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Low risk countriesHome / Destinations / United States
Pet Relocation from Dubai to the USA
The UAE is on the CDC's high-risk list, so dogs need extra steps: a titer test, a CDC facility booking and the right arrival airport. We plan all of it from Dubai.
Moving to the United States with your dog or cat? Since 1 August 2024 the CDC has strict rules for dogs, and because the UAE is listed as high risk for dog rabies, a dog flying from Dubai has more to do than a dog from Europe. Cats are much simpler. canisfelis handles the paperwork, the blood test timing, the facility booking and the flight, so your pet lands on the first try.
Requirements at a glance
| Dogs | Cats | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | At least 6 months old on arrival | No federal minimum |
| Microchip | Required, readable by a universal scanner, implanted before the rabies vaccine | Not required federally (recommended) |
| Rabies vaccination | Required. First dose at 12 weeks or older and at least 28 days before arrival | Not required federally. Some states require it |
| Rabies titer (blood) test | Passing result from a CDC-approved lab, drawn at least 30 days after the first valid vaccine and at least 28 days before arrival. Without it: 28 days quarantine | Not required |
| CDC forms | CDC Dog Import Form receipt (free, online) and the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip, signed by your vet and endorsed by a government vet within 30 days of travel | None |
| CDC animal care facility | Reservation required for an exam and a US rabies revaccination on arrival (plus quarantine if no valid titer) | Not needed |
| Arrival airport | Must fly directly into an airport with a CDC facility: ATL, DFW, LAX, MIA, JFK, PHL, SEA or IAD | Any international airport |
| UAE exit | MOCCAE veterinary health certificate for export. AED 100 for up to 2 pets travelling for personal purposes, issued in 1 working day, valid 30 days | Same |
The one rule UAE owners must know: the CDC treats any dog that has been in the UAE in the 6 months before entry as coming from a high-risk country. Get the titer test done early. A missing or late titer means four weeks of quarantine in a US facility at your cost.
Your timeline: weeks before the flight
- 10+ weeks out
Free WhatsApp consultation. We check the microchip, the vaccine history and your dog's age, and choose the US arrival airport with a CDC facility closest to your new home.
- 8–10 weeks
Rabies vaccine if due, then the titer blood sample at least 30 days after the first valid vaccine. We send it to a CDC-approved laboratory.
- 5–6 weeks
Last safe moment for the titer: the sample must be drawn at least 28 days before arrival. Flight booked on a route that lands directly at the chosen airport.
- 4 weeks
Reservation at the CDC-registered animal care facility for the arrival exam and revaccination. The confirmation travels with your dog.
- Final 30 days
Your vet completes the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip, endorsed by a government vet. MOCCAE export health certificate issued.
- Travel week
CDC Dog Import Form submitted (photo of your dog, microchip number, arrival airport). Two printed copies of every certificate go with the pet.
- Arrival
US Customs and Border Protection checks the documents, then your dog goes to the facility for its exam and US rabies vaccine before you collect it.
How pets fly from Dubai to the USA
- Emirates (checked baggage): No cats or dogs in the cabin. From Dubai, a pet can fly in a special area of the hold on your own flight if the whole journey is under 17 hours. Emirates' published charges are USD 500, 650 or 800, depending on the combined weight and size of pet and crate.
- Emirates SkyCargo (manifest cargo): For larger crates or pets flying alone. Pets wait in a temperature-controlled Pet Lounge in Dubai and are loaded last and offloaded first.
- Airport rules: the CDC facility in Seattle takes cargo arrivals only, and Los Angeles prefers cargo to avoid clearance delays. In New York, dogs must land at JFK, not Newark or LaGuardia.
Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds face extra airline restrictions. Tell us the breed early.
What does it cost?
The CDC Dog Import Form is free, and the MOCCAE export certificate is AED 100 (up to 2 pets). The titer test, the CDC facility's exam and revaccination (and quarantine, if needed) and the airline charges depend on your pet, the crate and the route. Your total depends on all of these, so we quote on request, free and itemised.
Frequently asked questions
Is the UAE a high-risk rabies country for the USA?
Yes. The CDC lists the United Arab Emirates as high risk for dog rabies, so dogs that have been in the UAE in the past 6 months must meet the CDC's high-risk rules.
Does my dog need a rabies titer test?
Strongly recommended. Without a passing titer from a CDC-approved laboratory, drawn at least 28 days before arrival, your dog must spend 28 days in quarantine at a CDC-registered animal care facility.
Which US airports can my dog fly into?
Only airports with a CDC-registered animal care facility: Atlanta (ATL), Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York JFK, Philadelphia (PHL), Seattle (SEA) and Washington Dulles (IAD). Domestic connections are only allowed after the facility visit.
How old must my dog be?
At least 6 months old on arrival, microchipped before its rabies vaccine, and vaccinated at 12 weeks of age or older.
Do cats need anything?
Federally, no. The CDC only requires cats to look healthy on arrival. Some states require a rabies vaccine, and Hawaii has its own quarantine rules, so we check your destination state.
Does the CDC charge for the Dog Import Form?
No. The CDC Dog Import Form is free and done online, one form per dog. The animal care facility's exam, revaccination and any quarantine are paid by you.
How early should I start?
At least 2 to 3 months before the flight, because the titer blood sample needs a lab result and must be drawn at least 28 days before your dog lands.
Ready to plan your pet's move to the USA?
Message canisfelis on WhatsApp at +971 50 1900 804 with your pet's breed, weight and travel date, and we'll send a free quote.
Other routes to and from Dubai
Sources (checked 23 Oct 2026)
Official, United States
- CDC, Bringing a Dog into the U.S.: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/index.html
- CDC, High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies (UAE listed; updated 15 Apr 2026): https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/high-risk-countries.html
- CDC, Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/foreign-vaccinated-high-risk-countries.html
- CDC, CDC-registered Animal Care Facilities (updated 1 Sep 2026): https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/approved-care-facilities.html
- CDC, Bringing an Animal into the U.S. (cats): https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-us/index.html
- USDA APHIS, Bring a Pet Cat into the United States: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/cats
Official, UAE
- MOCCAE, Veterinary health certificate for export/re-export: https://moccae.gov.ae/en/services/animal-health-certificate-for-export-re-export-of-live-animals
Airlines
- Emirates, Rules and charges for travelling with animals: https://www.emirates.com/english/help/faqs/what-are-the-rules-and-charges-for-travelling-with-animals/