Taking Your Bird Out of the UAE (2026 Guide)

The health certificate rests on Federal Law No. 6 of 2025 on Veterinary Quarantine. The CITES side is governed by Federal Law No. (5) of 2025 on the Regulation and Control of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, in force since 1 January 2026. MOCCAE enforces it, including in free zones.

Everything below was read from MOCCAE’s own service pages on 16 October 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm on MOCCAE before you apply. For the wider legal picture see UAE exotic bird ownership laws.

1. The 6-step checklist

Check your species' CITES status
Is your bird on Appendix I, Appendix II, or not listed? MOCCAE links to the CITES species search from its export page. African greys, for example, have been on Appendix I since CoP17 in 2016.
Register a CITES-listed bird in your MOCCAE account first
MOCCAE says the bird must already be in your account in its electronic system before it can be exported. The registration service covers birds bred in the UAE, birds imported before 2018, and birds without documents (assessed case by case). Birds imported after 2018 use their CITES Release Certificate. Registration has no fee, and it does not replace the CITES certificate in step 4.
Get the destination country's permits
For Appendix I birds, MOCCAE requires the importing country’s CITES import certificate or preliminary approval. Also check that the destination has no trade ban on your species, and what veterinary conditions it sets.
Apply for the CITES export or re-export certificate (listed species only)
Apply online through UAE Pass on the same MOCCAE export page: e-form, e-payment, electronic review and an electronic certificate. It is valid for 6 months, covers one shipment and a maximum of 4 species. The fee is AED 300 with processing of 1 working day.
Apply for the veterinary health certificate for export (every bird)
Every bird needs this, CITES-listed or not. On the MOCCAE health certificate page the process is: apply, pay, visual inspection and lab tests if required, then the certificate is issued. It is valid for 30 days. The fee is AED 100 for a personal consignment of up to 2 pets, otherwise AED 400, with processing of 1 working day. MOCCAE lists quarantine centres at Dubai Airport Cargo Village, Al Maktoum Airport and Zayed International Airport.
Book the airline and fly out through an approved UAE border port
Check the airline’s rules for live animals before you pay for anything else (see the airline section below). Because the health certificate lasts only 30 days, book the flight first, then time step 5 to it.

Starting early helps: relocation companies typically advise starting 3 to 6 months ahead (source: carrymypet.ae).

2. Documents, fees and validity

Document	Which birds need it	Fee	Validity	Processing	Source
Veterinary health certificate for export	Every bird, CITES-listed or not	AED 100 for a personal consignment of up to 2 pets, otherwise AED 400	30 days	1 working day	MOCCAE health certificate
CITES export or re-export certificate	CITES-listed species only. Appendix I birds also need the destination's import permit or approval	AED 300	6 months, one shipment, maximum 4 species	1 working day	MOCCAE export page
Ownership registration in your MOCCAE account	CITES-listed species. Birds imported after 2018 use their CITES Release Certificate	No fee	Not stated by MOCCAE	Not stated by MOCCAE	MOCCAE registration service
Destination country import permit or approval	Appendix I birds (required by MOCCAE). Many countries ask for their own permits and vet conditions for parrots	Set by the destination	Set by the destination	Set by the destination	MOCCAE export page

The CITES export certificate needs your ownership certificate or CITES Release Certificate. For CITES birds, MOCCAE does not ask for a certificate of origin unless the destination does. Companion animals do not need a copy of an import permit for the health certificate.

Rings and microchips: MOCCAE references closed leg rings for birds. No official page we read says birds must be microchipped. Keep the ring on and record its number.

3. Which birds need what

·CITES Appendix I or II birds: health certificate, MOCCAE registration, CITES export certificate. Appendix I also needs the destination's import permit or approval.
·Birds not listed by CITES: health certificate only, plus whatever the destination requires.
·Cockatiels and budgerigars: not CITES-listed per our care guides (see are cockatiels legal in the UAE), so the health certificate only. Verify your exact species on CITES Species+.

Many countries also require their own CITES import permit and veterinary conditions for parrots. Check the destination government’s rules directly. We do not list country requirements.

