Sipu Jha
Starting February 3, 2026, owning a pet in Abu Dhabi officially comes with a new set of digital responsibilities. The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has launched a mandatory pet registration system designed to bring every cat and dog into a secure, centralized database.By linking every pet to an owner via the TAMM platform, authorities can now provide better protection, monitor health trends, and manage the city’s animal population with precision.
Abu Dhabi pet registration process
The government has made the process as frictionless as possible to encourage early compliance. Registration is currently free of charge for all residents. To get started, pet owners must visit a licensed veterinary clinic in Abu Dhabi.
- The Health Check: The vet will perform a medical examination to ensure the animal is healthy and up-to-date on its annual vaccinations.
- The Microchip Requirement: A permanent microchip is mandatory. If your pet isn’t chipped, the vet will install one, as the chip’s unique number is the primary key for the digital file.
- TAMM Integration: The vet uploads the medical and microchip data directly to the government portal. Once uploaded, the owner will receive a notification to log into the TAMM app using their UAE Pass to confirm ownership and receive an official Animal Ownership Certificate.
Dh1,000 penalty
While the law officially kicks in on February 3, the government is prioritizing education over immediate punishment. Individual pet owners are being granted a generous one-year grace period to complete the registration. However, this window is much smaller for businesses; pet shops, shelters, and commercial breeders must have all their animals registered within six months. Once these grace periods expire, the “soft approach” ends, failure to register a pet or keep its record updated will result in a Dh1,000 fine.
Why does your pet need a digital ID?
This shift brings immediate practical benefits to the average resident. The most significant “Common Impact” is the recovery of lost pets. With a unified database, a lost dog found in a park can be scanned at any clinic, and the owner’s details will pop up instantly, ending the days of frantic social media searches. Additionally, the system ensures biosecurity; as Abu Dhabi opens more pet-friendly cafes, hotels, and parks, only registered and vaccinated pets will be allowed access, protecting both public health and your furry friend’s safety.
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