Emirates Pet Policy & Costs to Know Before Flying with Pets in 2026

Planning pets’ travel on Emirates can feel confusing because the Emirates pet policy is different from the pet policies of many European airlines and other airlines. Small pets do not simply travel in the cabin or under the seat. In most situations, an Emirates pet must travel either as checked baggage in the hold, as cargo, or as a shipment handled through Emirates SkyCargo.

This guide explains the Emirates airline pet policy for dogs, cats, pet crates, fees, breed restrictions, required documentation, and more. You’ll also understand when a pet carrier can be accepted as excess baggage and when the only option is manifest cargo.

Does Emirates Allow Pets?

Yes. Emirates allows pets, but the rules are more restrictive than some pet-friendly airline policies. Under the Emirates rules, pets are not generally accepted in the cabin. Pets must be carried either as cargo or as checked baggage in the aircraft hold, depending on the route, animal, crate, and documentation. The only cabin exception listed in the baggage rules is for falcons between Dubai and certain destinations in Pakistan.

For pet owners, this means small dogs and cats should not be assumed to qualify for pets in the cabin. Even if a pet is small enough to fit in a pet carrier under a seat, Emirates does not offer a standard in-cabin pet option for dogs, cats, birds, or other animals. Passengers should contact Emirates early to confirm what is permitted for their destination country, route, aircraft, and itinerary.

Emirates pet travel categories

Emirates pet travel generally falls into three categories:

Category	Meaning	Key rule
Checked baggage in the hold	The animal and container travel in the cargo hold as excess baggage	Available only when Emirates accepts the animal and crate under its checked baggage size and weight limits
Manifest cargo	The animal is transported as cargo, usually through Emirates SkyCargo	Required when the pet crate dimensions exceed 300 cm / 118 in
Service dogs	Service dogs are handled separately from regular pets	Eligible service dog travel to Dubai requires MOCCAE document validation

Emirates SkyCargo also handles live animals beyond ordinary pets, including animals and birds, under its live animal transportation products. Its Live service covers temperature-controlled, ventilated aircraft holds and tailored solutions for different types of live animals and birds.

Emirates Pet Fees

The pet fee for animals traveling as checked baggage is based on the combined weight and size of the animal plus cage. These charges apply even when the passenger has no other checked baggage.

Animal and cage combined	Emirates checked baggage pet fee
Up to 23 kg and up to 150 cm / 59 in	USD 500 / CAD 700
24–32 kg and 150–300 cm / 59–118 in	USD 650 / CAD 900
Over 32 kg and 150–300 cm / 59–118 in	USD 800 / CAD 1,150
Cage dimensions over 300 cm / 118 in	Must be transported as manifest cargo

Because pricing depends on the combined weight and total dimensions, pet owners should measure the pet crate and confirm the animal’s weight before booking. If the carrier is bigger than the allowed checked baggage dimensions, the pet’s transport must move to cargo instead of excess baggage.

Cabin Rules: Can Pets Travel in the Cabin?

In general, pets cannot travel in the cabin on Emirates flights. The only cabin exception is for falcons between Dubai and certain destinations in Pakistan. That means dogs, cats, pet birds, small dogs, and other animals are not accepted as regular pets in the passenger cabin. Unlike some other airlines, Emirates does not provide a standard pet in the cabin option for a small pet in a carrier under the seat.

Checked Baggage Rules for Pets

Animals traveling as checked baggage must travel in the aircraft hold. Emirates bases the cost on the total weight and size of the animal plus container, and the pet crate must stay within the checked baggage limits. If the total dimensions are more than 300 cm/118 in, the animal must travel as manifest cargo.

Passengers must contact Emirates well before the flight to confirm required procedures, including permits, tests, vaccinations, and other requirements. These steps must be completed before final arrangements can be made. Once the process is complete, allow one week to submit the paperwork before the flight.

Emirates SkyCargo and Manifest Cargo

If your pet cannot travel as checked baggage, Emirates SkyCargo may be the correct option. Emirates SkyCargo is designed for pets flying as cargo and strictly follows IATA Live Animal Regulations. The service includes dedicated transit care in Dubai, veterinary services, IATA LAR-trained staff, and review of required documentation, cage details, medical or veterinary reports, vaccination certificates, and destination-airport confirmation.

