Pet Import Permit Arabic UAE: Airport Translation Guide

You did everything right. MOCCAE import permit: approved. Health certificate: signed. Rabies vaccination: current. Microchip: confirmed. You arrive at the departure airport with your cat in the carrier. The check-in agent looks at the MOCCAE permit, frowns, and says: “I can’t read this.”

The permit is in Arabic. You’re at Heathrow. Or Charles de Gaulle. Or JFK. Nobody at the check-in counter reads Arabic.

This is a solvable problem. Here’s how to prevent it before you get to that moment.

Why MOCCAE issues in Arabic

MOCCAE — the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment — is the UAE government authority that approves all animal imports. Their official language is Arabic. The import permit is a legal government document issued under UAE law. Like all UAE government documents, it is issued in Arabic.

There’s no official English version. But you can have a certified translation made and carry both documents together.

The airport problem: departure vs arrival

The documentation check happens twice: at your departure airport check-in counter and at UAE customs on arrival.

Departure airport (non-Arabic): Airline ground staff verify that you have a valid import permit for the destination. If the permit is in Arabic and the agent cannot read it, they face a difficult judgment call. They can either trust it without understanding it, or hold your pet until a supervisor reviews it.

The practical fix: hand them the Arabic original and a certified English translation at the same time. The agent reads the English version in 30 seconds, confirms the permit is valid, matches your pet’s details, and clears you for boarding.

UAE customs on arrival (Dubai or Abu Dhabi): MOCCAE customs officers are Arabic-speaking UAE officials. They read the Arabic permit directly. They also check the health certificate and scan the microchip against the permit details. They verify vaccination records and confirm the rabies titre test if required for your origin country. The English translation isn’t needed here — but it’s useful if any discussion is needed about permit conditions.

What the MOCCAE permit contains

The Arabic permit specifies:

• Pet owner details: Name, passport number, contact
• Pet details: Name, species, breed, colour, sex, date of birth, microchip number
• Journey details: Origin country, port of entry, airline
• Permit validity: Issue date and expiry date
• Import conditions: Vaccination requirements that must be met, rabies titre test if applicable, any quarantine conditions
• MOCCAE reference number: Used by UAE customs to verify the permit in their system

The airline needs to confirm validity dates and that the permit matches the pet. The English translation makes this instant.

Full documentation checklist for pet travel to UAE

What MOCCAE requires you to have ready at UAE entry:

1. MOCCAE import permit (Arabic original + English translation for airlines)
2. ISO microchip — implanted before vaccination, chip number matching the permit
3. Valid rabies vaccination — current, within validity window
4. Rabies titre test (FAVN/ELISA) — required for dogs from many countries; result must be ≥0.5 IU/mL; must be done at an OIE-recognised lab
5. Health certificate — issued by a government-accredited vet in your origin country, within 10 days of travel
6. External parasite treatment — record of treatment within 48 hours before travel
7. Internal parasite treatment — record of treatment within 7-14 days before travel

If any of these documents are in French, German, Italian, Spanish, or another non-English language, UAE customs requires a translation. Airlines may also require it for check-in.

Country-specific differences

UK: Health certificate on the official APHA form, vet-signed. English — no translation needed.

France, Belgium, Switzerland: Health certificate in French (and sometimes bilingual). French version needs Arabic or English translation for UAE customs if it is the primary language.

Germany, Austria: German health certificate — needs translation.

Russia, Eastern Europe: Cyrillic-language certificates — translation required.

India, Pakistan, Philippines: Usually issued in English by accredited vets — check certificate language before travel.

Australia, New Zealand: Documents in English — no translation needed. Strict departure requirements apply; MOCCAE may require additional documentation.

GCC countries: Arabic health certificates — no translation needed for UAE customs, but verify documentation requirements with MOCCAE in advance.

What happens if documentation is wrong at arrival

Dubai Airport (DXB) and Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) both have MOCCAE animal reception facilities.

If documentation is incomplete or incorrect:

• Missing permit: Pet held at the facility while you contact MOCCAE — this takes hours, potentially days
• Expired vaccination: Possible quarantine at MOCCAE-designated facility at your cost
• Microchip mismatch: Pet held until verified — bring original vet records showing when chip was implanted
• Incomplete health certificate: Vet must be reachable by phone; MOCCAE may accept verbal clarification for minor gaps

All facility costs are the owner’s responsibility. The daily rate for animal holding is substantial. Prevention is far cheaper.

Timing your documentation

MOCCAE usually takes 5-10 business days to issue the permit. The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel (some airlines require 7 days). The permit and health certificate validity must overlap with your travel date.

The translation takes a few hours. But if you’re also waiting for the MOCCAE permit to arrive from their system, the combined timeline is:

• MOCCAE permit: 5-10 working days
• Certified translation: same day (a few hours)
• Health certificate: within 10 days of travel
• Parasite treatment records: 48-72 hours before travel

Start the MOCCAE application well in advance. Once the permit arrives, the translation is quick.

Send your MOCCAE permit via WhatsApp the moment it arrives: +971 50 862 0217. Same-day English translation ready before your flight.