A relocation agency has reassured expatriate pet owners that viable options remain available to move their fur babies out of the country if they are planning to leave the kingdom’s shores.
As regional tensions escalate, some pet-owning residents have voiced concern about how to relocate their animals across borders within tight timeframes.
Currently, many residents have successfully evacuated to Saudi Arabia, where flights remain accessible for onward travel. A key challenge is that Saudi Arabia requires an Iqama (residence permit) to import pets.
“A lot of our customers have been helped by friends who reside in Saudi, but not everyone has that option,” Jetpet Global owner Inge Michiels told the GDN. “This can make the process significantly longer and more complicated for those trying to bring their animals into Saudi Arabia, whether to stay or to transit onward.”
In some cases, pets may even become temporarily stuck across the causeway, forcing owners to travel first and wait for their animals to arrive later.
Additionally, because Saudi Arabia is classified as a high-risk rabies country, careful and meticulous planning is essential to navigate the process successfully.
“Entry into the country should never be treated as an isolated move; it must be considered as part of a longer journey,” she noted.
This involves careful co-ordination of rabies antibody titer testing, mandatory waiting periods required by destination countries, and precise timing to allow onward travel without lengthy quarantine.
She explained that other requirements for importing pets into Saudi Arabia are relatively straightforward. “You just need a microchip and up-to-date vaccines from a veterinary clinic,” she said.
Cats require the rabies plus three-in-one vaccination, while dogs need the rabies plus five-in-one vaccination. Each country has different import rules, so it is important to check with official channels regarding what is needed for the final destination.
“One of the biggest challenges we faced was that testing needs to be shipped to international labs which became impossible under current conditions,” Ms Michiels said. “Nevertheless, some veterinarians have found ways to ship blood samples to approved laboratories abroad, enabling rabies titer testing to proceed despite regional limitations.”
She also highlighted relocating pets via the UAE as a viable alternative. “The pet must have valid vaccines and a microchip. “Owners can drive from Bahrain to the UAE, where our colleagues handle onward travel to the final destination,” she explained.
Certain European countries are also allowing derogations for pets traveling from Saudi Arabia, provided they move within a specific and limited timeframe. “Missing a window – even by a few days – can result in delays of several months,” Ms Michiels added.
Even under normal circumstances, every detail of a pet’s journey is carefully planned. “We anticipate every wrinkle along the red carpet our animals travel on – from paperwork and routing to climate considerations and regulatory changes,” she said, adding that despite restrictions, uncertainty, and rapidly changing rules, safe pet movement is still possible.
“It requires flexibility, expert knowledge, and a clear strategy from day one.”
She also wanted to address a circulating rumour that Qatar could serve as an alternative route for people relocating with their pets.
“Flying from Qatar is not straightforward, and the requirements for entering the country are completely different. Even under normal circumstances, it is a lengthy and complicated process, and we cannot guarantee we could take pets there and get them on a plane,” she explained.
Ms Michiels stressed that even if pet owners choose to remain in Bahrain, keeping vaccinations current and pet passports fully updated is strongly advised. “This ensures pets can travel at short notice and significantly reduces delays once travel options reopen,” she said. Keeping these current, she noted, can significantly reduce delays once travel options reopen.
For added security, Jetpet Global offers a free crisis file service, which allows owners to register essential details about their pets. This enables the agency to make arrangements even if the owner is outside the country at the time of evacuation.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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