Bringing My Dog Back from Ireland into Abu Dhabi In-Cabin: What I Did, What I Learned, and How It Went

Nadine Lyons
Sep 20
5 min read

Disclaimer: This blog post shares my personal experience travelling with my small dog, Rua, from Dubai to Ireland in summer 2025. Every pet, airline, and destination may have different requirements. This was our journey with Turkish Airlines, flying into Dublin, with Rua as an in-cabin pet under 8kg. Please always check official, up-to-date information and confirm everything directly with your airline and vet. Prices vary depending on route, weight, and pet type- you can check pet travel fees using the Turkish Airlines Pet Fee Calculator here.

Rua is my loveable 5kg (yes, she gained half a kilo in Ireland over the summer!) Pomeranian. She’s crate-trained, anxious by nature, and absolutely glued to my side. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her behind in boarding while I went home to Ireland for a 5.5-week summer break. So, I took her with me, all the way from Dubai to Dublin and back again to Abu Dhabi. We did the whole thing without a pet relocation company, and although it was full-on at times, it worked. Rua flew in the cabin with me the whole way and stayed (mostly) calm and comfortable.

Why Abu Dhabi, Not Dubai?

One of the most common questions I’ve been asked is: “Why didn’t you just fly Rua back into Dubai?” The simple answer is that Dubai does not currently allow pets to arrive in-cabin, all pets must arrive as cargo. Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, does allow pets under 8kg (including carrier) to travel in the cabin with you.

Since Rua is small enough to qualify, it made perfect sense to fly into Abu Dhabi rather than put her in the hold into Dubai. It added a little extra travel on my side, but it meant Rua could stay safely with me for the whole journey, which was non-negotiable for us.

What I Did Before the Trip

This part of the journey was actually more costly and admin-heavy than travelling to Ireland.

Here’s what we needed to re-enter Abu Dhabi:

Microchip

At Rua’s first vet appointment in Ireland, I had her microchip scanned to make sure it was reading correctly. Your dog must be microchipped, and the number must appear on all health and vaccination documents.

Vaccinations

Rua’s vaccinations were already up to date for Ireland. If you’re leaving Ireland for the first time, you must ensure vaccinations meet UAE standards and that the rabies vaccine is valid. Dogs must be at least 12 weeks old before their first vaccines, and the microchip must be implanted before (or on the same day as) the rabies vaccine for it to count.

The required vaccinations are:

Rabies Vaccine (e.g., Biovela Biocan R)
Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) (e.g., Emasco Canivac DHPP)
Canine Parvovirus (e.g., Emasco Canivac DHPP)
Infectious Canine Hepatitis (e.g., Emasco Canivac DHPP)
Leptospirosis (Ictohaemorrhagiae & Canicola strains, e.g., Emasco Canivac Lepto)

💡 Tip: Always check your vaccination booklet shows the microchip number alongside the vaccine details as this avoids issues at customs.

Rabies Test/ Titre (if applicable)

For dogs travelling from high-risk countries, a rabies antibody titration test is required. Ireland is considered low risk, so we didn’t need this, but I still double-checked official sources to be certain.

Carrier/ Crate Requirements

For Turkish Airlines, your in-cabin carrier must be max 40 x 30 x 23 cm and under 8 kg including your dog. It has to fit under the seat, be soft-sided, secure, and ventilated. Click here for the one we got for Rua based on these requirements and it was super affordable.

💡 Tip: Get your dog used to the carrier weeks in advance. It made Rua so much calmer on the flight.

Import Permit- MOCCAE (150 AED)

applied for Rua’s import permit on the MOCCAE portal: https://www.moccae.gov.ae/en/services/export-import-services/import-permit-pets.aspx

It’s valid for 90 days, so I applied shortly after we landed in Ireland.

Veterinary Health certificate for Exporting Dogs and Cats into the United Arab Emirates

The MOCCAE model certificate is required for re-entry. Once you apply for the import permit, the form is available. It must be completed and stamped by the Department of Agriculture in Ireland, on every page.

You can find regional office contacts here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/organisation-information/contact-the-department/#regional-offices

Call your closest regional office in advance and they will ask you to send through the Veterinary Health certificate (MOCCAE model). They will also require various documents from you in order to complete the form.

Parasite Treatment (Around 200 AED)

Within 5 days of arrival in Abu Dhabi, Rua had to have internal (worms) and external (fleas/ticks) treatment. My local vet in Ireland recorded this in her vaccination book.

Advance Notification to Airline

Turkish Airlines required me to email Rua’s full set of documents at least 48 hours before departure from Dublin to confirm her in-cabin booking. The email address was AUHPET@thy.com

The documents were:

MOCCAE Import Permit (UAE)
Rabies Blood Test Report: Only if travelling from a high-risk country (not required for Ireland)
Official Health Certificate (UAE Model): Issued by a government vet within 5 days of arrival, stamped on all pages
Parasite Treatment Record: Internal & external treatment within 10 days before travel
Pet Passport with vaccination details

Bill of Entry into Abu Dhabi (365 AED)

To re-enter, you also need to arrange a Bill of Entry with Abu Dhabi customs at least 48 hours before landing, or you risk a late fee.

Contact email: AUHCustoms@miccologistics.com
Documents required:
- Import Permit
- Passenger’s passport or Emirates ID
- Flight ticket
- Pet + carrier weight
- Passenger’s mobile number

Once submitted, they send you a payment link. After payment, your Bill of Entry is issued.

MOCCAE Inspection Fee at Abu Dhabi Airport (503.57AED)

On arrival in Abu Dhabi, the MOCCAE vet inspected Rua, checked all her documents, and stamped the release. This fee is separate from the Bill of Entry and is paid at the airport.

Bringing Rua back from Ireland to Abu Dhabi was one of the most stressful but rewarding things I’ve ever done. The paperwork, the fees and the vet visits all felt never-ending at times. But having her with me, safe in the cabin, was worth every bit of effort. This post shares my experience only. Requirements can vary depending on the airline you fly with, and even small details can change. Always double-check with your chosen airline and seek advice from your government vet (in Ireland, this can also be the Department of Agriculture) before you book. At the end of the day, no checklist compares to the peace of mind of stepping off that plane with your dog right by your side.