Like several other major international carriers, the Emirates pet policy has no cabin option for ordinary pets — dogs and cats travel as checked baggage or through Emirates SkyCargo, and which one you need depends on the direction of your trip, not just your pet’s size.
Current as of 2026: Airline policies can change without notice. Confirm directly with Emirates before booking — this guide reflects only what could be independently confirmed on Emirates’ and Emirates SkyCargo’s own official pages and documents.
No Cabin Option, With Two Narrow Exceptions
Ordinary pets never travel in the Emirates cabin. The only exceptions are falcons on flights between Dubai and certain destinations in Pakistan, and certain qualifying service or guide dogs, subject to conditions. If you’re expecting to keep a small dog or cat with you in the cabin the way you might on a U.S. carrier, that option doesn’t exist on Emirates.
Checked Baggage or Cargo — It Depends on Direction
This is the detail that trips people up most: whether your pet travels as checked baggage or cargo depends on whether Dubai is your origin or your destination, not just your pet’s size.
- Starting in Dubai: if your destination allows animals as excess baggage and your total journey (including any transit) is under 17 hours, your pet can travel as checked baggage.
- Ending in Dubai: your pet must travel as cargo, regardless of size.
- Transiting Dubai for more than 6 hours: cargo is required.
- Pets listed under CITES, or belonging to certain restricted species, must always travel as cargo.
Emirates SkyCargo runs the “Emirates Pets” program in two tiers: standard airport-to-airport service across 160+ destinations, and a premium door-to-door tier (Emirates Pets Plus, via partner Snoopy Pets) available in 16 markets, including the US, UK, Germany, and France.
Fees
| Combined weight & container size | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 23kg, up to 59in | $500 |
| 24–32kg, 59–118in | $650 |
| Over 32kg, 59–118in | $800 |
| Over 118in total | Must ship as cargo (quote-based) |
These fees apply to the checked-baggage pathway. SkyCargo pricing isn’t published as a flat rate — it’s quote-based through Emirates’ own booking channels.
Age and Breed Requirements
The minimum age Emirates SkyCargo accepts is 15 weeks, rising to 27 weeks for a pet coming from a country Emirates classifies as “High Risk.” Emirates SkyCargo won’t transport racing or commercial greyhounds — only domesticated pet greyhounds, including rescues, are accepted.
Emirates publishes an unusually detailed brachycephalic breed list — 27 dog breeds and 9 cat breeds — barred from SkyCargo transport except under specific conditions during the winter season (November through April). The dog list includes Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and Chow Chows, among others; the cat list includes Persian, Himalayan, and British Shorthair, among others. A separate UAE government ban on certain “dangerous breed” dogs (including Pit Bull Terrier, American Bully, and Cane Corso) applies only when the UAE itself is the destination — these breeds can still be shipped elsewhere if permitted by the origin and destination countries.
Temperature Handling
Emirates SkyCargo describes its Dubai facilities, aircraft, and ground vehicles as temperature-controlled year-round, aligned with UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment standards. It doesn’t publish a specific numeric temperature threshold the way some U.S. carriers do — instead, its main heat-management tool is the brachycephalic breed restriction described above, plus a separate embargo on transiting most birds through Dubai between May 1 and September 30.
CDC Requirements for Dogs Entering the U.S.
This is a genuine gap worth knowing about: Emirates’ general pet pages — checked baggage and SkyCargo — don’t mention CDC or USDA requirements at all. They simply tell travelers to contact Emirates in advance to confirm permits, tests, and vaccinations. CDC guidance does appear on Emirates’ site, but only on a separate page about service and guide animals, not on the general pet-travel pages. Don’t rely on Emirates to walk you through CDC’s rules — see Rabies Vaccination Requirements for International Pet Travel for the complete federal picture instead.
Related Guides
Rabies Vaccination Requirements for International Pet Travel
Importing Brachycephalic (Flat-Faced) Dogs
Choosing Cabin vs. Cargo for International Pet Travel
Qatar Airways Pet Policy
Pet Travel Glossary
