Traveling your Pet In-cabin with Etihad Airways

With Etihad’s new pet policy, Pet Owners are now allowed to bring their (small breed) cat or dog into and out of UAE as a pet in-cabin using Etihad Airways.

Etihad Airways is now accepting small dogs or cats whose weight does not exceed 8 kg together with soft travel in the cabin during the flight. Depending upon the requirements of the importing or destination country, only one (1) pet per passenger is allowed to take their pet in-cabin. To be able for you to bring your pet in-cabin, you must send an email to Etihad requesting them if you can bring your dog or cat in-cabin, using a completed Live-Animals-Boarding Form which can be downloaded from Etihad.

In connection with the Live-Animal-Boarding-Form, you have to fill in some information, like the passenger details, flight details, and animal details. Here is an overview of the important details in the booking form:

1. Pet column answerable by YES or NO
2. Health certificate, if YES, needs to attach the Export Permit (MOCCAE) and EU Health certificate (if travelling to EU countries) and private vet clinic health certificate if travelling with other countries. For Import to UAE. UAE Model Annex 3 Health Certificate endorsed by the exporting country 24 hours prior to arrival.
3. Fit to Travel certificate, which you can secure from the local vet who last checked or had a travel appointment for your dog or cat
4. Vaccination Certificate, which you can get from your vet clinic or local vet who administered the latest Rabies & DHPPi+L vaccine to your pet.
5. Rabies Vaccine certification or a clear scanned copy of the vaccination book.
6. Internal & External Parasite Treatment depends on the country of destination. Some countries require this, especially for dogs, a max of 5 days before travel and a minimum of 48 hours before travel. The Veterinary Doctor that administered this treatment must sign and stamp in the vaccination book.
7. RNATT depends on the country of destination (UAE Export). For UAE Import, if pets will be coming from a high-risk country, a Rabies blood test report is required.
8. Screwworm / Tapeworm treatment is only an internal parasite treatment. A local vet doctor who administered this treatment must sign and stamp the vaccination book accordingly.
9. Export Permit or MOCCAE Export Permit is required. This is what you will apply online with moccae.gov.ae and request a Veterinary Health Certificate for Live Animals for Exporting Country (UAE Export). For UAE Import, it depends on the country of Origin if they issue Export Permit, otherwise put NO.
10. Import Permit depends upon the country of destination if requires, you need to attach it to your email, otherwise, put NO. For UAE Import, get an Import Permit from the Ministry of Climate Change & Environment.
11. COVID-19 PCR Test is NO longer required.

Etihad requires each passenger to communicate with them via email a minimum of 10 days prior to the departure date and send them all the required travel documents less than 48 hours prior to desired travel date to receive acceptance from their flight.

For help and support processing your In-Cabin Pet Travel using Etihad Airways and other airlines, contact ABVC Pet & Travel Relocations at travel@abvc.ae.

Written by Benedict Gozar, ABVC Pet & Travel Relocations Manager