AE
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Pet Transport UAE to USA: High-Risk Country Rules Explained
Official rules on this page checked
Step by step
The United Arab Emirates to United States import process
Every step must be completed in sequence. A single missed deadline can add months to your timeline. We own the entire process.
1
Verify immediately. UAE is high-risk; correct sequencing is critical.
Confirm microchip is implanted and pre-dates rabies vaccination
Responsible: Vet to confirm
2
Decision affects entire timeline. Titre test route takes 2+ months of extra preparation. Facility route means 28 days of quarantine on arrival.
Decide: titre test route OR CDC-registered facility route
Responsible: Owner to decide, ideally with agent guidance
3
At least 30 days after rabies vaccination AND at least 28 days before US arrival
If titre test route: blood draw at CDC-approved laboratory
Responsible: CDC-approved laboratory
4
Must be completed before departure. Valid for 30 days after vet signature, single use.
Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form completed and government-endorsed in UAE
Responsible: Licensed vet in UAE, then UAE government vet endorsement
Which United States rules depend on a pet coming from the United Arab Emirates?
The United States sorts countries into 2 groups, and the United Arab Emirates falls in “High-risk countries for dog rabies”.
Dog has been in one of these within 6 months: rabies vaccination mandatory. US-vaccinated dogs need USDA-endorsed CDC certification form; foreign-vaccinated dogs need foreign certification form, CDC-approved titre or 28-day quarantine, facility reservation and arrival at that facility's airport. Official source
These rules apply to that group, on top of the rules every pet follows:
- Quarantine: Without a valid titre, the dog is admitted only after 28 days' quarantine at a CDC-registered animal care facility; this can be shortened if criteria are met. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries without a valid titre.
Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Quarantine: All foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs need a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility before entry, where they are examined and revaccinated with a US-licensed rabies vaccine. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Quarantine: The 28-day CDC facility quarantine may be shortened only if all of these are met: personal pet or service dog; documentation of at least 2 rabies vaccines; healthy on exam; the facility gets CDC approval for a prospective serologic monitoring (PSM) assessment; the dog gets a US-issued rabies vaccine under PSM; and a titre is obtained from a CDC-approved US lab (CDC FAQ updated 27 August 2026). Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries without a valid titre.
Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations, checked 2 October 2026 - Rabies titre test: Foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs need a passing rabies serology titre from a CDC-approved laboratory; blood drawn at least 30 days after the first valid vaccine and at least 28 days before entry. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Rabies titre test: Passing titre results are valid for life while vaccination does not lapse and the lab remains approved. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Rabies titre test: Not required: US-vaccinated dogs returning from a high-risk country need valid (unexpired) documentation of a US-issued rabies vaccination, not a titre. If that documentation is invalid, the foreign-vaccinated rules (including titre or 28-day quarantine) apply. Applies to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations, checked 2 October 2026 - Health certificate: Foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries need the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, completed by a vet and endorsed by an official government vet of the departure country. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Health certificate: That form must be completed no more than 30 days before travel, is single use and is valid 30 days from the vet's signature. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Health certificate: US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries need the Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form, completed by a USDA-accredited vet and USDA-endorsed before the dog leaves the US (at least 28 days after a first vaccine). Page updated 28 April 2026. Applies to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Health certificate: USDA-endorsed export health certificates issued after 31 July 2025 are no longer accepted for re-entry; the CDC certification form is needed instead. Applies to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Rabies vaccination: For high-risk dogs the first rabies vaccine must be given at or after 12 weeks (84 days) of age; earlier vaccines are not accepted. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - How your pet may travel: Foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs must arrive by air; only service dogs (14 CFR 382.3) may arrive by sea. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Arrival points and notice: Foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs must arrive at the airport where their CDC-registered facility is. CDC list (updated 1 Sept 2026): Atlanta (ATL), Dallas (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), Seattle (SEA, cargo only), Washington DC (IAD). Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
CDC-registered Animal Care Facilities, checked 2 October 2026 - Arrival points and notice: There are no CDC-registered facilities in Alaska, Hawaii or US territories, so foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs cannot enter the US through those places. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations, checked 2 October 2026 - Arrival points and notice: US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries may arrive at any airport, land border or seaport matching the receipt. Applies to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Arrival points and notice: Foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months cannot enter at a land border crossing (Canada or Mexico). Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations, checked 2 October 2026 - Microchip: For dogs from high-risk countries the chip must be implanted before the rabies vaccine, otherwise the vaccine is invalid. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
One rule for every pet entering the United States decides whether yours can travel at all:
- Minimum age: Every dog must be at least 6 months old on entry or return to the US.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Minimum age: Not listed: cats. CDC's cat section requires only that cats appear healthy on arrival (they may be inspected, examined at the owner's cost if ill, or refused if they show a zoonotic disease); rabies vaccination proof is not required. APHIS states it has no animal health requirements for pet cats (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/cats). Neither sets a minimum age; destination states may.
