Fines for unregistered cats and dogs in Abu Dhabi came into force on 3 February 2026, after the one-year grace period for Abu Dhabi pet registration closed without any extension announced by authorities.
The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) made registration mandatory in February 2025 and had been urging owners to comply since at least January of that year. Owners who have not yet registered each animal face a penalty of Dh1,000 per pet.
Who must register and how
The rules cover all cats and dogs kept in the emirate, whether by private owners or by establishments such as pet shops, shelters, and catteries. Individual owners were given a 12-month window to comply; establishments had six months.
Registration is carried out at a licensed veterinary clinic. The vet verifies or implants a microchip, confirms vaccinations are current, and submits the owner’s details through the TAMM Abu Dhabi portal using an Emirates ID and active UAE Pass. The owner then receives an official animal ownership certificate. Registration is free for individual owners.
Pets younger than 12 weeks are assigned a personal file number at the time of registration. The full ownership certificate is issued once the animal reaches the required age and completes its vaccinations.
Ownership transfers must also be recorded on the system. Whether a pet moves between two private owners or from a business to an individual, the new owner takes on responsibility for renewals and ongoing compliance from that point.
Wider penalties under Abu Dhabi pet registration rules
The Dh1,000 fine for failing to register is separate from penalties covering animal welfare. Abandoning a pet carries a Dh2,000 fine. Neglect or mistreatment can result in fines of up to Dh5,000 under Article 471 of the UAE Penal Code.
At the federal level, Cabinet Resolution No. 140 of 2024, issued on 31 December 2024, sets penalties for certain animal-related offences at up to Dh10,000, though the specific offences attracting that ceiling require verification against the full text of the resolution.
The DMT said the database links each registered pet to its owner, medical records, and microchip. The stated aims are to improve vaccination scheduling, speed up the reuniting of lost pets with their owners, and reduce the stray population. Officials have described the broader goal as a ‘Family Space’ framework, where every pet is connected to an official record rather than existing outside any system.
In January 2026, Abu Dhabi City Municipality held the Al Tawajud Animal Lovers Festival for the fourth consecutive year, drawing pet owners, shelters, veterinary clinics, and farm owners to Khalifa City Square for workshops on responsible ownership and a community awareness programme aligned with the Year of the Family.
The DMT has confirmed that enforcement is active and no further grace period has been announced. Owners yet to register should book an appointment at a licensed veterinary clinic as the first step.