For pet owners using Emirates SkyCargo, the booking process usually starts with a tentative booking to secure space for the pet on the flight. Emirates SkyCargo then checks space availability and chargeable weight before sending an approximate quotation. At least 72 hours before the flight date, Emirates needs documents such as photos of the pet in a natural standing position inside its travel container, rabies vaccination records and microchip number, rabies blood test report if applicable, EU health certificate for European Union destinations, import permit if required, a valid UAE MOCCAE Veterinary Health Certificate, receiver details, and flight confirmation if the owner is traveling on the same flight.

Customers can contact their local Emirates SkyCargo office to make a reservation or learn more. Handover and payment may vary based on the origin station.

Transit Through Dubai

Dubai is a major hub for Emirates and Emirates SkyCargo. For live animals and pets transiting Dubai, Emirates SkyCargo has temperature-controlled facilities for pets departing, arriving, or in transit. Transit pets must have a minimum connection time of 6 hours between flights so they can receive the required transit care.

During transit, pets may be cleaned, fed, watered, and given special food or medication if those instructions are provided at booking and supplied before departure. Pets are placed in the temperature-controlled hold, transferred in specially designed vehicles, and loaded last and retrieved first to help protect them from the elements.

Pet Crate and Carrier Requirements

For checked baggage, the most important limit is 300 cm / 118 in. If the cage exceeds that size, the animal must travel as manifest cargo.

For cargo and live animal transportation, Emirates SkyCargo follows IATA Live Animal Regulations and reviews each pet’s enclosure requirements before approval. Pet owners may need to provide cage details and pictures, and the container must meet the applicable requirements for the animal, route, and destination.

For a safer approval process, the crate should be secure, well-ventilated, and suitable for the animal’s size and travel conditions. The animal should have enough space to travel safely and comfortably, and any route-specific or destination-specific crate requirements should be confirmed before booking.

Documents Required for Emirates Pet Travel

Required documentation depends on the origin, destination, country rules, animal type, breed, and whether the pet travels as checked baggage or cargo. Passengers should confirm permits, tests, vaccinations, and other procedures well before the flight.

For Emirates SkyCargo pet shipments, the approval process may require the following information and documents at least 72 hours before the flight date:

• Photos of the pet inside its travel container;
• Pet passport with rabies vaccination records and microchip number;
• Rabies blood test report, if applicable;
• EU health certificate for EU destinations;
• UK annex for UK destinations;
• Import permit, if required;
• Valid UAE MOCCAE Veterinary Health Certificate;
• Completed and signed the acknowledgment form;
• Receiver name, email, and mobile number;
• Passenger flight confirmation if the owner is traveling on the same flight;
• Clearing agent details, if used at the destination;
• PSD letter for service dogs.

Additional documents or pictures may be requested depending on the pet’s breed.

Breed Restrictions 

Emirates SkyCargo has specific restrictions for snub-nosed dog breeds and cats because of safety and respiratory risk. Listed snub-nosed cat and dog breeds, and their crosses, are not permitted for carriage except under specific conditions during the winter season, from November to April.

Restricted dog breeds include:

Restricted cat breeds include:

UAE Government Regulations and Dangerous Dog Breeds

UAE government regulations restrict certain dog breeds. The import into Dubai of specific fighting and dangerous dog breeds, or their hybrids, is banned under UAE government regulations. These dogs may be accepted for carriage only if they are not being imported into the UAE and are allowed by the destination country, origin authorities, and destination authorities with the correct permits or licenses, if applicable.

These dogs also require upgraded and reinforced containers because of their strength.

The breeds listed in this category include Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Brazilian Mastiff, Argentinian Mastiff or Dogo Argentino, Tibetan Mastiff, and Neapolitan Mastiff. Additional UAE-restricted breeds include French Mastiff, Boerboel, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Bully Kutta, Perro de Presa Canario, Japanese Tosa, and Presa Canario.

Because banned breeds and restricted breeds can depend on the destination country, UAE rules, origin rules, and operator variations, passengers should confirm acceptance before booking. A restricted breed may be denied boarding or refused as cargo if the route, temperature, documentation, crate, or local authorities do not meet the required conditions.

