A government-issued permit under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, required to legally trade certain bird species across borders.
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement signed by more than 180 countries, including the United Arab Emirates. It governs the import, export, and re-export of species whose survival is threatened by trade. In the UAE, the issuing authority is the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE).
Birds are split into three CITES Appendices. Appendix I covers species at the highest risk of extinction (Hyacinth Macaw, many cockatoos), where commercial trade is heavily restricted and every transaction requires permits. Appendix II covers species that are not yet threatened but could become so without controls (most macaws, African Greys). Appendix III covers species protected at the request of a single country.
If you buy a CITES-listed bird in the UAE, the seller should provide you with the original permit and a copy for your records. Without it, you cannot legally re-export the bird, and an inspection by MOCCAE could result in confiscation. Every CITES-listed bird at Dubai Birds is sold with the relevant paperwork attached.