Dubai Maritime City is a growing waterfront community, and more people are making it home with a dog, a cat or another pet. If you live there already, or you are about to move in, you probably have questions. Is my building suitable? What are the rules? Where do I walk my dog? Who looks after my pet when I am at work?
This guide answers all of it. It is written for pet owners who are new to the area, or who simply want to be sure their pet has everything it needs.
Before You Move In
Check your building’s pet policy. Each tower sets its own rules. Confirm that pets are allowed, ask about any limits on size or number, and get your landlord’s approval in writing.
Think about your pet’s size and energy. Most homes here are apartments. Cats and small or calm dogs adapt easily. Large, active dogs can live well in an apartment too, provided they get proper exercise every day.
Plan for moving day. Keep your pet away from open doors and movers. A closed, quiet room works, or a day with a sitter.
Rules Every Pet Owner Must Follow
Dubai has clear rules for keeping pets, and they apply in Dubai Maritime City as everywhere else.
- Registration. Dogs and cats must be registered with Dubai Municipality, and the registration is renewed each year.
- Microchip. Every dog and cat must be microchipped.
- Vaccinations. These must be kept up to date.
- ID tag. Your pet should wear its municipality tag outdoors.
- Lead. Dogs must be on a lead in public at all times.
- Clean up. Always pick up after your dog.
If you have moved from another address, update your details on your pet’s registration and microchip record.
Helping Your Pet Settle Into a New Home
A new home is unsettling for a pet. New smells, new sounds and a new layout take time to get used to.
- Start with one quiet room and let your pet explore the rest gradually.
- Put out its own bed, blanket and bowls. Familiar scents are calming.
- Keep feeding, walking and play times the same as before.
- Stay close for the first few days, and build up time alone slowly.
Hiding, eating less or following you around are normal in the first days. Most pets settle within a few weeks.
Daily Care in an Apartment
Your pet depends on a few things every day.
- Meals at regular times, suited to its age and size.
- Fresh water, available all day.
- Exercise and play. Walks for dogs. Chasing, climbing and scratching for cats.
- A clean space. Clean the litter tray, cage or enclosure daily.
- Company. Time with you matters as much as food.
- A quiet place to rest.
For indoor stimulation, use food puzzles and tug toys for dogs, and a scratching post, a climbing shelf and a window perch for cats.
Walking Your Dog
Walk early in the morning or after sunset, when the ground is cool. In the hotter months, pavements can burn paws during the day.
Public parks in Dubai do not generally allow dogs. Use the pavements and walkways where dogs are permitted, and follow any signs in the community. Carry water and waste bags on every walk.
If your schedule does not allow for regular walks, a dog walker can take your dog out at its usual time.
Keeping Your Pet Healthy
Register with a vet close to home as soon as you arrive, before you need one. Book a check-up once a year, and keep parasite treatments current. See a vet if your pet stops eating, loses energy or its toilet habits change.
Who Can Care for Your Pet When You Are Busy or Away
This is the question most new residents worry about, especially without family or old friends nearby. Dubai Maritime City is a new community, and pet facilities inside it are limited, so the simplest answer is care that comes to you.
A pet sitter can visit your apartment to feed your pet, refresh its water, clean up and keep it company. For a dog, the visit includes a toilet break. Your pet stays in its own home, which suits cats, birds and rabbits especially well.
When you travel, your pet can stay at home with a sitter visiting each day, or it can stay in a sitter’s home, where it has company throughout.
Pawland provides this care in Dubai Maritime City. It is the highest reviewed pet sitting company in the UAE. You meet your sitter first, and you keep the same sitter afterwards, so your pet is cared for by someone it knows.
A Quick Checklist for New Pet Owners in Dubai Maritime City
- Building pet policy confirmed and landlord’s approval received
- Pet registered, microchipped and vaccinated
- Address updated on registration and microchip records
- Vet chosen near home
- Balconies and windows secured
- Feeding and walking routine set
- Care arranged for workdays and travel
Frequently Asked Questions
Register it with Dubai Municipality, make sure it is microchipped and vaccinated, and find a vet near your home.
Keep it in one quiet room with its own things, hold to its routine, and give it a few weeks.
On pavements and walkways where dogs are permitted, always on a lead.
