Abu Dhabi mandates pet registration as animal ownership surges

The emirate has introduced compulsory registration for dogs and other pets after a rapid rise in ownership. Owners who fail to enroll a prize animal with the Department of Municipalities and Transport face a penalty of 1,000 dirhams per pet. While the registration itself is free, veterinary clinics charge between $25 and $68 for the service. The pet population in the UAE grew by almost 60% from 2014 to 2024, reaching 938,000, according to Euromonitor.