Emirates Airlines Pet Policy

With a plethora of routes on offer and with pets permitted on nearly every route, Emirates Airlines is a great choice for anyone looking for a pet-friendly airline. Before you can depart with your pet, you will need to make sure you comply with their rules and regulations of pet travel. Here’s the Emirates Airline pet policy so you can plan your journey properly.

Preparing for Travel

According to the Emirates Airlines pet policy, there are a few prerequisites to travel which you should consider before making a booking:

• Pets are not permitted in the cabin. Certain animals may be accepted as checked in luggage if your trip begins in Dubai, or if the destination country in your itinerary allows pets to be carried as excess baggage. 

• Dogs, cats, pet birds, and falcons can travel as checked-in baggage in the Cargo Hold.

• Your pets must be transported according to the rules of your destination country & route. 

• Routes that end in Dubai will have pets transported through cargo. 

• Visually impaired passengers can bring their guide dog on board free of charge. 

IATA-Approved Crate

To comply with the Emirates Airlines pet policy, your pet must travel in an appropriate pet carrier. Here are some things to consider about your pet’s travel carrier before making a purchase:

• Pets can only travel in an IATA-accredited fiber pet crate when travelling as excess baggage. 

• The crate’s dimensions cannot exceed 118in or 300cm for excess baggage travel with pets.

• Your pet must travel as unaccompanied cargo if your flight is longer than 17 hours to maintain a safety standard. 

• Emirates imposes no restrictions on the number of pets allowed on your flight; however, your move must comply with the import requirements of your destination country.  

The following table contains the pricing for a pet's travel:

Health & Vaccination Requirements

• Emirates Airlines requires all travelling pets to be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a licenced veterinarian. The certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel. 

• The certificate must attest that the pet is fit-to-fly, meaning it is free of any infectious diseases, and vaccinated according to the destination country’s guidelines. 

• Please research your destination before making a reservation, as some countries include additional vaccinations, paperwork, treatments, and quarantine periods as import requirements. These requirements may take some time to fulfil and impact your travel plans. 

Breed-Specific Regulations

Emirates does not permit certain pet breeds to fly on board due to safety reasons. The following breeds are not allowed to travel on Emirates Airlines flights.

Dog Breeds:

Affenpincher, American Cocker Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Boston Terrier, Lowchen, Boxer, Neapolitan Mastiff, Brussels Griffon, Newfoundland, Bulldog (all types), Pekingese, Bullmastiff, Pit Bull Terrier, Cane Corso, Presa Canario, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Pug (all types), Chihuahua (apple headed), Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, Shih Tzu, Dogo Argentino, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Dogue de Bordeaux, Tibetan Spaniel, Japanese Chin.

Cat Breeds:

British Shorthair, Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Exotic Fold, Hamalayan, Persian, Scottish Fold.

Temperature Restrictions & Precautions

Emirates Airlines may restrict pet travel during extreme weather conditions. This is to ensure the safety and well-being of pets, as pet transport is a delicate affair where a temperature difference can become a safety hazard. It's important to contact the local Emirates office for any weather-related travel restrictions that may be imposed in your region before travelling. Additionally, it's important to choose a container which provides proper ventilation and climate control for your pet, and to avoid booking flights during extreme weather conditions.