Pets must be registered and microchipped for:

Strict licensing criteria for vendors at Dubai’s Al Warsan market

In Dubai, the municipality follows a strict criteria before allowing vendors to sell animals at Al Warsan market.

According to Faisal Almuammari, head of veterinary control unit at the veterinary services section, vendors must obtain a licence before any veterinarian-related activities.

From the beginning of the year, 13 licences were issued at the birds and pets market. There are currently 80 stores at the market.

The criteria to obtain a licence include:

> Approval from the Department of Economic Development that covers registration form model, certificate of initial approval and a trade name.

> Providing a rent contract for the facility desired

> A no-objection letter from the veterinary services department to complete the licence issuance > The pet’s information (age, sex, colour, type) · The owner’s information and contact details · Its up-to-date vaccination records · Tracking a lost pet · Keeping a count of the number of animals in Dubai and other emirates procedures.

Almuammari added that pets are inspected before they go into the market. Check-ups ensure that the animal is vaccinated. The market is also inspected regularly through random visits and followups from the inspection team based on the regulations and instructions listed to vendors.