Why UAE Pet Owners Still Struggle to Find Pet Care

Short answer first: most UAE pet owners aren’t struggling because pet care doesn’t exist here, they’re struggling because it’s scattered, unverified, and hard to book on short notice. Between unlicensed sitters found through WhatsApp groups, boarding centers that fill up over long weekends, and almost no way to check a sitter’s track record, finding reliable pet care services still takes far more effort than it should for a country with over 2 million pets. 

I’m Monja Madan, founder of Pet Watch, also just a regular pet parent juggling a stubborn Shih Tzu named Tito and a cat named Toto who thinks she runs the house. I’ve been the person frantically asking a neighbor, cousin to “just check on the cat” before a flight, so I know exactly why this topic matters. Let’s get into what’s actually going wrong, and what’s finally starting to fix it. 

The UAE Pet Care Market Is Booming, But Supply Hasn’t Caught Up

Here’s the thing that surprises most people: the UAE isn’t short on pet lovers. It’s short on organized ways to connect them with care. 

A few numbers put this in perspective: 

• The UAE’s pet population has grown from roughly 588,700 in 2014 to more than 2 million pets today. 

• There are now an estimated 1.5 million+ active pet parents in the country, concentrated mostly in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. 

• The UAE pet sitting market alone generated about USD 25.5 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 44.1 million by 2030 – a 14.7% annual growth rate. 

• Dogs currently account for roughly 71.76% of pet-sitting revenue, but cat-sitting is the fastest-growing segment as more UAE households adopt cats. 

Demand is clearly there. What’s missing is a consistent, trustworthy layer connecting pet owner needs with people who are qualified to meet them.

The Real Pet Care Gaps UAE Pet Parents Deal With 

If you’ve ever tried to book a sitter the week before Eid or during summer school holidays, you already know the drill. These are the pet care gaps that come up repeatedly: 

• No way to verify who’s caring for your pet. Many sitters are found informally, with no background check, no certification, and no accountability if something goes wrong. 

• Zero visibility while you’re away. Without photo updates or check-ins, you’re left guessing whether your dog actually got walked, or your cat’s litter box got cleaned. 

• Inconsistent pricing. Rates change depending on who you ask, with no clear structure for walks, boarding, or overnight sitting. 

• Limited coverage outside Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Pet parents in Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain often have far fewer options. 

• Climate-related scheduling issues. Summer heat means walks need to happen early in the morning or late evening, and not every sitter is flexible enough to work around that. 

• Cash-only, informal payment. No receipts, no protection, and no easy way to resolve a dispute. 

• Last-minute unavailability. Boarding centers and sitters get booked out fast around UAE public holidays, leaving late planners stuck. 

None of these gaps mean pet parents in the UAE care less about their animals. If anything, the opposite is true; UAE pet parents spend an average of AED 500 to AED 2,000 a month on their pets. The problem is structural, not emotional. 

Understanding What UAE Pet Owners Actually Need 

When you strip away the noise, pet parent needs in the UAE come down to a short list: trust, transparency, flexibility, and speed. Parents want to know exactly who is showing up at their door, what that person is trained to handle, and whether they’ll get real proof, their pet is okay. 

I’ll be honest, when Tito was younger, I once left him with someone I’d only messaged twice on a community app. He was fine, thankfully, but I spent that entire weekend anxious, checking my phone for updates that never came. That’s the exact gap that led me to appreciate what certified, app-based pet care services are built to solve.

How Certified Sitters Are Closing the Animal Wellness Gap 

This is where the shift is happening. Instead of relying on word of mouth, more UAE pet owners are turning to platforms where every sitter goes through a structured vetting process before they’re allowed to care for a single pet. 

On Pet Watch, for example, sitters undergo background checks and complete pet care training before their profile goes live. Many go further through the Pet Watch Academy, building skills for handling different breeds, temperaments, and health needs. That matters for animal wellness in ways that go beyond convenience. A trained sitter recognizes early signs of heat stress, knows how to safely handle a leash-reactive dog, or understands how to keep a nervous cat calm during a boarding stay. 

Certification also raises the bar for sitters themselves. It turns “I’ll watch your dog for some cash” into an actual profession, with reviews, a reputation to protect, and fair, secure payment through the app instead of a cash handoff. 