4. Airlines

·Emirates: no pets in the cabin, except falcons on certain Pakistan routes. Pets travel as cargo or checked baggage in the hold. Give at least one week’s notice. The animal must be older than four months. See Emirates’ unusual baggage page and pets travel page.
·Etihad: its pets page covers only small dogs and cats, falcons and service dogs. Parrots are not mentioned, so ask Etihad Cargo directly.
·Crates: the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) set the travel crate standards. Ask your airline which edition and rules it applies to your bird.

Whichever airline you choose, get its written confirmation for a bird before you book, and then time the 30-day health certificate to your departure date.

5. Common mistakes and red flags

Skipping the MOCCAE account registration for a CITES-listed bird. MOCCAE requires the bird to be in your account before export, and registration does not replace the CITES export certificate.
Assuming a non-CITES bird needs no paperwork. Every bird needs the health certificate.
Getting the health certificate too early. It is valid for 30 days only.
Forgetting the destination's own permits. For Appendix I birds MOCCAE requires the importing country's import certificate or preliminary approval.
Assuming Etihad takes parrots. Its pets page does not mention them.
Assuming a cabin seat for your bird on Emirates. Pets travel in the hold.
Leaving it late. Relocation companies typically advise starting 3 to 6 months ahead.
Moving a CITES-listed bird without papers. News reports put fines under the 2025 law at up to AED 2 million, with possible imprisonment, and the law applies in free zones.

Old MOCCAE links ending in .aspx now return an error page. If a guide sends you to one, use the current service pages linked above.

7. Frequently asked questions

What do I need to take my bird out of the UAE?

Every bird needs a veterinary health certificate for export from MOCCAE. A bird of a CITES-listed species also needs a CITES export or re-export certificate, and must be registered in your MOCCAE account first. You also need whatever permits the destination country asks for.

Does a cockatiel or budgerigar need a CITES certificate to leave the UAE?

Per our care guides, cockatiels and budgerigars are not CITES-listed, so they need only the veterinary health certificate. Confirm the status of your exact species on CITES Species+ (speciesplus.net) before you apply, and check what the destination country requires.

How much does the MOCCAE health certificate cost?

MOCCAE lists AED 100 for a personal consignment of up to 2 pets, and AED 400 otherwise. Processing is 1 working day and the certificate is valid for 30 days.

How much is the CITES export certificate and how long is it valid?

MOCCAE lists a fee of AED 300 and processing of 1 working day. The certificate is valid for 6 months, covers one shipment, and can list a maximum of 4 species.

Is registering my bird in my MOCCAE account free?

Yes, MOCCAE lists the ownership registration service for CITES-listed species with no fee. It does not replace the CITES certificate you need to take the bird out of the UAE.

Does my bird need a microchip to travel?

No official MOCCAE page we read says birds must be microchipped. MOCCAE does reference rings for birds, so keep the closed leg ring on your bird and note its number. Ask your destination country and your airline whether they require anything more.

Can I fly with my bird in the cabin on Emirates?

No. Emirates allows no pets in the cabin except falcons on certain Pakistan routes. Pets travel as cargo or checked baggage in the hold, Emirates asks for at least one week's notice, and the animal must be older than four months.

Does Etihad take parrots?

Etihad's pets page covers only small dogs and cats, falcons and service dogs. It does not mention parrots, so ask Etihad Cargo directly before you plan around it.

How early should I start?

Relocation companies typically advise starting 3 to 6 months ahead (source: carrymypet.ae). Note that the MOCCAE health certificate is valid for only 30 days, so the timing of that step matters most.

What are the penalties for moving a CITES bird without papers?

Under Federal Law No. (5) of 2025, news reports say fines can reach AED 2 million, with possible imprisonment. The law applies in free zones too, and MOCCAE enforces it.

Can I choose any country to send my bird to?

Not freely. Many countries require their own CITES import permit and veterinary conditions for parrots, and some may restrict trade. Check the rules of the destination government before you book anything. We do not list country rules here.

8. Sources

Have a question about moving a bird?

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