FAQ: Shipping & importing dogs to the United Arab Emirates

1. How soon can I get my puppy?

   Officially, your puppy must be documented as being 16+ weeks old before you can receive him or her. Your puppy will get rabies vaccination at the age of 12 weeks. 30 days must pass before it arrives. However, to get a precise answer, first select the puppy you'd like to buy and fill in the inquiry form. One of our colleagues will get in touch with you shortly and tell exactly when you can receive your puppy. 

2. Is the breed I have in mind suitable for this climate?

   Most dogs adapt well to the climate, however, long coated dogs are only recommended if they can spend most of their time inside in an air-conditioned room. If you have doubts, it is best to check with us first.

3. Is the breed I have in mind permitted in the UAE?

   The following breeds are not permitted in the UAE: All types of Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro. However, Special permissions can be given, please check with us.

4. Is there a quarantine?

   No.

5. Does  my puppy need an import permit?

   Yes, your puppy will need an import permit. There are two ways you can get this.
   a) You can apply for the permit yourself at the ministry of environment and water;
   b) or you may choose to work with one of our partners who will get the permit for you, as well as handle the whole process, and deliver your puppy to your home. 

6. What are the required documents to import my dog?

   Health certificate and pet passport (with the vaccines included). You will receive these documents 6 working days before scheduled arrival date - it only takes 2-3 days to get the import permit once applied for it.

7. Will my puppy be delivered to my door?

   Euro Puppy transports your puppy to Dubai International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport or Sharjah International Airport. If you choose to hire one of our partners to manage the process for you, delivering your puppy to your home will be part of their service, for which you’ll pay the agent you’ve chosen. 

8. Where do I have to go to pick the puppy up?

   If you choose to pick up your puppy at the airport yourself (for home delivery see previous question), you will have to go to the Cargo Area of Dubai International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport or Sharjah International Airport, depending on which airport you requested your puppy to be shipped to. We advise that you contact the airline your puppy comes with for directions.

9. Are there any other fees on top of the total purchase price?

   The total purchasing price quoted by Euro Puppy includes the price of the puppy, a 10 Year Satisfaction Guarantee, shipping, crate, pet passport, health certificate, microchip and vaccinations - all costs up to arrival at. At the airport a 700 Dhs (about $200) handling fee is to be paid. Please inquire about the current rate of handling fee at the airport prior to your puppy's arrival. Please note that you are requried to show a printed copy of the “Pet import approval document” to pick up your puppy. 

10. What vaccinations are given to my puppy?

    Your puppy will come with rabies, parvo and all other vaccinations (canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus-2 and canine parainfluenza virus) required based on the puppy's current age.

11. How long is the flight? Is it safe?

    Our puppies usually fly to Frankfurt, Germany first. They spend the night at the airport's animal holding facility, which is the best in Europe and where your puppy is fed and looked after a team of qualified carers and veterinarians. Your puppy arrives in the UAE the following day. The flight takes about 8 hours, which can be exhausting, but rest assured, your puppy is in perfect safety all along the way. In 10 years, we have never had a problem.   

12. How can I pay for the puppy?

    We accept bank wire, credit card and paypal payments. Please note you will not find the wiring details on our website for security reasons. They will be sent to you via email once all is finalized for payment. However, you may make a payment for a puppy via paypal or credit card directly from your selected puppy’s page. Just click on "Reserve NOW".

13. Is shipping included?

    No, shipping is quoted on each puppy individually, based on the dog's breed and age (which determines size). On average, the shipping cost varies between $550 and $950.

14. Why is shipping not included?

    Since airlines charge by size (cubic meter, depending on the size of the crate), the cost varies greatly and it is impossible to determine a flat shipping fee. 

15. What should I buy for my dog before it arrives?

    1. Puppy Toys: Toys, made of "soft" rubber. The harder rubber toys are great once the pups lose their baby teeth, but to start with, the softer rubber toys are best. If you aren't sure, just ask in the store. We suggest that you avoid rawhide, because it creates excess saliva and which isn't great for them.

    2. Leash and Collar: We suggest that you purchase an inexpensive one. The collar that you buy now will not last till your puppy grows up, so it's not worth investing in something too expensive. Collar leashes give you the best control when walking your dog, but they are much more comfortable with a harness leash. We suggest that you start walking your puppy on the leash, because putting an adult dog on the leash for the first time may be difficult.

    3. Inexpensive weighted stainless steel bowls are the most practical and the most efficient for food and water.

    4. You will need nail clippers or grinder.

    5. A puppy pen: Even though you may have a fenced yard, you may want to confine the puppy to or out of a particular area. Puppy pens are easily portable and very handy for keeping the puppy confined to a small area. They are especially useful for a winter puppy. You can put his bed in the crate, put the crate in a puppy pen, and put his papers in a corner of the pen. This comes handy with paper-training as well.

    6. A good brush: You can use almost any brush, but the best ones will have flexible rubber bristles. You want one small enough to fit your hand comfortably.

    7. A crate: You shouldn’t buy a crate right away. You can keep the crate in which your puppy arrives. It will be perfect until he or she grows out of it. You may use it for crate training or travel. It is much easier to house train a puppy if it can sleep in a crate. If you travel with your pup, it is safer and happier riding.

16. Can you recommend a local pet accessory store?

    Petzone and PetCorner are reliable stores offering a wide range of quality products. 

17. Can you recommend a local veterinarian?

    The British Veterinary Centre
    Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates
    Tel: +971 (2) 665-0085
    Email: infoseparatorbritvet [dot] ae

    Khalifa City | United Arab Emirates
    Tel: +971 (2) 550-4111
    Email: info_kcseparatorbritvet [dot] ae  

    American Veterinary Clinic  
    Address: Po Box 31051, Corner 16th & 9th Al Falah, Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
    Tel: 00971 2 6655044.  
    Email: infoseparatoramericanvet [dot] ae 

18. Do you have references I can contact?

    Please click on References to see what our customers are saying about us. Some of our customers have volunteered to post their email address. Feel free contact them via email, they will be happy to answer your questions. New references posted weekly as we receive them. If you'd still like to speak to a local customer, please get in touch with us and we'll ask one of our customer's permission and give you their contact details.

19. Do you offer a guarantee?

    Yes! Our puppies come with a 10 Year Satisfaction Guarantee included in the price. The puppies' health is our number one priority and we stand by our customers whenever they need us.

20. Why should I hire an agent?

    While you may handle the import permit and customs clearance of your puppy yourself - if you choose to do so read this document carefully -  we recommend that you use one of our partners, because
    • they will save you a lot of time, making the whole adoption process as easy as walking into a store;
    • they will take care of the process from start to finish, all you have to do is pick the date for your puppy to be delivered to your home;
    • your puppy’s first vet check will be taken care of;
    • you may receive special discounts as a Euro Puppy customer from our partners;
    • we’ve been working with the companies we are recommending for many years, they are tried and trusted partners. 

Recommended agents

Dubai Kennels & Cattery (DKC)  
Tel: +971 42851646
Email: infoseparatordkc [dot] ae 

Aide Commercial Broker (Terry Gomez)
Tel: + 971 505921578
Email: aidepetservicesseparatorgmail [dot] com