Leaving the fur babies at home while you go holidays can be tough. So, don’t! The number of pet friendly airlines is higher than ever before, making it a whole lot easier to travel with our fluffy friends. 

This is especially the case in the Middle East where airlines have adapted and adjusted their policies to welcome all kinds of beloved animals onboard, from adorable dogs to preying falcons. In fact, some airlines have gone as far as to introduce pet passports because it doesn’t get any cuter or accommodating than Rocco the Beagle going through customs with his official documentation.

If you and your furry bestie are planning a trip, here are the Middle Eastern airlines rolling out the red carpet for your travelling pet.

Turkish Airlines 

Often recognised as being one of the most pet friendly airlines in the skies, Turkish Airlines makes it easy to travel with pets and will even give them a… Pawsport aka a passport!  

Passengers need to make a reservation for their fur baby at least six hours before the flight in order to transport the in the cabin. Pets allowed in the cabin include cats, dogs and small songbirds (budgies and canaries).

Pets flying in the cabin will need to weight 8kg or less and remain in their carriers at all times. Passengers with pets will be restricted to window seats only and the pet carriers will need to be placed under the seat in front.

Turkish Airlines allows two animals to co-habitat in a single carrier if they are of the same species (aka cat-cat, dog-dog) and the total weight limit doesn’t exceed 8kg. The airline has also just released a fun video explaining its pet-friendly policies, while teasing viewers with sights of Istanbul.

More T&Cs here.

Royal Jordanian 

Jordan’s flag carrier will let dogs and cats in the cabin as long as they are under 7kg (including the carrier) and the flight duration is no longer than 5 hours.  

Pets that don’t fit the above criteria and are too big to fit under the cabin seat, can fly in checked baggage or cargo travel. They will need to be in a pet crate and Jordanian Airlines recommends telling the Captain of the aircraft that your pet is flying in cargo so they keep the temperature and pressure the same as the cabin. 

Review all of terms here.

Etihad 

Etihad is happy to accommodate pets travelling on board in Economy and Business Class only (sorry First Class-ers) for select flights to and from Etihad.

The airline will welcome cats and dogs as well as Falcons however all other pets will need to travel with the cargo.   

Although happy to have pets on flights, the airline does have its rules such as pets required to be in carriers under or in an adjacent seat, pets will need to have their travel arranged ahead of the flight and cats as well as dogs will need to be at least 16 weeks old and weigh no more than 8kg. 

When it comes to falcons, passengers can bring them on board for free as part of cabin baggage allowance or as checked baggage for US$500 per cage. Economy travellers can carry on falcon per person or two falcons per additional seat while business flyers can travel with up to three of the birds.

Read all about it here.

Qatar Airways 

Qatar Airways understand how important a pet can be to one’s existence which is why the airline is happy to extend its world-class service to furry and feathered friends – almost a direct quote from their website. 

The Qatari carrier welcomes domesticated dogs, cats and birds as checked baggage either on your flight or a separate one. The airline just requires 48 hours notice before departure and a veterinarian ID/passport indicating that they’re fit for travel. 

Meanwhile, falcons are allowed in the cabin with Economy Class travellers permitted to bring one falcon per person. 

Get the full doggy dish here. 

Emirates

There’s only one type of pet allowed in the cabin of an Emirates flight, and that’s the city’s beloved falcons. 

The birds are allowed on board for flights between Dubai and certain destination in Pakistan, otherwise they will need to join all the other travelling pets in either the plane’s cargo or checked baggage area. 

The location of where your pet will fly is dependent on the direction of your flight. For example, if your flight ends in Dubai, then all animals will be transported as cargo. Pets will fly as checked baggage in the hold for flights under 17 hours, starting in Dubai and travelling to countries that allow falcons, cats, dogs and pet birds to enter as excess baggage. 

Travellers looking to book their pets a spot on an Emirates flight will need to fill out a form one week ahead of the flight and provide information such as age, breed and weight of the animals. Emirates also has a minimum pet age requirement of four month and old.

More details here.

And the rest… 

• Saudia: permits household animals only one direct routes from point-to-point where are properly confined in cages and with valid health certificates. The airline also accepts falcons in passenger cabins when properly handled. Read more. 
• Oman Air: requires all pets to travel as either cargo or as checked baggage in the hold. Pets won’t be considered as part of the baggage allowance or allowed in the cabin. Learn more.
• Air Arabia: only allows falcons in the cabin while all other domesticated loved ones will need to fly as checked baggage or cargo. Read more.
• flydubai: Generally, travellers won’t be allowed to carry animal in the cabin except maybe falcons. Travellers with falcons are required to obtain a special approval prior to the flight otherwise they’re going in cargo with the rest of the animals. Learn more. 

Now, you’re all ready to jet set with your pet!