US PCR Test Entry Requirements for UAE Residents: All You Need to Know About Testing for Travel to the US from the UAE

This article is reviewed regularly (on a monthly basis) by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Updated February 2023

During the post-pandemic, The US has eased several restrictions and has updated the PCR testing rules for travellers flying to the US. As per the latest directives, passengers no longer need to take a PCR test on arrival at US airports.

So how does the post-pandemic affect the PCR test entry requirements for UAE residents to the US? Here are the latest PCR test entry requirements for residents of the UAE looking to travel to the US.

PCR testing requirements in the US

Unless you are a U.S. citizen or a U.S. immigrant visa holder, you are not required to show proof of vaccination before you can fly to the U.S. The CDC considers you fully vaccinated:

• 14 days after your dose of an accepted single-dose vaccine
• 14 days after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series
• 14 days after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial
• 14 days after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted Covid-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart

Recent recoveries from COVID-19

If you have recovered from a COVID-19 infection within the last 3 months, then regardless of vaccination status, you do NOT need to get a test 3-5 days after travel.

People can continue to test positive for up to 90 days after diagnosis and not be infectious to others. You also do not need to self-quarantine after travel. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms after travel, isolate and consult with a healthcare provider for testing recommendations.

Some states either require all out-of-state visitors to self-isolate for 14 days, present a negative test result or do not have a strict quarantine mandate. For more information, please consult each state’s health department website.

Rapid test specifications

Rapid tests are accepted in the US as long as they are viral tests which include:

• Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
• Reverse Transcription-Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP)
• Transcription-Mediated Amplification (TMA)
• Nicking Enzyme Amplification Reaction (NEAR)
• Helicase-Dependent Amplification (HDA)

The test should be authorized for use by UAE officials to detect SARS-CoV-2, and the test result should be in the form of printed paper or as an electronic copy.

What about testing at the airport?

COVID-19 screening is not required at US airports; hence travellers from UAE will need to undergo a pre-departure PCR test before travelling and present the negative result to the airline before boarding their flight.

Testing in quarantine

If you are fully vaccinated, you will not be subject to quarantine, but you should:

• Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel. If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
• Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.

Exemptions

Following are the categories exempt from PCR testing:

• children under the age of 2 are exempted from submitting a negative PCR test result.
• recoverees from a documented COVID-19 infection within the past 90 days (regardless of vaccination status) are also exempted from conducting a post-arrival PCR test. They must show proof of a positive viral test from the preceding 90 days and a letter from their healthcare provider or public health official stating they are cleared to end isolation.