How to get your pets into or out of the UAE

The regulations for bringing in or taking out a pet from the UAE depend on the rules of the country to which it is going.

To take your pet home, the basic requirements are an export permit that will be examined at the cargo village of Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah international airports; a valid rabies vaccination between one year and 30 days; proof the animal has been microchiped; a travel box that meets International Air Transport Association guidelines.

Many kennels and catteries will deal with all of the paperwork, both for export and import. In the UAE, you can ask help from the British Veterinary Centre, American Veterinary Clinic, the German Veterinary Clinic and Dubai Kennels and Cattery.

Your local vet or the airline can inform you of the regulations at your destination, including blood tests and quarantine.

The British Veterinary Centre in Abu Dhabi, on its website, said the veterinary procedures could start up to seven months for some countries and the final flight could only be made a week or so before departure.

The entry of pets to the UAE requires an import permit from the Ministry of Environment and Water. For this, you will need a vaccination card or certificate for each pet dog or cat, your passport copy and a microchip number clearly marked on the vaccine book or microchip certificate.

Some pets will need rabies tests in advance of entry in the UAE. The UAE authorities will not issue import papers more than one month in advance, according to the British Veterinary Centre.

For more information on pet shipping, visit britvet.com/travel or www.moew.gov.ae.

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RRuiz@thenational.ae