
- Yalla Pets — yallapets.ae. IPATA certified, family-owned, handles SA-UAE regularly.
- DKC Dubai — dkc.ae. Official animal handler for Emirates and dnata at Dubai Airport.
- Relopet — relopet.global. SA-UAE specialist with SA-side coordination.
Once your pet arrives in the UAE
- Register your pet with Dubai Municipality at dm.gov.ae. Dogs must be licensed annually.
- Dogs must be on a leash and muzzled in all UAE public places.
- Find a UAE vet immediately and transfer your pet's records. British Veterinary Hospital and German Veterinary Clinic are popular with expats.
- Keep pets indoors or in shaded areas during summer (May-September). UAE heat is extreme and can be fatal for dogs left outside or in cars.
Taking your pet back to SA for a visit
Apply for a UAE export permit at moccae.gov.ae well before leaving. SA requires a valid rabies vaccination, health certificate and import permit on arrival. SA does not require a rabies titre test for entry.
Information correct as of June 2026. Always verify at moccae.gov.ae and confirm with a licensed pet relocation agent before travel.