Dogs come in different sizes and temperaments; some dog breeds are our devoted companions, full of unconditional love and loyalty. Other dog breeds are bred for their strength and aggressiveness to become guard dogs or help in law enforcement.

Over the years, many countries have introduced breed-specific legislation to ban the import of certain dog breeds that are known to be strong and aggressive. These breeds are prohibited in an attempt to safeguard the public and other animals from dog attacks. Aggressive dog breeds, especially those with strong jaws, are known to have a high risk of biting.

The United Arab Emirates has several pet import regulations to be followed before your dog can enter the country. If you are travelling to the United Arab Emirates with your pet dog, check if your dog is on the list of banned breeds in the country.

Prohibited dog breeds in the United Arab Emirates

Bringing a pet dog to the United Arab Emirates is now easier than ever. With many pet parents in the country, dog ownership in the UAE is now higher than ever before. Pet dogs in the UAE must be vaccinated and registered with the local council. They must always be on a lead when you take them out in public, and large breeds must be muzzled.

The United Arab Emirates has breed-specific legislation in place and does not allow the import of some strong dog breeds into the country. The following dog breeds, mixed breeds of these breeds and their hybrids are prohibited for import in the United Arab Emirates.

• American Bully
• American Pit Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Argentinian Mastiff (Dogo Argentino)
• Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasileiro)
• Doberman Pinscher
• Japanese Tosa
• Presa Canario
• Rottweiler
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Wolf hybrids

Dangerous and aggressive dog breeds are banned for import in many countries around the world. Strong dog breeds have historically been bred for their aggressive nature to help with security and law enforcement. Some of these breeds have also been bred for fighting. These strong dog breeds are usually large and not always easy to control. All dogs of these breeds are not aggressive or dangerous; however, breed-specific legislation assumes these breeds are vicious because of their strength and history of attacks.

International pet transport to UAE? Call the pet travel experts

Travelling to the United Arab Emirates with your pet dog can seem complicated because of the different pet import regulations. Your pet will be allowed to enter the country only if the documentation is correct, and all pet import rules are met satisfactorily.

If you are travelling to the United Arab Emirates with your pet dog, and are unsure about the process, an experienced pet travel agency can help make the relocation safe and stress-free. Reach out to Petraveller for more information on international pet transport and a free pet travel quote.