Do UAE passport holders need a visa to visit PR?

Yes, a visa is required. Puerto Rico is a US territory and applies United States immigration rules. The UAE is NOT in the US Visa Waiver Program, so UAE ordinary passport holders cannot use ESTA and must obtain a US B-2 (visitor/tourism) visa before traveling to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States and enforces identical entry rules to the US mainland. There is no separate Puerto Rico visa. Because the United Arab Emirates is not a participating country in the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), UAE ordinary passport holders are not eligible for ESTA and must apply for a standard US nonimmigrant B-2 visitor visa for tourism. The process requires completing the DS-160 form online, paying the US$185 MRV application fee, and attending an in-person interview at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the US Consulate General in Dubai. Once issued, a B-2 visa is commonly granted with multiple entries and up to 10 years of validity; the actual length of each authorized stay (typically up to 6 months) is determined by the Customs and Border Protection officer on arrival in Puerto Rico. Travelers should apply well in advance, as interview wait times at posts in the UAE can be lengthy and processing is unpredictable.