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Bringing a cat from the United States to the UAE

A cat can enter the UAE from the US with a microchip, rabies vaccination, a passing rabies titer test, and a MOCCAE import permit obtained before travel. Your pet must fly as manifested cargo, and the health certificate window is tight: 10 days from issuance, with a USDA ink-signed endorsement.
15 weeks
Minimum age
Age at import
≥0.5 IU/ml
Titer result
Required for US pets
Cargo only
Transport mode
Manifested cargo required
10 days
Health cert validity
From issuance, USDA ink-endorsed

Sources disagree: How long the MOCCAE import permit is valid: USDA APHIS states 30 days; MOCCAE's own FAQ states 90 days. Both are official. Until they align, plan to travel well within 30 days of the permit being issued so you are safe under either reading.

Until officials align, follow the stricter reading and confirm with the destination authority.

Step-by-step checklist

Requirements — Cat · the United States → the UAE
StepWhat to doWhen
MicrochipYour pet must be identified with a microchip before travel. Before vaccination
Rabies vaccinationGiven at 12 weeks of age or older; at least 21 days must pass between vaccination and travel. Cats also need current vaccinations against feline panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus. ≥21 days before travel
Rabies titer testRequired for pets from the US. Result 0.5 IU/ml or higher, recorded on the health certificate. The sample must be no more than 12 months old at travel; after a first or lapsed vaccination it must be drawn at least 21 days after vaccination (with a valid booster it can be drawn the same day). USDA states no extra waiting period after the draw. ≤12 months before travel
MOCCAE import permitApply for the UAE import permit before you travel — entry is refused on an expired permit. The permit also limits you to 2 dogs, 2 cats, or 1 of each per year. See the conflict note below on how long the permit lasts. Before travel
Parasite treatmentsInternal and external parasite treatment within 14 days before travel, recorded on the health certificate. Final 14 days
Health certificate + USDA endorsementIssued by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA — for this route USDA must ink-sign and emboss the certificate. It is valid for 10 days after issuance, and the endorsed original must travel with your pet, which must fly as manifested cargo. Final 10 days

Your preparation timeline

  1. 1Months out — Microchip and rabies vaccination (pet at least 12 weeks old)
  2. 2≥21 days later — Titer blood draw if this follows a first or lapsed vaccination
  3. 3Before booking — MOCCAE import permit — plan travel well inside 30 days of issue (see conflict note)
  4. 4Final 14 days — Parasite treatments
  5. 5Final 10 days — Health certificate issued and USDA ink-endorsed; cargo booking confirmed
The mistake that causes trouble on this route: Assuming the permit lasts as long as the MOCCAE FAQ says. The two official sources disagree (see below) — if your permit expires before you land, entry is refused.

Costs you can plan for

The UAE government fee schedule for the import permit and release could not be verified on MOCCAE's own pages when this page was checked, so we do not publish a figure here rather than repeat numbers from relocation blogs. Your confirmed costs are the US-side ones: vaccinations, the titer test and laboratory, USDA endorsement, and manifested cargo freight, which for the Gulf is usually the largest single item.

✈️ Government rules are only half the trip. Airlines set their own pet carriage rules (crate size, breed limits, seasonal embargoes). Re-confirm carriage with your airline after you meet the rules above.

Questions people ask about this route

Does the UAE quarantine pets on arrival?

Neither the USDA page nor the MOCCAE FAQ we checked states a quarantine period for compliant arrivals — they describe document presentation and inspection by port officials. We publish only what the official pages say, so confirm the current arrival procedure with MOCCAE when you apply for the permit.

Are any cat breeds banned in the UAE?

The official banned list covers dog breeds. For cats, MOCCAE's FAQ addresses hybrid cats: Bengal and Serval crosses are only importable as 5th-generation crossbreeds with a pedigree certificate.

How many pets can I bring?

The permit limit is 2 dogs, 2 cats, or 1 dog and 1 cat per person per year.

Can my pet fly in the cabin to the UAE?

USDA states pets on this route must travel as manifested cargo.

Related guides

✓ Last verified: 2026-11-11

Official sources for this page

We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.

Want a professional to run this route for you?

Licensed pet relocation companies handle permits, vet paperwork and flights daily. We are adding vetted partners for this route — check back soon.