Dubai Municipality guide: Everything pet owners need to know about veterinary services
From pet adoption to animal health certificates, here are key Dubai Municipality veterinary and animal welfare services for residents.
If you have an animal-related problem that needs solving, in Dubai, you likely need the help of Dubai Municipality.
This governmental entity, established in 1954, oversees daily operations in Dubai that directly influence the quality of life of all residents, visitors and business owners in the emirate. Currently, the Dubai Municipality oversees 14 functional areas, delivers over 150 services, and manages more than 800 daily operations through two sectors, four agencies and 37 departments. By 2030, it expects to become “a globally pioneering municipality that provides the best quality of life for Dubai citizens, residents, and visitors”, according to its website.
So, how can you benefit from Dubai Municipality’s vast network? We’ve curated three different catalogues of services you can access, as a resident:
- Veterinary services
- Water, waste and pest control
- Hospitality and recreation
Learn more about each one, starting with our guide to animal products, veterinary and animal welfare services offered by the Dubai Municipality, below.
Whether you want to adopt a pet, or are looking for veterinary expertise, the Dubai Municipality has a plethora of services related to animal welfare. Here is a complete list of services individuals in Dubai can access:
Adopt pets
You can adopt a cat or a dog through this municipal service.
Service completion: Two working days.
Cost: The adoption process is free, but there are costs involved for the following:
For dogs:
- Vaccination: Dh150
- Internal and external parasites preventatives: Dh30
- Registration: Dh10
- Microchip: Dh50
- Knowledge and Innovation fee: Dh20
For cats:
- Vaccination: Dh120
- Internal and external parasites preventatives: Dh30
- Registration: Dh10
- Microchip: Dh50
- Knowledge and Innovation fee: Dh20
Eligibility criteria: The Dubai Municipality outlines the following criteria ahead of applying for pet adoption:
- You are not eligible to apply for this service if you have committed any violations related to animal abuse or harm.
- The applicant must be at least 21 years old.
- The applicant must pay the vaccination and registration fees.
How to apply: You can use the Dubai Municipality website/app, the DubaiNow app, or the Dubai Municipality’s unified platform for pet adoption, registration and care – the Aleef app – to request the service. Follow these steps if using the Aleef app:
- Download the Aleef app via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Log in, using your UAE PASS.
- Navigate to the ‘Adoption’ section to view dogs and cats currently looking for homes.
- Select a pet to submit an adoption request.
- If you meet the requirements, you will receive a phone call from a municipal employee within 24 hours.
- Visit Al Khawaneej Veterinary Clinic in Dubai within 24 hours to examine the pet.
- Pay the fees, and pick up your pet, along with all related vaccination and registration records.
Pet registration
You can register, number and amend the registration of pets, in order to ensure they have proper identification, and you can monitor their health status.
Service completion: One working day (from appointment date).
Documents required:
- Animal health record or pet passport, if any.
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) to transfer the animal ownership, if applying for ownership change.
- Physical presence of the pet during the visit.
Cost:
- Animal registration: Dh10
- Animal numbering: Dh50 per microchip
- Knowledge and innovation fee: Dh20 for each service exceeding Dh50
- VAT: 5%
How to apply: You can use the Dubai Municipality website/app, the DubaiNow app, or the Aleef app to request the service. You can also call the Municipality’s call centre at 800 900.
Pet vaccination
You can obtain a vaccination for your pet via Dubai Municipality’s veterinary services. This service ensures that animals meet the veterinary health requirements approved in Dubai. Vaccination procedures are mandatory for cats and dogs. Pets are examined and vaccinated only at Al Khawaneej Veterinary Clinic in Dubai.
Service completion: One working day (from appointment date).
Documents required:
- Animal health record or pet passport, if any.
- Physical presence of the pet during the visit.
Cost:
- Preventive care package for cats (First time – Age 2 to 3 months): Dh170
- Preventive care Package for cats (First time – Age 3 months and above): Dh210
- Annual preventive care package for cats: Dh160
- Preventive care package for dogs (First time – Age 2 to 3 months): Dh200
- Preventive care package for dogs (First time – Age 3 months and above): Dh240
- Annual preventive care package for dogs: Dh190
- Innovation and Knowledge fee: Dh20 applied to each service valued over Dh50.
- VAT: 5%
Service fees may vary depending on the pet’s need for vaccinations. Final charges are confirmed after the veterinary consultation at the clinic.
How to apply: You can use the Dubai Municipality website/app, the DubaiNow app, or the Aleef app to request the service. You can also call 800 900. It’s best to request a pet vaccination service in advance, from these channels, but you can also visit the Al Khawaneej Veterinary Clinic directly.
- Health certificate for animals and veterinary products
You can obtain a veterinary health certificate for owned live animals or for veterinary products/materials like pet food, equipment and supplies, and by-products such as wool, intended for export or re-export. The certificate is issued after ensuring that the animals and animal products are safe, free from transmissible and infectious diseases, and have received the necessary vaccines according to approved health requirements.
