Pet owners in Abu Dhabi are now required to register their pets under a new animal ownership service

On Tuesday, authorities announced that pet owners in Abu Dhabi must immediately register their microchipped dogs and cats under a new animal ownership program that will go live on February 3.

The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) announced that pet owners will have a one-year grace period throughout which they can finish their registration without incurring penalties. However, businesses that have dogs or cats have six months to finish the registration process.

The goal of the DMT's TAMM service is to establish a centralized database for pet owners and their microchipped animals. These are the main goals:

- Cut down on the number of stray animals

- Maintain pet records

- Enable accurate identification

- Enhance the welfare of animals

Additional pet health topics covered in the program include yearly vaccines, microchipping, and routine veterinary examinations.