India to the UAE 9 min read
Taking a dog or cat from India to the UAE
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
The UAE treats India as a high-risk country, so a dog or cat needs a MOCCAE import permit before it flies, a microchip, a rabies vaccine and a rabies titre test, and it flies into Dubai as cargo.
The permit costs AED 200, is issued in 1 working day and is valid for 90 days; the release permit on arrival costs AED 500 for a dog or AED 250 for a cat (MOCCAE, checked 21 October 2026).
The UAE's rules for a pet from India
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| India's status | High risk, not on MOCCAE's low-risk list. | UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment |
| Import permit | Applied for online before travel; issued in 1 working day (5 for service, emotional-support and medical dogs); valid 90 days; AED 200 per animal. | UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment |
| Pets per person | Up to 2 a year, 2 cats, 2 dogs or one of each. Resident pets coming back are excepted. | UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment |
| Minimum age | 15 weeks. | UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment |
| Microchip | Permanent; its number must match the health certificate. | UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment |
| Rabies vaccine | Given at 12 weeks or older, valid under the maker's instructions. | UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment |
| Titre test | Required: at least 21 days after a first vaccination (straight away with a valid booster), at least 0.5 IU/ml, at a lab accredited by the exporting country's authorities. Valid 365 days while the vaccine stays valid and no booster dose is given; otherwise repeated. | UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment |
| Other vaccines | Dogs: distemper, parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis, leptospirosis (a lab test can replace the leptospirosis vaccine where the exporting country does not vaccinate). Cats: panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus. | UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment |
| Bengal and Serval cats | A fifth-generation pedigree certificate. | UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment |
| Parasites | Internal and external treatment within 14 days before shipment. | UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment |
| Health certificate | From the exporting country's veterinary authority. | UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment |
| Release permit on arrival | AED 500 per dog, AED 250 per cat. | UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment |
Plan for moving a pet from India to the UAE
Microchip and rabies vaccine
The vaccine at 12 weeks old or older.
Titre blood draw
At least 21 days after a first vaccination.
Wait for a passing result
At least 0.5 IU/ml.
Apply for the MOCCAE import permit
Online; issued in 1 working day and valid 90 days.
Parasite treatment
Internal and external, within the 14 days before shipment.
AQCS export certificate
Valid 10 days; the pet ships directly from India.
Release permit on arrival
AED 500 for a dog, AED 250 for a cat.
What do older guides get wrong about bringing a pet into the UAE?
Mostly the permit: MOCCAE's service page, last changed on 14 October 2026, says it is valid for 90 days, not 30.
You may have read
The UAE import permit is valid for 30 days.
Myth
What the sources say
90 days from issue, on MOCCAE's service page and its service card. A pet cannot travel on an expired permit. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
You may have read
Pets can arrive at Al Maktoum airport.
Myth
What the sources say
Al Maktoum is no longer among the quarantine points on MOCCAE's pet import service; it appears only on MOCCAE's export certificate service. Check with MOCCAE before routing a pet there. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
You may have read
A UAE resident's pet coming home counts as one of the 2 pets a year.
Myth
What the sources say
Returning resident pets are outside the limit, but only with MOCCAE's health certificate from before they left and a rabies vaccine still valid on return. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Can the rabies titre test for the UAE be done in India?
Possibly: MOCCAE asks for a lab accredited by India's own authorities, not a foreign list, but no official page names which Indian labs count.
