When transporting a pet by a commercial airline, it is extremely important to understand their pet policy. These policies vary between airlines. Some allow small pets to fly in the cabin and others don’t. It is important to know the answers to all your questions before making your decision to fly your pet on any commercial airline. Does Emirates allow pets on your specific route? How much does it cost to fly a dog or cat on Emirates? What documents will I need? What are the carrier or crate requirements for Emirates? All your answers related to Emirates pet policy are answered below.
Note: It is important to mention that the pet policy of the airline that operates your pet’s route will preside over the policy of the airline that owns the route. This is important to note because if the operating airline changes during your trip, then you will likely need to claim and recheck your pet on the next airline. This will cause you to clear customs and enter the layover country. You will need time and extra documentation to accommodate this process during the layover unless flying domestically.
Classes of service offered to pets by commercial airlines
- In-Cabin: Pets traveling in the cabin must fly with an adult passenger and travel in an airline compliant
carrier stowed under the seat. - Checked Baggage: Pets traveling with a passenger that are not permitted in the cabin due to size or breed can be transported as checked baggage in the cargo hold.
- Air Cargo: Unaccompanied, very large pets or pets flying to countries that require that pets enter under air cargo will travel as manifest cargo in the hold.
Can my pet fly with me in the cabin? No
Can my pet fly with me as checked baggage? Yes
Can my pet fly as manifest cargo? Yes
Where is Emirates based?
Emirates (IATA: EK) is based out of Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. Most layovers within Emirates’ network will occur in this airport.
What countries does Emirates fly to?
Emirates offers service to pets to over 80 countries including: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia. Canada, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa (cargo), South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates (cargo), United Kingdom (cargo), United States, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Emirates Pet Policy – In Cabin
Emirates does not permit any live animal to fly in their cabin except trained service dogs.
Service dog pet policy
All service dogs may fly at no charge in the cabin on certain flights. They must be trained by a person or organization that specializes in service dog training to provide specific tasks for a person with a disability. Notice must be provided to the airline at least 48 hours prior to departure.
Service dogs must be suitably marked, harnessed and leashed. They must fit in the space provided at their passenger’s feet without intruding on cabin operations or other passengers. They will not be seated in exit rows. They must be clean, mannerly and not show any signs of aggression toward other passengers or the flight crew.
On the flights, seeing eye dogs and psychiatric dogs can fly in the cabin, as checked baggage or air cargo.
- To or from the USA and Canada
- Between Australia and New Zealand
- Between countries in the EU and the USA
- From EU countries to other countries
On these flights, seeing eye dogs and psychiatric dogs will fly as checked baggage or air cargo.
- From countries in the EU to Dubai
- From other countries to Dubai
- From Dubai to other countries
If flights involve the United States, Department of Transportation forms must be completed and submitted at least 48 hours prior to departure. All required documentation required for the destination country must be provided at check in.
All service dogs are subject to the same requirements as regular dogs when traveling internationally. Passengers are responsible to ensure their service dog has conformed to all requirements of the origination, layover and destination countries.
Emirates Pet Policy – Checked Baggage
If the size of your pet is too large to fit in an airline-compliant pet carrier, or it is a pet other than a cat or dog, it will be transported as checked baggage on Emirates if it is flying with an adult passenger. This section of the cargo department has the same temperature and pressure as the passenger cabin.
Live animals are checked in by reservation employees and are checked in at the airport terminal. The airline will move your pet between aircraft in their fleet during layovers if the layover is not over about 3 hours in length.
Pets flown by Emirates as checked baggage
Falcons, dogs, cats and pet birds are permitted to fly as accompanied checked baggage on most Emirates flights with durations of less than 17 hours. Incoming flights to Dubai will necessitate pets to fly as air cargo (step 3). Pets are permitted to fly as checked baggage on outbound flights if the destination country allows the import of pets in this class of service.
Emirates imposes no limit as to the number of pets that can be transported per passenger; however, some countries will limit the number of pets that can be imported.
Reservations
All reservations should be made more than seven days in advance of departure.
Pet crate requirements
The total dimensions of your pet’s crate (length + width + height) must not exceed 118″ (300 cm) to fly as checked baggage. A maximum of two adult pets of comparable size weighing up to 17 lbs. (14 kg) each may be shipped in the same crate, providing they are used to each other. Animals weighing over 14 kg each must travel in separate crates.