Minimum Age and Animal Health

Animals can only travel with Emirates if they are older than four months.

For Emirates SkyCargo, acceptance of dogs and cats is governed by restrictions, including a minimum age of 15 weeks, which may increase to 27 weeks if the pet is from a high-risk country. Emirates requires medical and/or veterinary health certificates, fit-to-fly statements, and a microchip as minimum requirements, aside from origin and destination specifics.

Service Dogs and Assistance Dogs

For travel to Dubai, passengers traveling with a service dog from an eligible location must follow Emirates’ special assistance and wellness process. At least four working days before departure, they must upload documents for validation by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, MOCCAE, including the veterinary health certificate from the country of origin, rabies titer test or RNAT, vaccination book and treatment documents, MOCCAE import permit, and paid receipts for inspection and release. The booking for the service dog is confirmed only after MOCCAE validates the documents.

For travel to other destinations, the required documents and the way the dog travels depend on the route and on the rules of the destination, departure, and transit countries. Emirates may require vaccination and veterinary health documents, microchipping or pet passport records, import permits required by the destination country, and proof that the dog has been trained to perform specific tasks and behave appropriately in public. On eligible routes, the dog may be allowed in the cabin; otherwise, it may need to travel as checked baggage or as manifested cargo.

For psychiatric assistance/support dogs, Emirates also requires an additional signed statement from a licensed medical health professional. The PSD letter must be dated no more than one year before the flight and confirm the passenger’s qualified disability, professional care, need for the dog for air travel or destination activities, and the professional’s license details.

Emotional support animals are not treated as service animals by Emirates and are accepted only as regular pets, subject to the rules of the countries of departure and arrival and applicable baggage charges. Because Emirates’ service dog rules vary by route, passengers with guide dogs, trained service dogs, psychiatric assistance/support dogs, or disability-related travel needs should contact Emirates directly before booking.

Pet Birds and Falcons

Pet birds may need to be handled through Emirates SkyCargo’s live animal products, depending on the route and circumstances. Emirates SkyCargo provides live animal transportation for animals and birds and offers an Avian service for live animal welfare during transport.

Falcons are treated differently from most other animals under Emirates’ passenger baggage rules. Pets are not allowed in the cabin except for falcons between Dubai and certain destinations in Pakistan.

How to Book Pet Travel with Emirates

The process depends on whether the pet is traveling as checked baggage or cargo. For checked baggage, contact Emirates well before the flight. You must confirm any required procedures, such as permits, tests, vaccinations, and other documentation, and complete those steps before final arrangements can be made. Once complete, allow one week to submit paperwork before departure.

For cargo, Emirates SkyCargo uses a four-step process: tentative booking, approximate quotation, approval, and handover. The first step is to create a booking and secure space for the pet on the flight. Emirates SkyCargo then checks space availability and chargeable weight, sends an approximate quotation, and requests documents for approval at least 72 hours before the flight date.

Practical Tips for a Smooth Journey

A smooth journey with pets flying on Emirates starts with early planning. Contact Emirates or your local SkyCargo office before booking, especially for itineraries starting, ending, or transiting in Dubai. Check whether the pet must travel as checked baggage, cargo, or manifest cargo, and confirm whether local authorities, customs, import permits, destination country rules, or UAE government regulations apply.

Measure the pet crate carefully. The total dimensions matter, and if the crate exceeds 300 cm/118 in, the pet must travel as manifest cargo. Confirm the total weight and combined weight of the animal plus crate because fees are based on those details.

Prepare documents early. Depending on the destination, you may need health certificates, vaccination records, a microchip number, an import permit, an EU health certificate, a valid UAE MOCCAE Veterinary Health Certificate, photos of your pet in the container, and receiver or agent details.

Check breed restrictions before paying. Snub-nosed breeds, brachycephalic breeds, and certain powerful dog breeds may be restricted, subject to seasonal conditions, or banned from entering Dubai. This can affect breeds such as Boston Terrier, Pug, Boxer, Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Chin, Shar-Pei, Bullmastiff, Dogo Argentino, and Japanese Tosa.

Emirates Pet Policy FAQs