In Dubai, pets have quietly become part of everyday family life. Walk through any residential neighbourhood in the early evening and you’ll see it: dogs being walked along shaded pavements, cats lounging in apartment balconies, and pet stores and grooming salons appearing in almost every community retail strip.
The shift is visible in the data. Surveys indicate that over half of Emiratis own pets, with dogs accounting for roughly one-third of pet ownership, reflecting how rapidly companion animals have become integrated into households across the UAE.
As ownership grows, so does spending. Industry projections suggest the broader UAE pet ecosystem could approach USD 2 billion in value as pet ownership increases and owners spend more on premium care, nutrition, and services.
One category benefiting directly from this shift is grooming. Maintaining coat health, hygiene, and comfort in a hot climate like Dubai’s makes professional grooming a regular requirement rather than an occasional luxury. Research shows that 40.3% of pet owners in the UAE use professional grooming services, making it one of the most widely used paid pet services after veterinary care.
Together, these trends have helped transform pet grooming from a small niche service into a growing segment of the UAE’s pet care economy, with salons, mobile grooming vans, and specialised pet spas becoming increasingly common across Dubai.
9602.96 - Domestic Pets Grooming
Domestic Pets Grooming refers to businesses that provide hygiene, coat care, and appearance-related services for household pets such as dogs and cats.
The activity focuses on routine grooming treatments that help maintain an animal’s cleanliness, comfort, and coat condition. Typical services under this activity include washing and bathing, coat trimming and styling, brushing and detangling, nail clipping, ear cleaning, and similar grooming treatments designed to keep pets healthy and well maintained.
Much like personal grooming services for people, the activity centres on care, hygiene, and cosmetic upkeep rather than medical treatment. Grooming providers may also offer services such as coat conditioning, fur styling, and breed-specific trimming, depending on the needs of the pet.
It is important to note that this business activity applies specifically to service-based grooming for domestic pets. It does not cover the manufacture of pet accessories, grooming tools, or related products such as artificial fur items or wigs.
In practical terms, businesses with a Pet Salon License in Dubai typically run pet grooming studios, or mobile grooming services where trained groomers provide regular maintenance services for household pets.
Third-party Approvals: This business activity does not need any third-party approvals.
Anti- Money Laundering: This business activity is exempt from AML requirements.
