Emirates pet policy: flying with a dog or cat

✓ Rules checked: September 4, 2026Source: the airline's websiteEK

Emirates carries dogs and cats in the hold. The service is paid: 500 USD per flight. The pet's place is booked in advance — at least 168 h before departure.

Some countries take no animals at all: United Arab Emirates. Snub-nosed breeds are not accepted in the hold and in the cabin. Direct flights reach 75 countries, but flying there and taking a pet are different questions: the destination country has its own entry rules.

Cabin Not allowed

The carrier's rule+

Pets are not allowed in the cabin.
Exceptions: falcons (Dubai–Pakistan routes only) and assistance dogs (carried in a hold kennel, not cabin).
All other animals as checked baggage or Emirates SkyCargo.

Hold Allowed

Fee: 500 USD per flight

The carrier's rule+

Emirates has no cabin carriage for pets: only guide dogs and falcons on certain Dubai–Pakistan flights are accepted in the cabin.
Everything else travels in the hold or as cargo.
A PET CANNOT BE FLOWN INTO THE UAE ON A PASSENGER FLIGHT: any itinerary ending in Dubai must be shipped as cargo through Emirates SkyCargo.
In the other direction, OUT of Dubai, a pet may travel in the hold — if the whole journey including transits takes less than 17 hours and the arrival country allows live animals as baggage.
THE HOLD FEE is calculated on the animal together with its cage: up to 23 kg and 150 cm — USD 500 (CAD 700); 24–32 kg and 150–300 cm — USD 650 (CAD 900); over 32 kg at the same dimensions — USD 800 (CAD 1150).
The charge applies in all cases, even when no other checked baggage is carried.
If the cage exceeds 300 cm in total dimensions, if the journey is longer than 17 hours, or if the arrival country does not accept live animals as baggage — cargo only.
The carrier sets no limit on the number of pets, though countries often do.
BY DESTINATION: pets arriving in Portugal from outside the EU, including in transit, need prior approval — the arrival notification form must be submitted no later than 48 hours before arrival, and for Lisbon sent to pcflisboaa@dgav.pt.
From Kuwait pets are presented at Terminal 4, with the crate no wider than 90 cm and no higher than 120 cm.
Travel to Pakistan requires a separate form before arrival.
On segments operated by other airlines their own rules apply — Emirates is not responsible for those.

Flying Emirates?

A personal plan combines the airline's rules with the destination's

Before you buy a ticket

The conditions that send people back to the ticket desk: closed destinations, breeds, heat limits and how early the pet must be booked.

Countries with no pets1 countries+

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Snub-nosed breedsnot accepted in the hold, not accepted in the cabin+

Emirates SkyCargo by default does NOT accept snub-nosed (brachycephalic) pets as a category. A temporary uplift window ran 01 Nov 2025–01 Apr 2026 and is closed as of June 2026. No specific breed names published — confirm with Emirates SkyCargo.

Banned breedsNot stated in the rules

Heat embargoNot stated in the rules

Species acceptedDogs, cats

Booking notice168 h before departure

Where it flies — and whether pets can come along

Emirates flies direct to 75 countries according to the schedules. Flying there is not the same as taking a pet: the destination country has its own entry rules, and the carrier itself closes some routes to animals.

Country	Cities	Cabin	Hold
🇺🇸 United States	12	no pets	✓
🇮🇳 India	9	no pets	✓
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	8	no pets	✓
🇨🇳 China	6	no pets	✓
🇦🇺 Australia	5	no pets	✓
🇪🇸 Spain	5	no pets	✓
🇵🇰 Pakistan	5	no pets	✓
🇮🇹 Italy	4	no pets	✓
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia	4	no pets	✓
🇩🇪 Germany	4	no pets	✓
🇻🇳 Vietnam	3	no pets	✓
🇫🇷 France	3	no pets	✓
🇵🇭 Philippines	3	no pets	✓
🇿🇦 South Africa	3	no pets	✓
🇯🇵 Japan	3	no pets	✓
🇹🇭 Thailand	2	no pets	✓
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates No pets carried	2	—	—

The destinations with the most cities are shown; countries where pets are not carried are always shown. A country's entry requirements are on its own guide.

Sources

Every number above comes from the carrier's official page. Check it before buying: airlines change the rules without notice.

Airline's page ↗ Rules checked: September 4, 2026

FAQ

Can I fly with a dog in the cabin on Emirates?+

No, pets are not accepted in the cabin.

Are snub-nosed breeds accepted?+

Not in the hold.

Where does the airline not fly pets?+

United Arab Emirates.

How far ahead must I book the pet?+

At least 168 hours before departure.

Для редактора (в демо): текст — 0 слов; цифр, набранных руками мимо данных: 0. Все числа и даты в тексте — подстановки из справочника; правило поменяется — текст поменяется сам.