Moving to Dubai with pets starts with an import permit from the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), which you apply for online before your cat or dog travels and which is valid for 90 days. When the animal lands, it is inspected and released at the port of entry if it has a permanent microchip, the required vaccinations and an official health certificate, and pets from countries MOCCAE classes as high risk for rabies also need an antibody test result of at least 0.5 IU/ml.
Each person can import up to two cats or dogs a year, 15 dog breeds are banned, and the government fees are AED 200 per animal for the permit plus AED 500 to release a dog or AED 250 for a cat (checked 5 November 2026). Finding a home for the first month is the harder part: of the 436 Dubai hotel apartments on HotelApartments.com, 78 are listed as allowing pets with no conflicting rule, and 70 of those say a pet fee applies.
This guide follows the move in order: the rules, the flight, arrival, the first weeks and where to stay. It is not veterinary advice: your vet and MOCCAE have the final word.
What do you need to bring a cat or dog into the UAE?
You need a MOCCAE import permit issued before the flight, a permanent microchip whose number matches the paperwork, the required vaccinations, parasite treatment in the 14 days before shipment, and a health certificate from your country’s official veterinary authority. MOCCAE says it issues the permit in one working day, and it is valid for 90 days.
| Step or document | What MOCCAE requires (checked 5 November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Import permit | Apply on MOCCAE’s website before the animal travels. Valid 90 days from issue; a pet cannot be imported on an expired permit. No documents are needed at this stage for pet cats and dogs. Fee AED 200 per animal. |
| How many | Up to two cats, two dogs, or a dog and a cat, per person per year. Resident pets returning to the UAE are not counted. |
| Microchip | A permanent microchip; the number on the health certificate must match the chip in the animal. |
| Dog vaccinations | Rabies (first dose not before 12 weeks of age), canine distemper, canine parvovirus and infectious canine hepatitis, plus leptospirosis (a lab test can replace it where the exporting country does not vaccinate). |
| Cat vaccinations | Rabies (first dose not before 12 weeks of age), feline panleukopenia, feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus. |
| Vaccination record | A vaccination document or pet passport with the microchip number, a full description of the animal, and each vaccine’s name, maker, batch number and date. |
| Parasites | Treatment for internal and external parasites within 14 days before shipment, recorded on the health certificate or passport. |
| Health certificate | Issued by the competent veterinary authority of the exporting country. |
| Minimum age | 12 weeks from a low-risk country; 15 weeks from a high-risk country. |
| Rabies antibody test | High-risk countries only: see the next section. |
| Release on arrival | Customs declaration or bill of lading, vaccination record or passport, health certificate, and the antibody test certificate if needed. Fee AED 500 per dog, AED 250 per cat. |
Source: MOCCAE, Import of pets (cats / dogs), read 5 November 2026. The UAE government portal lists live animals among restricted goods that need the ministry’s approval before import. Rules change, so read MOCCAE’s page again before you apply; its call centre is 800 3050.
Is my country high risk for rabies?
MOCCAE publishes a list of low-risk countries. It includes the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Spain (except Melilla and Ceuta), Kuwait and Bahrain. On 5 November 2026 it did not include the United States, Canada, India, the Philippines, Germany or France.
If your country is not on the list, plan for the high-risk conditions and confirm them with MOCCAE when you apply. They add two things:
- A rabies antibody titration test at a laboratory accredited by the exporting country’s authorities, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. After a first rabies vaccination, or one that lapsed and was restarted, at least 21 days must pass before the test; with a valid booster, the test can be done straight away. MOCCAE gives the certificate 365 days’ validity on conditions about the rabies vaccination, so read its wording with your vet if a booster falls due in that time.
- A higher minimum age: 15 weeks instead of 12.
Work the calendar backwards from your flight: vaccinations first, then the antibody test if you need it, then parasite treatment in the last 14 days, with the 90-day permit covering the travel date.
Which dog breeds are banned in the UAE?
MOCCAE bans the import of 15 dog breeds, mostly bull-terrier and mastiff types, including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Bully, Cane Corso and Bullmastiff. The exception is a service, emotional support or medical dog, which needs a certified training document, a medical report on the owner and a pledge not to transfer, abandon or breed it.
