A pet can be sent out of Dubai either accompanied by a person on the same flight, or unaccompanied as cargo depending on the airline and destination. Below is the basic procedure as required by the Dubai government, Emirates SkyCargo and dnata, the cargo-handling agent for all airlines except for Emirates. Dubai Kennels & Cattery offers an export service (04 285 1646), as does IAL Pet Express (04 310 9455).

Prerequisites

• Check the laws of the country to which you are sending the pet.
• Most authorities require that a rabies blood test (RNATT) is done to test the levels of the rabies antibody in the pet’s system. The test must be done in the correct sequence and no less than six months before the animals arrival in a foreign country.

What to bring

• A vaccination card, showing a rabies vaccination not older than one year and not less than 30 days.
• Any other documentation required by the destination country (such as blood test results).
• A travel box, wooden or fibreglass, that meets airline specifications.

Procedure

• Contact the airline cargo department and enquire about country-specific pet import regulations.
• Book flight for the pet. It is recommended that this is done at least one week in advance.
• No more than seven days prior to departure, take the vaccination records, health certificate and passport copy to the Ministry of Environment & Water veterinarian at Cargo Village.
• You will be given a UAE health certificate, referred to as an export permit by some countries, which is valid for five days only.
• Take the pet, travel box and all original documents to dnata Export Office or SkyCargo Export Office.
• Fill in a live animal declaration form and complete an IDG and shippers certificate.
• The animal will be weighed and measured, and the export fee calculated.
• Collect the shipper’s copy of the airway bill.
• At least four hours before departure, take the pet and travel box to the export office. All original documents must travel with your pet, attached to the airway bill.