Pet relocation from Germany to Dubai

UAE entry rules for this corridor

• Obtain a MOCCAE import permit before the pet leaves Germany; the permit is valid for 90 days from issuance — the animal must enter the UAE within that window.
• UAE entry for most dogs and cats is as manifest cargo under IATA live-animal conditions (cabin into Dubai is not the default). Etihad cabin into Abu Dhabi is a published exception for eligible small pets — confirm current policy.
• ISO 11784/11785 microchip must match the health certificate; implant the chip before the rabies vaccination used for UAE import.
• When a rabies antibody titer (RNATT) is required, the blood sample must be taken within 90 days before travel and result ≥ 0.5 IU/ml — this is a pre-travel sample window, not a 90-day waiting period after the draw.
• Confirm on the official MOCCAE portal whether this origin is on the current rabies-controlled / exempt list before you skip a titer. We do not publish an unverified exempt-country list.
• Government-endorsed origin health certificate and parasite treatments must meet MOCCAE timing — verify current portal requirements before flight week.
• MOCCAE and on-arrival release fee amounts: confirm on the official portal — we do not publish fee numerals here.

Rules summarised from the regulatory source of truth. Always re-check MOCCAE and your airline before travel. Dubai Pet Relocation is not affiliated with MOCCAE or any airline.

How a Germany move actually works

A realistic Germany→Dubai scenario starts months out with a corridor check: species, breed, weight, preferred German export city, and target UAE arrival month. Week −12 to −8: confirm whether a rabies titer is required for this origin profile; if yes, schedule the blood draw so the sample date will still fall within ninety days before the eventual travel date, and keep the ≥0.5 IU/ml result with the file. Implant or verify the ISO microchip before rabies vaccination sequencing if that order is not already correct. Week −6 to −4: align German veterinary appointments for the government-endorsed health certificate window and begin the MOCCAE import permit application so issuance will leave enough of the ninety-day validity for the booked flight. Week −3: lock airline acceptance and crate dimensions against the carrier’s live pet policy for Germany→UAE — Lufthansa cabin_or_cargo seed mode, Emirates cargo, Etihad cargo with possible AUH nuance, Qatar cargo via DOH, Eurowings confirm — all still unverified on this page. Week −1 to departure: final parasite treatments per MOCCAE timing, certificate endorsement, and cargo booking confirmation. Arrival day in the UAE is a cargo and veterinary release pathway story for most consignments, often associated with DXB or DWC cargo handling rather than the passenger baggage hall. After MOCCAE release, your handler tells you where to collect. This timeline is a scenario narrative for planning conversations, not a guaranteed SLA — every date still depends on portal and airline confirmation.

Deep-dive the documents on UAE import requirements, the MOCCAE 90-day import permit, and the titer sample window. Crate sizing sits on the IATA crate guide.

Frequently asked questions