The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) announced on 23 May 2026 that specialised veterinary teams are operating 24/7 at all air, sea and land entry points to cope with a sharp rise in livestock imports ahead of Eid Al Adha. From January to mid-May, more than 664,000 sheep, goats, cattle and camels entered the country—a 19.5 per cent year-on-year increase. Each consignment is subject to stringent clinical inspections and laboratory testing for zoonotic diseases such as foot-and-mouth and Rift Valley fever.
![UAE tightens biosecurity at ports as 664,000 livestock arrive for Eid Al Adha]()
For companies and individuals who also need to secure travel documents during this exceptionally busy window, VisaHQ can streamline UAE visa applications and provide real-time compliance updates; its digital platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) helps expedite entry permits for visiting staff, inspectors or family members, easing administrative pressures that may coincide with MOCCAE’s heightened border controls.
MOCCAE officials stressed that only animals accompanied by approved health certificates and advance import permits are being cleared, and warned exporters that shipments from countries experiencing outbreaks will be turned away or quarantined. For the mobility sector, the seasonal surge can affect customs processing times at major ports, especially for unaccompanied household-goods containers that share inspection facilities with live-animal cargo. Relocation providers should factor potential delays into move-in timelines and advise assignees bringing pets that veterinary capacity is heavily committed until early June. Companies importing temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals should also confirm cold-chain slots in advance. The ministry has deployed an integrated digital surveillance platform to track global disease alerts in real time and says it is prepared to impose immediate bans on high-risk origins. Importers are encouraged to diversify sourcing markets and submit electronic documentation at least 48 hours prior to arrival to avoid detention charges. Beyond the holiday period, MOCCAE plans to convert its temporary measures into a year-round ‘smart quarantine’ system leveraging AI diagnostics and e-seal technology—an initiative that aligns with the UAE’s broader push to digitise border management and reinforce food-security resilience.
For companies and individuals who also need to secure travel documents during this exceptionally busy window, VisaHQ can streamline UAE visa applications and provide real-time compliance updates; its digital platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) helps expedite entry permits for visiting staff, inspectors or family members, easing administrative pressures that may coincide with MOCCAE’s heightened border controls.
MOCCAE officials stressed that only animals accompanied by approved health certificates and advance import permits are being cleared, and warned exporters that shipments from countries experiencing outbreaks will be turned away or quarantined. For the mobility sector, the seasonal surge can affect customs processing times at major ports, especially for unaccompanied household-goods containers that share inspection facilities with live-animal cargo. Relocation providers should factor potential delays into move-in timelines and advise assignees bringing pets that veterinary capacity is heavily committed until early June. Companies importing temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals should also confirm cold-chain slots in advance. The ministry has deployed an integrated digital surveillance platform to track global disease alerts in real time and says it is prepared to impose immediate bans on high-risk origins. Importers are encouraged to diversify sourcing markets and submit electronic documentation at least 48 hours prior to arrival to avoid detention charges. Beyond the holiday period, MOCCAE plans to convert its temporary measures into a year-round ‘smart quarantine’ system leveraging AI diagnostics and e-seal technology—an initiative that aligns with the UAE’s broader push to digitise border management and reinforce food-security resilience.