All crates must conform to regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For more information, see step 4.
Route or aircraft restrictions
All pets on flights inbound to Dubai must fly as air cargo. Transits through Dubai must be less than 6 hours or air cargo transport will be required. All animals/birds subject to CITES regulations must fly as air cargo. All animals, including service dogs, must fly as air cargo if the duration of the flight exceeds 17 hours. All pets that require medication or food must fly as air cargo.
Temperature Restrictions
See step 5.
Forms Required
All live animals flying to Pakistan must complete this form. More information on importing a pet to Pakistan. All live animals flying to Portugal from outside of the European Union must have an entry prenotification. More information on importing a pet to Portugal.
All pets must have proof of rabies vaccination, current health certificate and all documentation and permits required by their destination country.
The passenger assumes full responsibility and expense for complying with applicable laws, customs and/or other governmental regulations, requirements, or restrictions of the country, state or territory to and from which your pet is being transported. Upon arrival, health certificates, import permits, and other papers may be required by local authorities depending upon the route on which your pet is traveling.
Related: Regulations and forms required to import a pet to over 220 countries
Check in
Your pet should be presented at the departure airport ticket counter in its carrier at least 30 minutes before normal check in times.
Pet fee
The cost to transport your pet on Emirates as checked baggage will depend on the weight of your pet and the size of its crate.
- Weight of pet + crate less than 23 kg and crate dimensions less than 59″ (150 cm): $500 USD
- Weight of pet + crate between 24 and 32 kg and crate dimensions between 59″ (150 cm) and 118″ (300 cm): $650 USD
- Weight of pet + crate more than 32 kg and crate dimensions between 59″ (150 cm) and 118″ (300 cm): $800 USD
Emirates Pet Policy – Air Cargo
All live animals flying as air cargo travel under an airline manifest or air waybill and are tracked throughout the entire flight. The airlines are responsible for caring for your pet during layovers as well. Unlike checked baggage, pets are generally checked in and claimed at the airline’s cargo facility. This facility is located on airport grounds; however, not the terminal. Many airlines require that an agent books the transport. If you need a licensed agent to arrange your pet’s transport, send us an email at info@pettraveltransport.com.
Pets flown by Emirates as air cargo
Dogs, cats, birds and other animals. All pets will be cared for in Dubai for transits more than 6 hours.
Reservations
Bookings must be made at least 72 hours prior to departure. The following information must be available:
- Photos of your pet, in a natural standing position inside its travel container*
- Pet Passport or EU Health Certificate with rabies certificates and microchip number for European Union destinations
- Rabies titer test results (for certain countries)
- GB Health Certificate for destinations in the United Kingdom
- Import permit (certain countries)
- Valid UAE MOCCAE Veterinary Health Certificate
- Completed and signed Acknowledgement form
- Name, email address and mobile number of the receiver
- If you are traveling on the same flight as your pet, a copy of your flight conformation is required.
- If you are using a broker or clearing agent at the destination, the name and email address of the broker or agent must be provided.
Once the booking is approved, Emirates will notify you by email and send you a PDF file to guide you through the handover and payment process.
Pet crate requirements
Crates with dimensions over 118″ (300 cm) can be transported as air cargo. All crates must conform to regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For more information, see step 4.
Temperature Restrictions
See step 5.
Forms Required
Pet Passport or EU Health Certificate with rabies certificates and microchip number for European Union destinations. Valid UAE MOCCAE Veterinary Health Certificate for UAE destinations. Other country specific health certificates, permits, licenses and test results must be available.
The passenger assumes full responsibility and expense for complying with applicable laws, customs and/or other governmental regulations, requirements, or restrictions of the country, state or territory to and from which your pet is being transported. Upon arrival, health certificates, import permits, and other papers may be required by local authorities depending upon the route on which your pet is traveling.
Related: Regulations and forms required to import a pet to over 220 countries
Check in
Your pet will be checked in at the Emirates’ cargo facility which is located on airport grounds; however, with few exceptions, not at the airport terminal.
Pet fee
The Emirates Cargo Sales office or your agent can provide you with the cost of transporting your pet as air cargo.
