To keep or not to keep... having a pet in UAE isn't your decision alone

Keeping a pet isn’t quite a personal decision. At least, not in this part of the world. Anyone from your building landlord, to your neighbours, to your pet shop does have a say in it.

So, before you decide on whether to keep one or not, you need to get the approval from a host of others in your neighbourhood.

In Dubai, it is mandatory to secure permission to keep an animal in the property from your landlord. Most tenancy contract forbids keeping an animal on board, so it is important to seek their endorsement before signing on the dotted line.

Nicky, a single lady, who owns two dogs, had to get authorisation from her landlord to house them in her 1-bedroom apartment in Silicon Oasis. “There is a strict ‘no pets’ policy in my building, but my landlord was obliging.”

There are specific areas in Dubai that strictly follow a “no pets” policy. In fact, many residential areas are still unsure about their stand. “Some areas in Mirdif claim to be pet-friendly, but the fine print reads that it is only for fish tanks and not for furry animals,”