Pet relocation from Spain to Dubai

UAE entry rules for this corridor

• Obtain a MOCCAE import permit before the pet leaves Spain; 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 We do not publish an unverified exempt-country list.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• MOCCAE and on-arrival release fee amounts: confirm on the official portal — we do not publish fee numerals here.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 Spain move actually works

Scenario: a family leaving Valencia for Arabian Ranches, one dog, deciding whether to truck to Madrid or fly the owner through Barcelona. Month −4: pick the honest export airport. Default planning is MAD or BCN. Treat AGP as unconfirmed until the carrier’s live-animal desk says yes. Confirm on the MOCCAE portal whether a rabies titer is required for this Spanish origin. If Spain needs a titer, book the draw so the sample still sits inside 90 days before the real MAD or BCN date and keep the ≥0.5 IU/ml result. On a Spain file, confirm the ISO microchip precedes the rabies vaccination that will be cited for UAE import. Month −3 to −2: start the MOCCAE import permit so the 90-day validity still covers cargo day, and hold a Spanish official-vet appointment that can still be valid at MAD or BCN. Week −3: lock Iberia, Emirates or Qatar Airways acceptance. Treat Vueling as unconfirmed. All seed rows are unverified. Week −1 on a Spain file: portal-timed parasite treatments and a crate that MAD or BCN cargo will actually accept. Madrid or Barcelona consignments almost always release at DXB or DWC cargo, not at passenger reclaim. This is a planning narrative, not a guaranteed SLA.

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