Emirates Pet Crate Requirements
All pet crates must conform to regulations set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The container must be large enough for your pet(s) to stand, turn around, and lie down. The crate must be made of fiberglass, metal, rigid plastics, weld metal mesh, solid wood or plywood.
The crate door must have a secure, spring-loaded, all-around locking system with the pins extending beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door. The floor must be waterproof. The crate must not have wheels attached when checking your pet. Metal hardware should be used to fasten the top and bottom halves of your pet crate together. Emirates requires either metal or plastic threaded nuts and bolts to secure both halves of the crate.
All crates must be labeled with LIVE ANIMAL stickers and a Shipping Declaration that includes feeding and watering instructions. A 24‑hour emergency contact number and optimum temperature requirements must be shown on the Shipping Declaration.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
All pets should be acclimated to their crates prior to travel. This may take weeks or even months to accomplish; however it is the best thing you can do for pet before flying.
Related: Acclimating your pet to its crate or carrier
Temperature Restrictions – Checked Baggage and Air Cargo
When temperatures rise above or drop under certain levels, commercial airlines will prohibit the transport of live animals in the cargo hold. These restrictions are implemented for the safety of your pet. It is important to note that the risk from high or low temperatures is not when your pet is airborne. The risks come during preflight holding, loading on the tarmac and taxiing to the take-off runway.
Pets will not be accepted as checked baggage or air cargo when actual or forecasted temperatures are above 85°F (29.4°C) or below 45°F (7.2°C) at any airport on the itinerary. Pets may be accepted at temperatures below 45°F with an acclimation certificate, however, no pet will be transported at temperatures lower than 20°F (-6.6°C).
No birds (except some falcons) can be accepted for transit via Dubai as checked baggage or cargo between May 1 and September 30 due to high temperatures.
Note that the temperature restrictions for summer travel are lower for brachycephalic (snub-nosed) pets.
Cold-blooded animals are exempt from these restrictions.
Related: Why temperatures matter for pets flying in the cargo hold
Breeds Banned by Emirates
Emirates will not transport the following breeds at any time: English and French Bulldogs.
Emirates will only permit the transport of the following breeds between November 1 and April 30 under an indemnity waiver and only in a crate 1 size bigger than the animal’s normal measurement. Mixes will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the local SkyCargo office.
Dogs Emirates classifies the following breeds as snub-nosed:
DOGS: American Cocker Spaniel, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog (all types), Bullmastiff, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua (Apple Headed), Chow Chow, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeauz, English and French Bulldogs, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Lowchen, Neopolican Mastiff, Newfoundland, Pekingese, Pit Bull Terrier, Pub (all types), Shar-Pei, Shih Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel.
CATS: Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Exotic Fold (Foldex), Himalayan, Persian, Scottish Fold, Selkirk Rex.
The following breeds will be accepted providing they are not being imported to the United Arab Emirates, are not banned either by the origination or destination countries, have the appropriate licenses or permits, and travel in reinforced crates such as CR 82 crates: Mastiff Dogs (Fila Braziliano / Brazilian Mastiff, Dogo Argentino, Argentinian Mastiff, any Mastiff or hybrid, Tosa (Japanese Tosa or hybrid), Rottweiler breeds or hybrid, Doberman Pinschers, Canario presa, Karabash (aka Kangal), Caucasian Ovchark or any mixed breed of the breeds of dog mentioned above, or hybrids.
Private Jet Charter
Another option for pet owners who do not want their pet to fly in the cargo hold is a pet-friendly private jet charter. Your pet can fly in your lap, at your feet or beside you comfortably without being confined. We can arrange flights from anywhere in the world to anywhere you need to go on your time schedule, without the crowds or commotion of a commercial airport.
Other Information
Emirates will not accept a pregnant pet for transportation if it is beyond one‑third of its normal gestation period; no animal will be accepted that has given birth within 48 hours of travel. Sedation is not recommended.
The information published here is a guideline for Emirates airline pet policy. For more airline pet policies, click the banner below.
Further Reading
How to keep your pet safe when flying in the cargo hold
Tips for airline pet travel
Requirements for a pet transiting a country by air
When do you need a pet transporter?
Routing your pet’s flight
Flying with a snub-nosed breed
More information on airline pet travel
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To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given airline may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to deny your pet boarding privileges at the time of check in. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Emirates pet policy.
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