The 15 breeds on 5 November 2026: Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasileiro), Argentinian Mastiff (Dogo Argentino), Tibetan Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, French Mastiff (Dogue de Bordeaux), Boerboel, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff), Bully Kutta (Alangu or Indian Mastiff), Perro de Presa Canario and Japanese Tosa.
For cats, MOCCAE adds one breed rule: Bengal and Serval cats need a fifth-generation pedigree certificate. For any animal other than a cat or dog, ask MOCCAE before you plan the move. Owning a dog also needs a licence: the UAE government portal says an individual may own a dog of an approved breed after getting a licence from the competent authority, under Federal Law No. 22 of 2016 on dangerous animals.
How do pets fly to Dubai?
Usually as cargo. Emirates says animals on any itinerary ending in Dubai must travel as cargo, and it allows no animals in the cabin except falcons between Dubai and certain destinations in Pakistan and guide dogs for the visually impaired. Other airlines set their own rules, so read your airline’s own pet page before you book.
- Shipping: MOCCAE requires cats and dogs to travel under the International Air Transport Association (IATA) conditions for pets, shipped directly from the exporting country. If the shipment passes through another country, the animal must not mix with other pets in transit.
- Paperwork for the airline: Emirates says every animal it carries needs a valid import permit from the destination country and a valid health certificate, and refers cargo questions to Emirates SkyCargo or a local cargo agent.
- Using an agent: a company that imports companion animals needs a MOCCAE licence for practising animal care activities that covers importing and exporting them. Ask to see it before you hand over your pet.
What happens when your pet lands in Dubai?
The animal is inspected at the port of entry and released once MOCCAE confirms it matches the permit and the requirements. You or your agent apply for release, pay AED 500 for a dog or AED 250 for a cat, and show the customs declaration or bill of lading, the vaccination record or passport and the health certificate.
MOCCAE lists veterinary quarantine offices at Dubai Airport Cargo Village and Dubai Airport Free Zone among its service channels, and may run laboratory tests if needed. Its service page describes inspection and release, not a quarantine period, for cats and dogs that comply. One that does not comply is refused entry at the owner’s expense or confiscated, so check every number and date on the paperwork before the flight.
Moving to Dubai with pets: what to do in the first month
Register your pet in Dubai, licence a dog, keep vaccinations current, and live somewhere that has agreed to the animal in writing. Dubai Municipality’s veterinary services let owners register, microchip and update the records of cats and dogs, and its Veterinary Services Section takes clinic appointments through the municipality’s website.
- Register with Dubai Municipality. Its veterinary services include pet registration, and its clinics, including Al Khawaneej, take appointments online (phone 800900).
- Licence your dog and keep it on a lead. The UAE government portal says a dog needs a licence from the competent authority, and must wear an appropriate collar and be on a leash in public.
- Keep the import paperwork. If the pet leaves the UAE with you and comes back, MOCCAE wants a ministry health certificate before departure and a rabies vaccination that stays valid until the return; otherwise the animal is treated as a first import again.
- Plan walks around the heat. November afternoons are still warm: the National Center of Meteorology’s long-term average high is 30.9°C, falling to 26.5°C in December. Our winter in Dubai guide has every month.
- Live where the pet is allowed. Our reservation terms set a minimum AED 2,500 cleaning charge if an inspection after check-out finds animal residue, so keep a pet only in a unit that has said yes.
A yearly lease needs a residence visa and an Emirates ID, so until yours are issued a furnished monthly stay fills the gap; our guide to hotel apartments, serviced apartments and holiday homes explains the paperwork. With a pet, that first booking narrows quickly.
Can you rent a monthly apartment in Dubai with a pet?
Yes, but the choice is narrow. Of the 436 Dubai hotel apartments on HotelApartments.com, 78 in 21 buildings are listed as allowing pets with no conflicting rule (checked 11 November 2026). They are in 12 areas, mostly Dubai Marina, Business Bay, JBR and Palm Jumeirah; we list none in Bur Dubai, Al Barsha, Al Jaddaf or Downtown.
