Dubai's rising Pet Abandonment Crisis

Dubai is facing a serious rise in pet abandonment, with factors like transient expatriate populations, financial pressures, and seasonal travel driving the problem higher than ever in 2025. The city’s shelters are overwhelmed, animal charity initiatives are growing, and new government policies seek to address the crisis—but the numbers and stories behind pet abandonment reveal a complex, urgent challenge.​

Pet Abandonment: The Numbers

The UAE’s pet population has reached approximately 2 million as of 2025, with ownership having surged by nearly 30% during the pandemic years. This rapid rise, unfortunately, brought with it a parallel increase in abandonment cases. Shelters in Dubai report being full or over capacity year-round, with the visible number of rescued animals far below the true count of pets suffering on the streets or left behind in homes.​

In summer, abandonment spikes—especially for cats, as many families travel abroad and simply leave their pets behind at veterinary clinics or on the streets. While official figures are hard to pin down, experts and volunteers estimate tens of thousands of stray and abandoned cats roaming Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s neighborhoods each year.​

Why Are Pets Abandoned?

• Relocation: Dubai’s expatriate-heavy population often faces sudden moves. With international pet travel being expensive and logistically complex, many owners are forced to leave pets behind.​

• Financial Hardship: Job losses, salary reductions, or expensive veterinary bills cause pet care to become unaffordable for some residents.​

• Housing Restrictions: Many buildings and communities enforce strict “no-pet” policies, leaving families unable to find pet-friendly accommodation and forcing them to choose between housing and their animal.​

• Seasonal Travel: Summer travel is a notorious peak period for pet abandonment, with families leaving for extended holidays and pets dumped at clinics, restaurants, or simply outside.​

• Lack of Awareness: Some pet owners adopt animals without fully comprehending the commitment, especially when dealing with behavioral or health problems as the pet ages.​

Community Response and Welfare Initiatives

A growing network of animal welfare organizations and volunteers is working to confront Dubai’s pet abandonment crisis. New government-backed initiatives, such as the licensing of Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi (AWAD), aim to support community rescue efforts, manage stray populations with trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, and offer educational workshops to increase responsible pet ownership.​

Grassroots efforts, including the Mussafah Dog Project and Waggy Bond, help rescue, neuter, and rehome animals, but these organizations rely heavily on donations, volunteers, and community engagement due to shelter capacity limits.​

Tackling The Crisis

Many experts call for stricter laws and better enforcement, including more effective tracking of pets through microchips linked to Emirates ID system. Community awareness campaigns and educational outreach are vital to address misconceptions, foster responsible adoption, and prevent impulse purchases that lead to abandonment.​

Until these solutions take full effect, Dubai’s streets, clinics, and animal charities will remain under pressure—with every summer season bringing the problem sharply into focus.​

If You’re Concerned

Residents can help by adopting or fostering through reputable local shelters, volunteering, or supporting grassroots welfare initiatives. Most importantly, awareness and empathy remain the cornerstones of real change—ensuring that pets are treated not as disposable accessories, but as true family members for life.