If the UAE is your pet's final destination
MOCCAE accepts a titre from “a laboratory accredited by the competent authorities in the country of export”. Petym found no DAHD, AQCS or MOCCAE page naming the Indian labs that count, so confirm the lab with MOCCAE (800 3050, [email protected]) and your AQCS station before the blood draw. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
If you want an Indian lab that publishes the service
The Madras Veterinary College lab of TANUVAS in Chennai runs the FAVN test, NABL-accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, at Rs 2,000 a sample with results within a week. The serum must reach it at 4 °C within 24 hours, and 600 µl is needed. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (state government university)
If you are near Bengaluru
The KVAFSU-CVA Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory is a WOAH reference laboratory for rabies; in 2024 it tested 671 sera by RFFIT, mainly for pets moving abroad, and found 97 unprotected. Petym found no fee or service page, so ask the lab first. World Organisation for Animal Health
If it is the pet's first rabies vaccine, or the vaccination lapsed
Wait at least 21 days before the blood draw. With a valid booster, the draw can be done straight away. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
If the result is below 0.5 IU/ml
The pet cannot use it: MOCCAE's minimum is 0.5 IU/ml, and the TANUVAS lab advises revaccination below that level. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
If your dog may later move from the UAE to the USA
Use a lab on the CDC's own list: none is in India, and the UAE's Central Veterinary Research Laboratory is on it. USA US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
What are MOCCAE's fees for a dog or cat from India?
MOCCAE's pet import service lists three fees: AED 200 for the permit and AED 500 (dog) or AED 250 (cat) on release. With Rs 500 to AQCS, the government side for one dog is AED 700 plus Rs 500 by Petym's sum.
As published
- MOCCAE import permitAED 200 per animalPaid by card, before travel. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- MOCCAE release permit, dogAED 500At the port of arrival. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- MOCCAE release permit, catAED 250At the port of arrival. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- AQCS export certificate, IndiaRs 500Paid on Bharatkosh. AQCS, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
- Titre test at an Indian lab (example)Rs 2,000 a sampleRs 1,695 + Rs 305 GST at TANUVAS, Chennai: a lab fee, not a government charge. Whether MOCCAE accepts it is answered above. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (state government university)
- MOCCAE export health certificate, if the pet leaves the UAE laterAED 100For up to 2 animals for personal use; AED 400 otherwise. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Petym found no official page for Dubai Municipality's pet registration fees, or for airline cargo and handling charges.
Why must a pet bound for Dubai fly as cargo?
Emirates carries animals into Dubai only as cargo, and Air India takes no pets from India to the UAE at all. Petym could not check Etihad, flydubai or Air Arabia.
Do
- Book a pet flying to Dubai as cargo: Emirates requires it on every itinerary ending in Dubai. Emirates
- Give Emirates at least a week's notice; it carries animals only when they are older than 4 months. Emirates
- Ship the pet directly from India, under IATA's conditions for pet transport. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- Land at a quarantine point on MOCCAE's import list: Dubai Airport Cargo Village, Dubai Airport Free Zone, Zayed International (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah or Ras Al Khaimah airport, or a listed seaport or land port. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Don’t
- Count on Air India from India: it carries no pets to the UAE, in the cabin or as checked baggage, only the other way. Air India
- Plan on the cabin with Emirates: only falcons on some Pakistan routes and guide dogs for the visually impaired ride there. Emirates
- Let the pet mix with other animals if the route crosses another country. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- Book a Dubai connection of more than 6 hours unless the pet flies as cargo. Emirates
- Cross UAE territory between two ports without a prior transit permit, valid 48 hours; a connection at the same airport needs none. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- Ship a pet that falls short of the rules: it is rejected at your cost or confiscated. UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Living in the UAE: what lets your pet visit India and come back?
A MOCCAE health certificate before you leave, a rabies vaccine that stays valid, and India's Advance NOC on the way in.
- Before leaving the UAE, MOCCAE's veterinary health certificate, a returning resident pet needs it to come back UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- That certificate is valid 30 days and costs AED 100 for up to 2 personal pets; MOCCAE asks no copy of the importing country's permit for companion animals UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- A rabies vaccine that stays valid until the pet is back, if it lapses, the pet is treated as a first import, with a titre test and a permit UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- A readable microchip UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- Flying to India on Air India, a pet may ride in the cabin from the UAE, at USD 225 a sector plus taxes Air India
- Entering India, the Advance NOC on ATITHI 2.0, applied for at least 7 working days before the flight AQCS, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
- The right Indian route: re-import with a copy of the AQCS export certificate if the pet first left India, or a DGFT licence for a pet born or bought abroad on a short visit AQCS, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
- Leaving India again, a new AQCS export certificate (Rs 500, valid 10 days) AQCS, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Which dog breeds does the UAE refuse?