| Area | Listed as allowing pets (of all units) | Buildings |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Marina | 16 of 53 | InterContinental Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Living Marina Gate, Barcelo Residences Dubai Marina, Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel and Suites |
| Business Bay | 12 of 30 | SLS Dubai Hotel and Residences, InterContinental Residences Dubai Business Bay, ME Dubai Residences, Damac Maison Aykon City |
| JBR | 11 of 31 | Hilton Dubai The Walk, Sheraton The Walk Jumeirah Beach |
| Palm Jumeirah | 10 of 30 | Cheval Maison The Palm Dubai, Wyndham Residences The Palm |
| Sheikh Zayed Road | 7 of 46 | Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah Living WTC Residences |
| Barsha Heights | 4 of 21 | Grand Heights Hotel Apartments |
| Dubai Internet City | 4 of 8 | Staybridge Suites Dubai Internet City |
| Dubai World Central | 4 of 11 | Cheval Maison Expo City Dubai |
| Jumeirah | 4 of 4 | DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Beach |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | 3 of 3 | Radisson RED Hotel DSO |
| Deira | 2 of 49 | Element Dubai Airport |
| The Greens | 1 of 1 | Zabeel House by Jumeirah |
| Al Barsha, Bur Dubai, Al Jaddaf, Downtown, Dubai Media City, Festival City | 0 of 103 | None |
Source: HotelApartments.com listings, pulled 11 November 2026. We counted a unit when its house rules say pets are allowed or it lists a pet-friendly facility. Another 15 units are tagged as allowing pets but also carry a “no pets” line, including all four at Staybridge Suites Dubai Financial Centre, all three at Sheraton Grand Hotel Dubai and both at Marriott Marquis, so we left them out. Properties enter these details themselves: confirm the pet policy in writing before you book.
If you are weighing up the Palm and JBR, our Palm Jumeirah vs JBR comparison compares prices, transport and beach access.
Two buildings in our Dubai listings accept cats only.
How much more does a monthly stay with a pet cost?
More, partly because of where those units are. A one-bedroom listed as allowing pets has a median asking price of AED 14,925 a month (30 units), against AED 10,450 (136 units) for one-bedrooms that are not, and 70 of the 78 say a pet fee applies. Where a listing gives the amount, it is AED 500 to 1,000 a month or a one-off AED 500 to 2,000.
| Median asking price, AED a month (units) | Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3+ bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listed as allowing pets (78) | 10,000 (14) | 14,925 (30) | 18,450 (20) | 30,000 (14) |
| Not listed as allowing pets (343) | 7,500 (87) | 10,450 (136) | 14,000 (83) | 22,500 (37) |
| All Dubai units (436) | 8,000 (105) | 11,500 (169) | 15,700 (108) | 24,000 (54) |
Source: asking prices on HotelApartments.com, 11 November 2026; the 15 units with conflicting pet rules are in neither of the first two rows. Part of the gap is location: 49 of the 78 are in Dubai Marina, Business Bay, JBR and the Palm, mostly in hotel-branded residences, and none are in the lower-priced areas of Bur Dubai, Al Barsha or Al Jaddaf.
These are the pet terms written into the listings themselves:
| Building | Area | Pet terms in the listing (11 November 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Zabeel House by Jumeirah | The Greens | AED 600 a month |
| Jumeirah Living WTC Residences | Sheikh Zayed Road | AED 500 a month |
| SLS Dubai Hotel and Residences | Business Bay | AED 1,000 a month; pet up to 20 lb (9.1 kg); no wild animals |
| Cheval Maison The Palm Dubai | Palm Jumeirah | AED 1,000 a month including taxes; AED 3,000 refundable pet deposit for a monthly stay; up to 2 pets; AED 50 for each extra cleaning the pet needs |
| Cheval Maison Expo City Dubai | Dubai World Central | AED 1,000 a month non-refundable cleaning fee; AED 3,000 refundable pet deposit |
| Wyndham Residences The Palm | Palm Jumeirah | One small household pet, in selected apartments; AED 500 cleaning fee in advance; AED 1,000 deposit |
| Jumeirah Living Marina Gate | Dubai Marina | AED 2,000 one-off charge |
| InterContinental Dubai Marina | Dubai Marina | Cats only, up to 2 |
| Staybridge Suites Dubai Internet City | Dubai Internet City | Cats only |
Most of the other buildings say only that fees apply; Radisson RED Hotel DSO and Element Dubai Airport list pets as allowed without mentioning a fee. On a tighter budget, Element Dubai Airport lists a studio at AED 5,850 and Zabeel House a one-bedroom at AED 8,470 plus its AED 600 pet fee.
