Pet relocation to the UAE is among the most expensive routes from Vietnam — not because the UAE is inherently more bureaucratic, but because Vietnam is classified as a High-Risk Country for rabies, triggering mandatory tests and documentation that cheaper destinations do not require. Add in the Manifest Cargo requirement — the usual booking format on this route, since the only cabin route goes through Bangkok on Etihad into Abu Dhabi — plus the MOCCAE two-step permit system, and the cost structure looks very different from, say, a Singapore or Taiwan move.
This guide breaks every cost category down individually, with ranges drawn from Daisy’s 2026 quotes, so you can budget accurately before committing to a timeline. The documents and steps are in our Vietnam to UAE pet shipping timeline.
For the complete overview, return to the UAE Pet Relocation Hub.
1. Why UAE Costs More Than Most Destinations
Three factors drive the higher cost structure for Vietnam–UAE pet moves:
Mandatory RNATT (Rabies Titer Test): Vietnam is a High-Risk Country under MOCCAE classification. Every dog and cat must pass a Rabies Antibody Titer Test (≥0.5 IU/ml) from an approved laboratory. This adds laboratory fees, blood draw costs, and time (at least 3 weeks of waiting after vaccination before the test can be drawn).
Two-Step MOCCAE Permit System: Unlike most countries where one permit covers entry, the UAE requires an Import Permit (pre-departure, AED 200) and a separate Release Permit paid only after landing (AED 500 for dogs, AED 250 for cats). The release fee is paid at the airport — it cannot be pre-paid or waived.
Manifest Cargo (for nearly every pet): Almost all pets from Vietnam to the UAE travel as air freight — not in-cabin, not as checked baggage — because Emirates and Qatar Airways Cargo don’t offer another format. This means separate cargo booking, airway bill, cargo terminal handling fees, and a different pricing structure than passenger baggage surcharges. The one exception is Etihad’s in-cabin program into Abu Dhabi. It is priced as pet fees on two passenger flights, not as cargo freight.
2. Full Cost Breakdown by Category
| Cost Category | What It Covers | 2026 Quote Range (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam-Side Documents | Health certificate, Fit to Fly certificate, parasite treatment certificate and documentation, issued by Vietnam’s airport animal quarantine station | about $350 |
| Rabies Titer Test (RNATT) | Blood draw, sample shipping and testing at an approved laboratory | about $550 |
| MOCCAE Import Permit and Import Form | Import Permit (government fee AED 200) applied for before departure, plus the additional import form | about $300 |
| MOCCAE Release Permit | AED 500 (dog) / AED 250 (cat), paid upon arrival at UAE airport quarantine | $68 – $136 |
| Air Cargo Freight | Manifest Cargo rate based on chargeable weight (actual or volumetric, whichever is higher). SGN→DXB direct on Emirates. | about $7,500 for a large dog crate; smaller crates quoted per booking |
| Air Waybill, Export Customs and Handling (SGN) | Air waybill, export customs declaration and live-animal handling at the Tan Son Nhat cargo terminal | about $520 |
| UAE-Side Agent and Clearance | Destination agent, import clearance and import handling in Dubai | about $600 |
| Service Fee | Permit coordination, document preparation, cargo booking and arrival coordination | about $300 |
| IATA-Compliant Crate | Hard-sided crate with metal door, ventilation, attached dishes. May be reused if already owned. | $100 – $300 |
3. Air Cargo Cost in Detail: What Drives the Price
Air cargo to the UAE is priced per kilogram of chargeable weight, and on this route the rate is high. For cargo, Daisy books pets to Dubai on Emirates’ direct SGN→DXB flight rather than connecting routings, which add hours in transit and heat stress. In Daisy’s 2026 quotes:
| Crate | Typical Pet | Approx. Chargeable Weight | Freight in 2026 Quotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 × 60 × 69 cm | Labrador, Golden Retriever | about 62 kg | about $7,500 (Emirates, SGN→DXB) |
| Smaller crates | Cats, small and medium dogs | 10–35 kg | Quoted per booking. For comparison, Emirates freight for crates of 68 × 47 × 47 cm and 81 × 57 × 57 cm on a route through Dubai to Europe ran $4,500–$5,500. |
On top of freight, each cargo shipment carries about $520 for the air waybill, export customs declaration and handling at SGN.
