Gulf Air extends UK Pet Travel Scheme to Abu Dhabi

Gulf Air has extended the its Pet Travel Scheme to the UAE. Now, all dog and cat owners living in the UAE, regardless of nationality, can take their pets to Britain through Abu Dhabi International Airport, without the need to put them into quarantine for six months.

“We have been an official carrier for The British Pet Travel Scheme for almost three years now, during which time the service was limited to Bahrain,” said Ali Murtada, Head of Business Units at Gulf Air. “The service has proved very popular with expatriate pet owners and we are delighted to extend the scheme into the UAE through Abu Dhabi, where we have daily non-stop services to London.”

According to Mr Murtada, before the scheme came into effect, owners were required to put their pets in quarantine for six months and meet their food and accommodation expenses for that whole period – which proved very costly.

The Pets Travel Scheme has set certain criteria that animals should meet in order for them to be immediately released to their owners on arrival in the UK. These include among others, that the pet be fitted with an ISO compatible microchip, vaccinated against Rabies after micro chipping and blood sampled at least six months before export, and some other conditions.

Gulf Air has several different ‘pet friendly’ aircraft, and can carry up to a maximum of four dogs or cats on any one flight. A mix of cats and dogs is not permitted unless the animals are from the same family.

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