Why Transparent Reviews and Real-Time Updates Changes Everything

Trust isn’t built on a promise. It’s built on proof. That’s why two features consistently come up as gamechangers for pet owner needs in the UAE: 

• Transparent reviews let you see how a sitter has actually performed for other pet parents, not just what their profile claims. 

• Real-time updates, photos, messages, and check-ins sent while you’re away, turn a stressful trip into something you can enjoy. 

I still remember getting a photo of Toto sprawled out mid-nap during a boarding stay and immediately relaxing my shoulders I didn’t realize were tense. That small update did more for my peace of mind than any guarantee ever could.

Closing the Pet Services Availability Gap Across the Emirates 

One of the biggest pet care challenges outside Dubai and Abu Dhabi is simply not having enough sitters nearby. A “near me” search feature helps solve this by matching pet parents with certified sitters in their own community, whether that’s a high-rise in Al Reem Island, a villa in The Springs, or a residential neighborhood in Sharjah or Ajman. 

Pet Watch currently connects pet parents and sitters across: 

• Abu Dhabi 

• Dubai 

• Sharjah 

• Ajman 

• Umm Al Quwain 

• Ras Al Khaimah 

• Fujairah 

As more sitters join and get certified in each emirate, pet services availability keeps expanding, which matters most for pet parents living outside the two biggest cities.

What to Look for in Reliable Pet Care Services

Whether or not you use Pet Watch, here’s a quick checklist worth applying to any pet sitter or service you’re considering: 

• Background-checked and trained, not just self-described as “experienced” 

• Visible reviews from real pet parents 

• Clear, upfront pricing with no surprise add-ons 

• Photo or message updates during the booking 

• Secure, cashless payment 

• Flexible scheduling that works around UAE heat and your pet’s routine 

• A real profile you can browse before you commit, not a single WhatsApp contact 

How Pet Watch Brings These Places Together

Pet Watch was built specifically to close these gaps for UAE pet parents. Through the app, available on both iOS and Android, you can browse certified sitters near you, check real reviews, and book dog walking, dog boarding, dog sitting, cat home visits, cat boarding, or cat sitting in just a few taps. Add-ons like extra walks, grooming, medication administration, and litter box cleaning let you customize care to fit your pet’s exact routine. 

Every booking includes real-time photo updates and in-app messaging with your sitter, so you’re never left wondering how things are going. Payment happens securely through the app; no cash is required. 

If you’re a pet sitter, the same platform works in reverse: get certified, build your profile, earn verified reviews, and set your own schedule while getting paid securely. 

Finding trustworthy pet care shouldn’t take more energy than actually caring for your pet. If you’re tired of last-minute scrambling or handing your pet over to someone you barely know, it might be time to try a platform built to solve exactly that. Download Pet Watch on the App Store or Google Play, and explore dog services or cat services for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do pet sitters charge in Dubai? 

Rates typically range from about AED 100 to AED 250 per day for dogs, depending on the length and type of care. On Pet Watch, a 30-minute dog walk starts at AED 55; day sitting starts around AED 150, and overnight sitting starts at AED 200. Cat care tends to run slightly lower, starting around AED 50 for a home visit. 

What is the best app for finding pet sitters in the UAE? 

Pet Watch is built specifically for the UAE market, offering certified, background-checked sitters, transparent reviews, real-time updates, and secure in-app payment for both dogs and cats. It’s available on iOS and Android and covers Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. 

How do I become a pet sitter in the UAE? 

Download the Pet Watch app, create a sitter profile, and complete the background check and pet care training needed for certification. From there, you can build your reputation through reviews, set your own schedule, and get paid securely for each booking. Optional training through the Pet Watch Academy can help you handle a wider range of pets and situations. 

How much does it cost to have a pet sitting service in Abu Dhabi? 

Pricing in Abu Dhabi generally follows the same structure as the rest of the UAE. On Pet Watch, day care sitting starts at AED 150 for dogs and AED 130 for cats, while overnight sitting starts at AED 200 for dogs and AED 180 for cats, with optional add-ons like grooming or medication administration priced separately. 

By Monja Madan, Founder of Pet Watch App.

July 20, 2026