4. Two Cost Scenarios from 2026 Quotes
Scenario A — Large Dog Relocating to Dubai
Crate 90 × 60 × 69 cm, manifest cargo on Emirates, SGN→DXB direct
| Vietnam-side documents (health certificate, Fit to Fly, parasite certificate) | ~$350 |
| Rabies titer test (RNATT) | ~$550 |
| MOCCAE Import Permit and import form | ~$300 |
| Air cargo freight (chargeable ~62 kg) | ~$7,500 |
| Air waybill, export customs and handling (SGN) | ~$520 |
| UAE-side agent, clearance and handling | ~$600 |
| Service fee | ~$300 |
| IATA crate (large) | ~$250 |
| Total in the 2026 quote | approximately $10,400 |
The MOCCAE Release Permit (AED 500 for a dog) is paid on arrival and sits outside this total. Freight alone is about 70% of the bill.
Scenario B — Small Cat Relocating to Dubai
Already microchipped and vaccinated, manifest cargo
| Vietnam-side documents, titer test, import permit and form | ~$1,200 |
| Air waybill, export customs and handling (SGN) | ~$520 |
| UAE-side agent, clearance and handling | ~$600 |
| Service fee | ~$300 |
| IATA crate (small) | ~$100 |
| Air cargo freight | quoted per booking |
| Fixed costs before freight (estimated from Daisy’s 2026 quote line items) | approximately $2,700 |
Daisy has no 2026 quote yet for a small crate to Dubai, so freight is priced at booking. Emirates’ rates for small crates on other routes suggest it will be the largest single line here as well.
5. Hidden Costs to Budget For
Airport storage fees in Dubai: If there is any delay in processing the Release Permit, your pet may be held at the Dubai Cargo Village quarantine facility for an additional day. Storage fees apply and are charged by the day.
Re-issue fees if documents expire: MOCCAE’s Annex No.(3) records a health check within 24 hours before shipping. If the flight moves, the check and the certificate may need to be redone at extra cost. See the Airlines for UAE pet transport guide for each airline’s conditions.
Ground transport in UAE: After collecting your pet from the cargo quarantine facility, ground transport to your residence in Dubai or Abu Dhabi is an additional cost. This is typically arranged separately from the air transport.
Extra pet limit fee: MOCCAE limits import to 2 pets per person per year. If you are relocating more than 2 pets, additional permits and processes are required — this changes the cost structure significantly.
6. Cost Timeline: When Each Fee Is Due
| When | Payment | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 6–9 weeks before flight | Microchip, vaccinations, rabies titer test | about $550 for the titer test, plus vaccines if needed |
| 2–3 weeks before flight | MOCCAE Import Permit (AED 200) + agent service deposit | $55 + deposit |
| 2 weeks before flight | Parasite treatment, health certificate, Fit to Fly | about $350 |
| Day of departure | Air cargo freight + air waybill, customs and handling | about $520 + freight (about $7,500 for a large crate) |
| Upon arrival in UAE | MOCCAE Release Permit (paid in UAE) | AED 250–500 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to relocate a pet from Vietnam to Dubai?
In Daisy’s 2026 quotes, a large dog flown as manifest cargo on Emirates came to about $10,400, with freight alone at about $7,500. For a small cat, the fixed costs come to an estimated $2,700 before freight, based on Daisy’s 2026 quote line items; freight is quoted per booking. The MOCCAE Release Permit (AED 250–500) is paid on arrival on top of these figures.
What is the MOCCAE Release Permit fee?
The MOCCAE Release Permit costs AED 500 for dogs and AED 250 for cats. It is paid after your pet lands in the UAE and is held at the airport quarantine facility — it cannot be pre-paid before departure.
Why is pet shipping to UAE more expensive than other countries?
Three factors increase costs: Vietnam is a High-Risk Country requiring mandatory RNATT testing, almost every pet travels as Manifest Cargo (only Etihad offers an in-cabin option, and only into Abu Dhabi), and MOCCAE requires two separate permit payments — before departure (AED 200) and upon arrival (AED 250–500).
Last updated 16 Oct 2026
Compiled by our specialists from the regulations in force on the date above, for reference only. Rules may change after this date. Please verify with the competent authorities or contact us for the most accurate information.