Bringing an Animal into the U.S., checked 2 October 2026
The rules that apply to every pet entering the United States, whatever the origin, are listed with their official sources in our United States guide.
What does the United Arab Emirates require before your pet leaves?
- Export permit: A copy of the importing country's import permit is required for live animal exports, but companion animals are exempt from this document. Applies to dogs and cats leaving the UAE.
Request for a veterinary health certificate for exporting or re-exporting live animals (Arabic), checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: MOCCAE issues the veterinary health certificate for exporting live animals after examination; it covers companion animals. Applies to dogs and cats leaving the UAE.
Request for a veterinary health certificate for exporting or re-exporting live animals (Arabic), checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: The export health certificate is valid for 30 days from issue. Applies to dogs and cats leaving the UAE.
Request for a veterinary health certificate for exporting or re-exporting live animals (Arabic), checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: Fee is AED 100 for a personal consignment of up to 2 animals including companion animals (AED 400 standard). Applies to personal export of up to 2 dogs or cats.
Request for a veterinary health certificate for exporting or re-exporting live animals (Arabic), checked 1 October 2026 - Other conditions: MOCCAE requires any additional documents or test reports requested by the importing country to be provided with the export certificate application. Applies to All pet dogs and cats.
Request for a veterinary health certificate for exporting or re-exporting live animals (Arabic), checked 1 October 2026
Costs
What this route typically costs
Cargo airline fee: AED 4,000 to AED 10,000 from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to …
CDC-registered facility stay (if no titre): $100 to $400 per day for …
Titre test at CDC-approved laboratory: AED 500 to AED 1,200
Foreign Vaccination certification and UAE government endorsement: AED …
Pet transport agent fee: AED 2,000 to AED 6,000
IATA-compliant travel crate: AED 300 to AED 1,200
Total typical range (titre route): AED 8,000 to AED 20,000
Total typical range (facility route): AED 15,000 to AED 35,000 …
Critical points
The UAE is on the CDC's high-risk country list. Dogs from the UAE face significantly different rules than dogs from low-risk countries like the UK or Australia. Do not assume the process matches what you may have read for European or UK dogs.
The Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination form is valid for 30 days from the vet's signature and can only be used once. Do not sign it until you have a confirmed travel date.
Cats from the UAE face essentially no US federal requirements. The CDC rules above apply to dogs only.
United Airlines has suspended its PetSafe cargo program for the general public and does not accept cargo pets on this route.
Airlines
Approved carriers for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.
Emirates
Daily Dubai to New York (JFK), Dallas, Houston and other US cities. Emirates SkyCargo …
Etihad Airways
Abu Dhabi to New York and Chicago. Cargo pet service available.
Qatar Airways
Via Doha hub. Connections to multiple US cities. Cargo pet service.
Delta Air Lines
Delta operates UAE to US routes. Cargo pets accepted on applicable routes.
FAQ
Common questions
Yes, provided the microchip was implanted before the vaccination and the vaccination was given by a licensed vet in the UAE. The titre test evaluates the antibody level in the blood, not the origin of the vaccination. A UAE-issued rabies vaccination that meets the basic requirements (licensed vet, correct timing sequence, ISO microchip pre-dating the vaccine) is valid for the titre test process.
The animal is housed at the registered facility and monitored for signs of rabies during the 28-day period. During this stay, the facility may administer a US-licensed rabies vaccine and perform a titre test. If the titre meets requirements before 28 days, early release may be possible. The facility must be pre-booked before departure. Costs vary by facility but typically range from $100 to $400 per day. The owner pays all costs.
If your dog was vaccinated in the USA with a US-issued rabies vaccine before moving to the UAE, different rules may apply. Dogs with a valid US-issued rabies vaccination returning from a high-risk country use the Certification of US-Issued Rabies Vaccination form rather than the Foreign Vaccination form. This can simplify the process. Check the CDC website for current rules on US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
Strongly recommended. The combination of CDC high-risk rules, the titre vs facility decision, the certification forms requiring government endorsement in the UAE, and the arrival airport constraints creates meaningful documentation risk. An experienced agent who knows this route can significantly reduce the chance of a document problem on arrival. Agent fees typically run AED 2,000 to AED 6,000 for the UAE-to-US corridor.
Move your pet to United States.
Get my free quoteAE USUnited Arab Emirates to United States
International pet transport route
Lead time8-16 weeks
QuarantineSee key facts
ComplexityHigh
Airlines4
ServiceDoor to door
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Country and airline guides
Sources
Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.