The certificate is valid for one month from the date of issuance, and is an important document if you are relocating with your pet.
Service completion: For veterinary materials/products for the purpose of export or re-export: Three working days. For a live animal: One working day.
Documents required: Pet passport or animal health record during the visit, if applicable.
Cost:
Veterinary health certificate for live animals (per head):
Cows or camels: Dh5
Sheep or goats: Dh2
Dogs or cats: Dh30
Small birds: Dh10
Large birds: Dh30
Other animals: Dh30
Laboratory animals: Dh2
Producing poultry: Dh1
Veterinary health certificate for veterinary materials and products for the purpose of export or re-export:
Animal feed and food: Dh200
Feed consignment: Dh10 per tonne
Pet food consignment: Dh20 per tonne
Laboratory testing of animal feed or food samples: Dh500 per sample
Carcass by-products: Dh50 per tonne
Skins and wool: Dh250 per container
Knowledge and Innovation fee: Dh20 for each service exceeding Dh50
How to apply: You can use the Dubai Municipality website/app or the DubaiNow app to request the service. You can also visit these specialised locations in Dubai to avail of the service:
- Veterinary Inspection Office - Al Warsan Birds and Pets Market
- Veterinary quarantine centres, such as Jebel Ali Port Centre for Agricultural and Veterinary Quarantine, and Dubai Airport Cargo Village Centre for Veterinary Quarantine
- Cattle Market
- Al Khawaneej Veterinary Clinic (for pets and farm animals)
- Al Lisaily Veterinary Clinic (for farm animals only)
- Hatta Veterinary Clinic (for farm animals only)
Request a veterinary health card
You can obtain a veterinary health card from Dubai Municipality to receive priority access to veterinary services for Dubai-based pen and farm animals only. The veterinary health card must be presented when applying for animal vaccination and treatment services.
Service completion: One working day.
Documents required: For pen animals, a handover letter from the Wild Affairs Region Department in Dubai. For farm animals, a utility bill from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is required.
Eligibility criteria: Only UAE citizens may apply for this service.
Cost: Free
How to apply: You can use the Dubai Municipality website/app to apply.
Register farm animals
Similar to the process for registering domestic pets, you can register, number, and amend the registration of farm animals in order to facilitate their identification and monitor their health status.
Service completion: In farms and pens: Three working days. In veterinary clinics: One working day.
Documents required: For pen animals, a letter from the Wild Affairs Region Department in Dubai. For farm animals, a utility bill from DEWA is required.
Cost:
Animal Registration
Sheep and goats: Dh1
Cows and camels: Dh5
Other animals: Dh20
Animal Numbering
Sheep and goats: Dh2
Cows: Dh5
Camels: Dh10 per microchip
Knowledge and innovation fee: Dh20 for each service exceeding Dh50
VAT: 5%
How to apply: You can use the Dubai Municipality website/app, call the call centre at 800 900, or visit Al Lisaily Veterinary Clinic (for farm animals) to apply.
Farm animals treatment
Obtain veterinary vaccination and treatment services for farm animals, at Dubai Municipality veterinary clinics or at licensed farms and pens in the emirate. These services include animal examination or treatment, vaccinations, and care for farm animals only. The treatment services are provided to citizens, residents, and visitors on site in animal farms and animal pens if the number of animals exceeds more than five and in veterinary clinics if the number of animals is five or less.
Service completion: In farms and pens: Three working days. In veterinary clinics: 30 minutes.
Documents required: Health record of the animal. In the case of farm animals, a veterinary health card is also required.
Cost:
Animal vaccination
Sheep: Dh2
Cows or camels: Dh5
Animal examination
Sheep or goats: Dh1
Cows: Dh5
Camels or horses: Dh10
Animal treatment
Sheep or goats: Dh2
Cows or camels: Dh5
Horses: Dh20
Poultry: Dh1
Pet birds: Dh5
Wild animals and birds: Dh20
Animal surgical procedures
Sheep or goats: Dh20
Camels or cows: Dh50
Poultry: Dh5
Laboratory testing for animals
Sheep or goats: Dh3
Cows or camels: Dh5
Poultry: Dh10
Veterinary reproductive services: This includes obstetrics, spaying or neutering, artificial insemination, and infertility treatment.
Sheep or goats: Dh5
Cows or camels: Dh30
Artificial insemination: Dh40
Knowledge and Innovation: Dh20 for each service exceeding Dh50
VAT: 5%
How to apply: You can use the Dubai Municipality website/app, the DubaiNow app, or call 800 900. You can also visit the following specialised clinics to get animals treated (if there are five or less):
- Al Khawaneej Veterinary Clinic
- Hatta Veterinary Clinic
- Al Lisaily Veterinary Clinic