Checked 22 September 2026
CatsBring your cat to Dubai
Cats are not small dogs. The practical work is the carrier, the cat vaccines, and a pedigree if the cat is a Bengal or a Serval. The permit rules sit on the import guide.
General guidance is free in the guides. Bespoke document review and coordination are paid.
What cat owners need that dog owners do not
The paid file is cat relocation in Dubai. This page stays on preparation. Dog breed bans, dog crate series and dog vaccines are on the dog page and are not repeated as cat instructions.
The carrier has to be familiar
Leave the carrier out at home with the door open. Feed the cat beside it, then inside it, over several days. A familiar cloth is useful if the airline allows soft items. The cat must be able to stand, turn and lie down. A carrier that is only just large enough to squeeze into is not a fit.
Food, water and litter
Attach water the way the airline specifies. Do not assume a cat will eat or use a tray in a moving aircraft. We do not give a fasting time. Ask your vet what to offer before check-in. A litter tray is not a requirement we can verify, and many cats will not use one in a crate.
No sedation plan on this page
Do not sedate a cat because a dog article suggested a calming aid. We do not name medicines, pheromone products, or doses. If a vet and the airline both put permission in writing, that is their instruction, not ours. Airline refusal of sedated animals is common enough that you must ask before travel day.
Papers that are specific to cats
- MOCCAE import permit, valid 90 days from issuance. Same permit window as a dog. It does not make the rest of the file identical.
- Cat vaccines named on the MOCCAE page: rabies, feline panleukopenia, feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus. Feline leukaemia was not on that required list when checked on 22 September 2026.
- Bengal and Serval cats: a pedigree certificate to the fifth generation. Other domestic cats are not given that extra line on the page we checked. Savannah cats were not named there, so this page does not call them banned.
- Parasite treatment in the 14 days before shipment, recorded by your vet. The UK export certificate names products that include permethrin. Permethrin products sold for dogs can be dangerous for cats. Your vet must choose a cat-safe product. We do not give a dose.
- Permanent microchip number matching the health certificate. Full sequence: UAE pet import requirements.
Airline product for a cat
Into Dubai
Emirates requires cargo for itineraries ending in Dubai. The pet form asks for at least one week's notice and says animals travel only if they are older than four months. That is an airline condition, separate from the government age rules on the import guide. Flat-faced cats, including many Persians, can be refused even when import rules allow the cat. Confirm the booking. We do not state a November-to-April window as an Emirates rule, because that calendar was not on the FAQ checked on 22 September 2026.
Not a Dubai cabin seat
British Airways carries pets in the hold. IAG Cargo says some snub-nosed cats may not be accepted. Etihad's cabin product, if you are considering it, is explained on the Etihad pet policy page and must be rechecked. This page does not repeat weights, carrier centimetres or fares from that airline. A road transfer from Abu Dhabi is a separate booking, not a published minute count.
The snub-nosed guide on this site is written for dogs. It does not set cat rules. Use it only as a reminder that flat faces are an airline question, then confirm the cat's own booking.
Cost, without a made-up table
A smaller crate can mean a lower freight rate. It does not create a published AED band. Government permit and release fees are on the import requirements page. Cargo, the carrier, UK or origin vet fees, and coordination are quoted for this cat. See what drives cost.
Questions about cats
Related cat pages
Import rules, the paid cat service, and the dog page if you are moving both.
Official Sources
We coordinate the paperwork, but the rules are set by government and industry authorities. Always confirm the current requirements directly with the official sources.
Checked 22 September 2026 against the MOCCAE pet import page and the Emirates animals FAQ. This is not a veterinary certificate.
Ready for a managed cat move?
Prepare from the guide if you are doing the papers yourself. WhatsApp +971504782999 is for a paid eligibility check. Email support@dubai-pet-relocation.ae.
Check this cat's move