What should you ask before you book?
- Species, size and number. Two buildings take cats only, SLS Dubai caps pets at 9.1 kg, Wyndham allows one small pet, and Cheval Maison The Palm two.
- Whether the yes covers your unit. Wyndham’s listing says “selected apartments”; ask for the unit number to be named.
- Every charge. Monthly or one-off, taxes included or not, and when a refundable pet deposit comes back.
- Building rules. Where you can walk a dog, and whether pets may use the lifts, lobby and pool areas.
- The policy in writing. An email or booking confirmation that names your pet, its species and its weight.
Book the apartment before the flight Most Dubai hotel apartments do not take pets, and those that do set their own limits on species, size and number. Get the building’s written yes before you apply for the import permit, so your pet has somewhere to go on the day it is released.
To start, browse monthly hotel apartments in Dubai, or send us your dates with your pet’s species and weight, and we will check the policy with the buildings that list pets before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move my dog to Dubai?
Yes, unless it is one of the 15 breeds MOCCAE bans. You need a MOCCAE import permit, a microchip, the required vaccinations, parasite treatment within 14 days of shipment and an official health certificate, plus a rabies antibody test if your country is classed as high risk.
What pets are allowed in Dubai?
MOCCAE’s pet import permit covers cats and dogs, up to two per person a year. Fifteen dog breeds are banned, and Bengal and Serval cats need a fifth-generation pedigree certificate. Dangerous animals are banned for individuals under Federal Law No. 22 of 2016.
How much does it cost to import a pet into the UAE?
MOCCAE charges AED 200 per animal for the import permit and AED 500 to release a dog or AED 250 for a cat (checked 5 November 2026). Airline cargo, vet and laboratory costs come on top and vary.
Can I bring my dog to Dubai from the UK or the USA?
Yes, if the breed is not banned. The UK is on MOCCAE’s low-risk list, so a dog from there needs no rabies antibody test and can travel from 12 weeks old. The United States was not on the list on 5 November 2026, so plan for the antibody test (at least 0.5 IU/ml) and a 15-week minimum age.
Do pets need quarantine in the UAE?
MOCCAE’s service page describes inspection at the port of entry and release once the animal complies, not a quarantine period. A cat or dog that does not meet the requirements is refused entry at the owner’s expense or confiscated.
Can my pet fly in the cabin to Dubai?
Not with Emirates: it says animals on itineraries ending in Dubai must travel as cargo, with cabin exceptions only for falcons on certain Pakistan routes and guide dogs for the visually impaired. Other airlines publish their own rules.
How many monthly hotel apartments in Dubai allow pets?
On HotelApartments.com, 78 of 436 Dubai units in 21 buildings were listed as allowing pets with no conflicting rule on 11 November 2026, mostly in Dubai Marina, Business Bay, JBR and Palm Jumeirah. Confirm the policy in writing before booking.
Sources
- Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE): Import of pets (cats / dogs) (permit, validity, fees, microchip, vaccinations, antibody test, ages, low-risk countries, banned breeds, returning pets, release; checked 5 November 2026)
- UAE government portal: Banning private ownership of dangerous animals (dog licence, leash and collar in public; checked 5 November 2026)
- UAE government portal: Customs clearance (live animals need MOCCAE approval before import; checked 5 November 2026)
- Federal Law No. 22 of 2016 Regulating the Possession of Dangerous Animals (in force since 15 December 2016; checked 5 November 2026)
- Dubai Municipality: veterinary services in H1 2026 (pet registration, microchipping and records for cats and dogs; published 20 July 2026)
- Dubai Municipality: Veterinary Services Section (clinics and appointments; checked 5 November 2026)
- Emirates: rules and charges for travelling with animals (cabin and cargo rules for flights to Dubai; checked 5 November 2026)
- HotelApartments.com: reservation terms (cleaning charge for animal residue; checked 5 November 2026)
- HotelApartments.com: Dubai listings and market rates, pulled 11 November 2026 (436 hotel apartments: house rules, facilities, pet terms in listing text and asking prices)
Prices checked on 11 November 2026; other facts on 5 November 2026.
Share
