The UAE route, honestly
There is no quarantine entering the UAE — provided the paperwork is complete and correct. The flights are short and frequent, and the route is well travelled. On the face of it, this is one of the easier moves.
Two things complicate it. First, South Africa is not on MOCCAE's low-risk list, which means your pet needs a rabies titre test. Second — and this is the one that stops South African moves dead — the UAE bans a list of dog breeds outright, and the Boerboel is on it.
A banned breed cannot enter, regardless of temperament, paperwork, or how much you're willing to pay. And identification is phenotypic: if the inspector believes your dog looks like a banned breed, it can be refused even if its papers say otherwise. If you have a Boerboel, a Bullmastiff, a Cane Corso, a pit bull type or any cross of those, establish this before you spend a rand on anything else.
What United Arab Emirates requires
Every requirement below is mandatory, and the order matters as much as the items themselves.
Check the breed list — first, before anything
The UAE prohibits import of a range of dog breeds including the Boerboel, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tibetan and Neapolitan Mastiff, Presa Canario, Japanese Tosa, pit bull types (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bully), wolf-dog hybrids, and crosses of any of these. Rottweilers, Dobermans and Boxers are, depending on the source, restricted or prohibited — verify before committing. Identification is phenotypic: if the dog looks like a banned breed, it can be refused.
MOCCAE import permit
Applied for online through the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment before travel. It has a limited validity window and cannot be expired on arrival — confirm the current validity period when you apply, and time it against your flight.
ISO microchip — before the rabies vaccination
A 15-digit ISO 11784/11785 microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccine. Vaccinate first and the vaccination isn't accepted.
Rabies vaccination
The pet must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated. The vaccine must be given at least 21 days before travel and not more than 12 months before arrival.
Rabies titre test
Because South Africa is not on MOCCAE's low-risk list, a rabies antibody test showing at least 0.5 IU/ml is required, from an approved laboratory. A waiting period applies between the blood draw and entry — sources differ on the exact length, and it is the single most important thing to confirm before you book a flight. Plan conservatively.
Core vaccinations beyond rabies
Dogs also need distemper, parvovirus, infectious hepatitis and leptospirosis. Cats need panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus.
Parasite treatment within 14 days of travel
Internal and external antiparasitic treatment, administered within the 14 days before travel and recorded on the health certificate.
Health certificate, endorsed by the SA State Vet
Issued by your vet and officially endorsed by the South African State Veterinarian — a separate government appointment, and the item most often left out of quotes.
Manifest cargo only
Pets cannot enter the UAE in the cabin or as checked baggage. Every imported pet travels as manifest cargo, in a climate-controlled hold. Entry is via Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
A limit of two pets per person, per year
More than two generally requires an agent to arrange. If you're moving a household with several animals, raise this in your enquiry — it changes the plan.
The timeline, working backwards
Here is the sequence, and what drives it:
Confirm the breed is permitted
If your dog is a Boerboel or any other banned breed, the move cannot proceed. Establish this first — not after you've paid for vaccinations.
Microchip, then rabies vaccination
Chip first. Pet must be at least 12 weeks old at vaccination.
Rabies titre blood draw
Sent to an approved laboratory. Note the date — the waiting period runs from here.
Titre result confirmed
Must show at least 0.5 IU/ml.
Before entry is permitted
Sources differ on the exact length of the wait after the blood draw. Plan conservatively — around three months — and confirm the current rule with your partner before booking flights.
MOCCAE import permit applied for online
It has a limited validity window and cannot be expired on arrival, so it is timed deliberately close to travel.
Internal and external parasite treatment
Administered by the vet and recorded on the health certificate.
Vet exam and health certificate issued
Limited validity window, so this sits late in the sequence.
State Vet endorsement
Separate government appointment. Book it early.
Collection, flight as manifest cargo, clearance, delivery
Into Dubai or Abu Dhabi, cleared on arrival, and driven to the new address.
What a UAE quote should include
This is where comparing quotes earns its keep. A quote that looks cheaper is often just a quote that covers less. Before you accept anything, check that every line below is either included or explicitly priced:
- Confirmation that your dog's breed is permitted The first thing any competent partner should check
- Flight as manifest cargo — airline and route named Cabin and checked baggage are not permitted for imports
- IATA-compliant travel crate, correctly sized Ask whether you own it afterwards
- The MOCCAE import permit — application and fee Ask who applies and who re-applies if it expires
- Rabies titre test — lab fee and courier Often quoted as one line, billed as two
- All core vaccinations for the species
- Parasite treatment within 14 days of travel
- All veterinary visits and the pre-export examination
- The South African State Vet endorsement The most commonly excluded item — ask explicitly
- Inspection and clearance fees on arrival in the UAE These are charged per animal and are easy to leave out of a quote
- Ground transport in South Africa — collection from your home
- Ground transport in the UAE — delivery to the new address
- The coordinator's own fee, stated openly
Why UAE quotes vary so much
The UAE looks like a simple route, which is exactly why quotes for it vary so much — the complications are easy to leave out:
- Whether the titre test is included. It is not optional for a South African pet, so a quote that omits it is incomplete rather than cheap.
- The import permit. Who applies, who pays, and who re-applies if it expires before your pet flies.
- Arrival inspection and clearance fees. Charged per animal in the UAE, and frequently absent from the headline number.
- The State Vet endorsement. Included by some, invoiced separately by others.
- Door-to-door versus airport-to-airport. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are large, and the last leg is a real cost.
- The crate. Included, rented, or sold on top.
- Snub-nosed breeds and heat. Airlines apply temperature restrictions, tighter still for snub-nosed dogs — which can rule out whole months of the year on this route. A cheap quote that ignores the season is not a real quote.
One enquiry to several partners tells you two things at once: what the fair price is, and which partners actually know this route. On the UAE run, the second matters as much as the first.