Flying with your dog to the Middle East
Holidays coming up? I suggest you take a plane with your dog to the Middle East! Some airlines actually accept your dog on board. Thanks to this article, you will surely find a plane to take with your dog to the Middle East!
If I say sun, desert, but also skyscrapers and luxury, do you think of a specific destination? You guessed it (there was a little clue in the title, I know), we're going to the Middle East today! What's it like to fly with a dog to the Middle East? Which airlines accept dogs? What are the conditions for flying with your dog to the Middle East?
In this article, I answer all your questions! Buckle up, we're taking off! ✈️
Summary
Conditions for flying with your dog to the Middle East
It's not all about flying with your dog to the Middle East... You first need to be allowed to enter the destination country!
I'll spoil it for you: there are few airlines that accept dogs in the Middle East. Having a pet dog is not very common in the region at the moment. So you can fly directly to Qatar or the United Arab Emirates with your dog.
For other countries in the Middle East, there will therefore be a stopover. I also recommend an airline if your plane trip is in 2 stages, but I will tell you more about it later in the article 😉
To allow your dog to leave the airport in Qatar , it must be over 7 months old and microchipped. It must, of course, have all its vaccinations up to date, including the rabies vaccination, which must also be confirmed by a rabies titer test (a blood test) at least 3 months before the flight. Other documents are required, such as an international health certificate issued by a veterinarian and an import permit. Certain breeds considered dangerous are banned in Qatar, so be sure to check before planning your trip. Upon arrival, you must register your dog within 2 days. To fly to Qatar with your dog, you should therefore plan at least 4 months in advance!
Regarding arrival in the United Arab Emirates , your dog must be over four months old and microchipped. It must also be up-to-date on its vaccinations and parasite treatments. A rabies antibody titer test is mandatory, as in Qatar, but can be done just before the flight, unless your dog has only been vaccinated once. In that case, you must wait 21 days after the initial vaccination. The country also requires a veterinary examination within five days of the flight, in addition to the international health certificate. A paid import permit allows you to visit the United Arab Emirates with your dog for a maximum of 30 days. Finally, breeds considered dangerous are also prohibited from entering the country.
These two Middle Eastern countries are best known for their urban bustle, luxury shopping, and partying—not exactly ideal for traveling with a dog, I grant you. But if you venture a little outside the cities, you can find quieter villages, desert hikes, and even beaches where you can swim with your canine companion . So, are you ready to fly to the Middle East with your dog?
To help you prepare, here's a special article on travelling with your dog by plane: a how-to guide 😉
Remember to bring a carrier for your dog. It must meet IATA standards to be accepted on the plane. Here's a comparison of 10 dog carriers to help you choose.
👋 Musher's great deal
Dog food, supplies, grooming, vacations… the cost of a dog can quickly add up. So, with Musher, we created the Advantage Card : the very first card that brings together useful discounts to save you money all year round, on everyday expenses or vacations. 💸 See the 34 available discounts
Airlines for flying with a dog to the Middle East
There aren't many dog-friendly airlines to the Middle East, but here's the list!
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways allows you to fly to Qatar with your dog. You'll land in Doha , the capital. Get ready to discover the wealthiest country in the Middle East with your canine companion.
With Qatar Airways, dogs are not allowed to travel in the cabin . However, they can travel in the hold if they meet these conditions:
- Combined weight of dog and crate less than 32 kg
- Dogs with snub noses prohibited
Emirates
Next stop: the United Arab Emirates , the second richest country in the Middle East! You've probably heard of Dubai ? That's where you'll land after flying with your dog to this Middle Eastern destination 😉
With this airline, dogs are not allowed to travel in the cabin . However, they are allowed in the hold.
- No weight limit but your dog must be comfortable in a crate with total dimensions less than 300 cm (length + width + height)
- 2 adult dogs can travel together in the same crate if they are of equivalent size, weigh less than 14 kg and are used to living together
- No dog limit but passenger, the number is limited by the aircraft capacity
- Females pregnant for more than 21 days or who have given birth for less than 2 days are prohibited
If your dog is too big to fit in the hold of your plane to the Middle East, he will have to travel by cargo with Emirates SkyCargo. Don't worry, your dog will not be treated like mere merchandise. Their carrier Emirates Pets ensures the well-being of animals from the airport of departure to the one of arrival. That is why, if you want to go to another country in the Middle East with your dog by plane, I recommend you go with this company. Indeed, your dog's stopover will last at least 6 hours, so that he has time to stretch his legs with the Emirates Pets team.
I hope this has been helpful if you're planning to fly to the Middle East with your dog! One last piece of advice: don't forget your sunglasses and sunscreen! It gets hot quickly there! On that note, here's an important article on protecting your dog from heatstroke.
In short, whether you go to Qatar, the Emirates or another Middle Eastern country, I hope you can enjoy it to the fullest with your dog! Don't hesitate to tag us on your stories and publications using #emmenetonchien! 😀
If you prefer other regions of the globe, you can also find your dog-friendly airline in our articles on Europe, Asia or even America!
