How To Start and Grow a Pet Care Business in Dubai With Meydan Free Zone

Pet care services cover looking after pets when owners need help. This includes boarding, grooming, sitting and training pets. In the UAE, more people own pets than ever. And they spend more on them too.

The market is small but fast-growing. The UAE pet boarding and sitting market was worth about USD 25.5 million in 2024. It is set to pass USD 44 million by 2030. That is close to 15 per cent growth a year, one of the fastest rates in pet care. ¹ The wider UAE pet care market was worth USD 360 to 400 million in 2024. ²

For pet care firms, this means rising demand. A Meydan Free Zone business license lets you run these services. You do not need approval to get the license. But you must register with Dubai Municipality after, as shown below.

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Why Demand Keeps Rising

• More owners: Pet ownership is growing fast in the UAE.
• Pets as family: Owners treat pets as part of the family.
• Busy lives: Owners travel and work long hours, so pets need care.
• Higher spending: Rising incomes mean more spent on pet services.
• Hot climate: The heat makes grooming and safe boarding matter.

The UAE's Growing Pet Care Market

Pet ownership in the UAE keeps rising, and so does spending on pets. Here are the key numbers.

Sources: Pets in the City; Sapience

Who Is This Activity For?

9609.02 – Pet Care Services

This activity sits within the broader Other Personal Service Activities class. That class covers a mix of personal services. Pet care is one of them. It means caring for pets through boarding, grooming, sitting and training.

The license covers pet care and handling. It does not cover treating sick animals. That is veterinary work, a separate activity. Those limits are shown in the exclusions below.

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It helps to be clear on what this license does not cover. It does not let you treat sick or hurt animals. That is veterinary care, a separate activity with its own approval. It also does not cover selling pets, or selling pet food and products. Those are separate trading activities. Each has its own rules.

In short: if you are boarding, grooming, sitting or training pets, you are in. If you are treating sick animals, or selling pets or pet products, those are separate activities.

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Compliance

THIRD-PARTY APPROVAL

This activity does not require third-party approval before a business license can be issued by Meydan Free Zone. However, this activity requires post-license registration with Dubai Municipality (DM). DM registration must be completed after the business license is issued and maintained for the duration of operating activity.

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE

This business activity is not subject to AML compliance requirements.

References

1  Pets in the City. Dubai Pet Ownership Report 2026: UAE pet boarding and sitting market at about USD 25.5 million in 2024, projected to exceed USD 44 million by 2030, roughly 14.7 per cent CAGR.

2  Sapience. UAE pet care market valued at USD 360 to 400 million in 2024