MOCCAE does not admit the breeds below, including India's own Bully Kutta; service, emotional-support and medical dogs are exempt.
The list is MOCCAE's own, read on its pet import service page on 21 October 2026.
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and American Bully
- Bully Kutta (also listed as Alangu Mastiff or Indian Mastiff), Tibetan Mastiff and Neapolitan Mastiff
- Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Perro de Presa Canario (with Presa Canario listed separately) and Japanese Tosa
- Dogue de Bordeaux, Boerboel, Bullmastiff and Cane Corso
Going away soon? Tell us your dates.
A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.
- Meet your sitter first, free
- PAN-checked, first-aid trained
- A photo every day
- Pay through Petym, never cash
Questions owners ask
How long is the UAE pet import permit valid?
- 90 days from issue, according to MOCCAE's current service page. Your pet cannot travel on an expired permit.
Is the Indian Mastiff (Bully Kutta) allowed into the UAE?
- No. MOCCAE's banned list includes the Bully Kutta (Alangu Mastiff, Indian Mastiff), with breeds such as the American Pit Bull Terrier, Cane Corso and Tibetan Mastiff.
How many pets can I take from India to the UAE?
- Up to 2 per person per year: 2 cats, 2 dogs or one of each. Resident pets coming back are an exception.
Does a pet from India need a titre test for Dubai?
- Yes. India is treated as high-risk, so a rabies titre test is required, taken at least 21 days after a first vaccination and showing at least 0.5 IU/ml.
Does a service or emotional-support dog from India need a UAE import permit?
- Yes. MOCCAE issues it in 5 working days rather than 1, and asks for a training-centre certificate and a medical report on the owner, both certified in the country of origin, and a pledge not to transfer, abandon or breed the dog. These dogs are exempt from the banned-breed list.
Can I take a Bengal cat from India to the UAE?
- Yes, but only with a fifth-generation pedigree certificate, which MOCCAE asks for with Bengal and Serval cats.
Does a rabies booster mean redoing the UAE titre test?
- MOCCAE says the titre certificate is valid 365 days as long as the rabies vaccine stays valid and continuous and no booster dose was given; otherwise the test is to be repeated. Check with your vet before timing a booster close to travel.
How long does moving a pet from India to the UAE take?
- About 6 to 8 weeks for a vaccinated adult, by Petym's working: the titre draw at least 21 days after a first vaccination, the lab result, the one-day permit, the 14-day parasite window and the 10-day AQCS certificate, with at least a week's notice to Emirates for cargo. A puppy or kitten must be at least 15 weeks old on arrival.
Keep reading
- Taking a pet abroad from IndiaThe AQCS export certificate every pet needs.
- Taking a dog from India to the UKBlood test abroad and a 3-month wait.
- Taking a dog from India to the USACDC rules and the 8 entry airports.
- Taking a dog from India to CanadaA rabies certificate, no quarantine.
- Taking a dog from India to AustraliaThe UAE counts as an approved country for Australia's 180 days.
Keep exploring
Before and after the flight
Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment: Import of pets (cats and dogs): service details (16 October 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment: Service card: import of pets (cats and dogs) (opens in a new tab)
- Emirates: What are the rules and charges for travelling with animals? (FAQ; undated; read via curl) (opens in a new tab)
- Air India: Travelling with pets (opens in a new tab)
- AQCS, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying: Export of pets (dogs and cats) (opens in a new tab)
- Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (state government university): Testing Services for Rabies Antibody Estimation in Vaccinated Pets (brochure with no date on its pages; PDF metadata 2 Aug 2023) (opens in a new tab)
Show all 11 sourcesShow fewer
- World Organisation for Animal Health: WOAH Reference Laboratory Reports Activities 2024: Rabies, KVAFSU-CVA Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory, Bengaluru (submitted 30 Jan 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Approved rabies serology laboratories for testing dogs (opens in a new tab)
- AQCS, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying: Import of live pet dogs under the Livestock Importation Act, 1898: standard operating procedure (August 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment: Request for a veterinary health certificate for exporting or re-exporting live animals (modified 14 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Emirates: Pets Travel (help page; undated; read via curl) (opens in a new tab)