Pet relocation with permits, approved crates and a handler
In short
We move cats and dogs from the UAE with the export permit, health certificate, IATA-compliant travel crate and airline booking arranged together. Most destinations require a microchip fitted before the rabies vaccination, and many require a rabies antibody blood test months in advance, so pet moves need planning earlier than any other service.
Pet relocation runs on a calendar, not a truck schedule. The sequence of microchip, vaccination, blood test and waiting period is fixed by the destination country, and doing a step in the wrong order means starting again. A rabies titre test for some countries carries a three-month wait after the sample is taken, which is why we ask people to talk to us four to six months before they fly.
How early should I start?
Four to six months for destinations that require a rabies antibody test, and six to eight weeks for those that do not. The long pole is almost always the blood test: the sample can only be taken a set number of days after the rabies vaccination, the laboratory result takes time, and some countries then impose a further three-month wait from the date the sample was drawn before the animal may enter. None of that can be compressed, which is why a pet move is booked around the pet rather than around your flight.
What is a heat embargo?
Between roughly May and September, airlines restrict or suspend live animal carriage out of Gulf airports because ramp and hold temperatures become unsafe. Some carriers refuse snub-nosed breeds — pugs, bulldogs, Persian cats — year round for the same reason, since those animals struggle to regulate their breathing under heat stress. If you are moving in summer, the practical options are a night flight, a northern transit routing, or moving the pet separately from the family at a cooler time of year.
Our process
Plan
Destination rules mapped to a dated checklist for your pet.
Prepare
Microchip, vaccinations, blood test and any waiting period completed.
Document
Export permit and health certificate issued inside their validity window.
Fly
Crate-acclimatised pet checked in and met on arrival.
What affects the price
| Animal size | Airlines charge on the crate’s dimensions and weight combined. |
|---|---|
| Route and airline | A direct flight costs more but avoids a transit stop and handling. |
| Testing requirements | A rabies titre test adds laboratory cost and months of waiting. |
| Quarantine at destination | A few countries require it and charge per day. |
| Season | Airlines impose summer heat embargoes on live animals out of the Gulf. |
Frequently asked questions
Can my pet travel in the cabin?
Rarely from the UAE. Most carriers operating out of the Gulf require cats and dogs to travel as manifest cargo in a temperature-controlled hold rather than in the cabin. Assistance animals are the usual exception. We confirm the specific airline’s policy before booking rather than assuming.
What size crate does my pet need?
Large enough for the animal to stand fully upright without its ears touching the roof, turn around completely and lie down naturally. Airlines measure this at check-in and refuse crates that fail. We size the crate from your pet’s measurements, not its breed, and recommend introducing it at home several weeks before the flight.
Should my pet be sedated for the flight?
No. Sedation is advised against for air travel by veterinary bodies and most airlines will refuse a visibly sedated animal. At altitude a sedative can depress breathing and impair the animal’s ability to balance itself in the crate. Crate familiarisation in the weeks beforehand does far more to reduce stress than medication.
Do you move animals other than cats and dogs?
Birds, rabbits and some small mammals can be moved on certain routes, but the rules are far more restrictive and several countries prohibit them outright. Tell us the species at first contact so we can check the destination rule before you make plans around it.
Will my pet be fed and watered on the way?
The crate carries a water container accessible from outside, which ground handlers refill during any transit stop. Feeding is generally withheld shortly before departure to reduce travel sickness. On long routes with a transit we ask the handling agent to check and water the animal, and we confirm that this happened.
Get a free quote
A free survey and a fixed written price before you commit to anything.