Thankfully for the animals of the UAE there are a few rescue organisations (groups and individuals) who dedicate their life to alleviating the suffering of animals in this country. There are also many things the UAE community can do to help as well.
Unfortunately, fundraising is illegal in the UAE unless you are a registered charitable organisation (which is difficult to achieve). So, not many of the organisations and individuals in the UAE are permitted to raise funds to help the work they are doing.
Shelters accommodate stray and abandoned dogs on their premises where they provide food and water as well as medical care.
Rescue shelters/organisations/individuals generally undertake the following types of activities:
There are many places for you to go and give hands on volunteering, this could be dog walking, assisting at adoption days, giving cuddles and love, cleaning up etc.
This helps to alleviate some of the pressure on the various organisations and you can do this short term or long term. This can sometimes turn into a foster fail (adoption) which is fantastic.
Offering to take a rescue dog from the shelter to the vets, to a new foster home or any other transport is a great help for animal organisations.
Many of the rescue organisations require food donations (wet and dry) to feed the hundreds of dogs either in the shelters or at the feeding stations across the country. You can also donate items for garage sales etc. Contact the rescue organisations directly to find out about other ways you can help.
if you are travelling you can offer to be a flight buddy for a dog who will go to a new home abroad. It's very easy and rewarding!! Mostly flight buddies are needed for Europe & USA! You can advertise your flight details.
Offer your services such as pet grooming, photography, journalism to help promote the adoption days and plight of both the organisations and the animals.
Sharing posts about adoption days, posting dogs in need of foster/adoption.
If you know of any other ways the community can help, or have suggestions or ideas,
please contact us.There are currently five animal shelters across the UAE as well as a number of rescue organisations and individuals and they are all in need of volunteers and support. Please contact them directly for more information on how you can help.
Following are the shelters located across the UAE.
Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter
The Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter is a government supported shelter for stray dogs and cats in the Emirate.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Abu-Dhabi-Animal-Shelter-441038132723174/?fref=ts
Website: http://www.abudhabianimalshelter.com/
Tel: 00971 2 5755155
K9 Friends (Dubai)
K9 Friends is a not for profit shelter which relies solely on donations to operate. K9 Friends rescues and rehomes stray and abandoned dogs. They offer training and socialisation to dogs in need and advice to new pet owners.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/K9-Friends-Dubai/135431973890?fref=ts
Email: info@k9friends.com
Tel: 048878739/0502741949
Ras Al Khaimah Animal Welfare Centre
This Centre runs The Stray Animal Team, which assists with humanely controlling the stray dog and cat population in RAK via their TNR program.
http://www.rakawc.com/index.php/our-programs/tnr.html
FB: https://www.facebook.com/RAKanimalwelfarecentre/
Web: www.rakawc.com
Email: info@rakawc.com
Tel: 056 357 6029
Sharjah Cat and Dog Shelter (SCADS)
The aim of the shelter is to create a welcoming home-away-from-home for homeless cats and dogs within the Sharjah community. The cat shelter is a state-of-the-art, cage-less building comprising of eight suites allowing them to house up to six cats or kittens in each room. They are currently constructing a similar concept for Sharjah’s homeless dogs on the same property.
FB:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharjah-Cat-Dog-Shelter/257901658391?fref=ts
Email: scads.shj@gmail.com
Tel: 0509175481
Stray Dogs Center UAQ
Stray Dogs Center UAQ helps to address the stray animal population in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain. It is a non-profit organisation, completely funded by donations and fundraising which runs a ‘no kill’ private shelter, a street feeding program and regular adoption days.
There are a number of amazing organisations and individuals who support animals without shelter facilities. Many of the following organisations assist both cats and dogs (and some may have a particular focus in one area). Please contact them directly for more information on how you can help.
If you are from an animal welfare organisation and would like your details listed, please contact us. If your organisation is listed below and you would like any information changed or updated, please contact us.
Animal Action UAE
Animal Action UAE is a group of volunteers who volunteer in their spare time to help animals in need. Their focus is to rescue and find homes for animals in need.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalActionUAE?fref=ts
Email: animal.action@hotmail.com
Arabian Saluki Center of Dubai (ASCOD)
ASCOD is a non-profit volunteer group dedicated to helping rescue salukis in the UAE. They send their rescues all over Europe and North America and have a network of volunteers there to support and assist them with their work.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/www.ascod.ae/?fref=ts
Dubai Animal Welfare Society (DAWS)
DAWS do not have a facility, it operates out of foster homes so all of their animals are in the care of families in the community.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/DubaiAnimalWelfareSociety/timeline
Email: info.daws@gmail.com
Emirates Animal Welfare Society (EAWS)
EAWS is the only registered Animal welfare society registered under the Ministry of Social Affairs with the aim to support the UAE government in executing the animal welfare laws.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/pg/eaws.uae/about/?ref=page_internal
Tel: +971564730556
Little Angels Animal Rescue League
Little Angels rescue and rehome stray and abandoned animals from all of the UAE. They also help with the feeding, treating and neutering/spaying.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/UAElittleangels/
Email: littleangelsuae@outlook.com
Middle East Animal Foundation (MEAF)
MEAF was set up to improve public awareness towards the importance of animal welfare and to help prevent animal cruelty and abuse. Their programs include community animal management, adoption and fostering, TNR programs and providing education and awareness in the community. Whilst this organisation supports all animals it has a focus on addressing the stray cat problem.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MiddleEastAnimalFoundation/
Web: http://www.me-af.org/index.html
Email: volunteer@me-af.org
Moon Puppies
Moon Puppies is an animal adoption centre based in JLT.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/moonpuppiespetshop/?fref=ts
Email: moonpuppies.dubai@gmail.com
Tel: +971503756828
PARA UAE – Protection of Animal Rights Association
PARA is a non-profit organisation that aims to rescue and relocate animals and to provide animal welfare education.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/para.ae/?fref=ts
Email: paraofuae@gmail.com
Rescue Animals in Need United Arab Emirates
Rescue Animals in Need is a team of likeminded people helping stray, abandoned and neglected animals in the UAE. They focus on rehoming as many dogs and cats within and outside of the UAE as possible.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/rescueanimalsUAE/
Web: http://voiceforanimals-uae.com/
SNIFF (Strays Needing Interim or Furever Friends)
SNIFF is an animal rescue group which aims to rehome the UAE’s stray and abandoned animals. SNIFF is entirely assisted by the generosity of animal lovers in the UAE and beyond.
FB: http://www.facebook.com/SNIFF.MiddleEast
Email: sniff.ae@gmail.com
38Smiles
38 Smiles is a not for profit organisation which supports the stray animal population of Dubai by rescuing and rehoming stray animals.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/38Smiles/timeline
Web: http://38smiles.com/
Email: info@38smiles.com
Instagram: @38smiles
Amanda’s Animal Rescue UAE
Amanda spends her time rescuing abandoned and stray animals and rehomes them with loving families.
Cats & Dogs of Sharjah
This group was created to help its members find foster or forever homes for the rescued cats and dogs of Sharjah. Strays and rescues from other Emirates can also be posted here.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/277538556063/
Dogs in Dubai (closed group)
This forum was created for anyone currently in Dubai with pet dogs, rescue/shelter organisations, individuals looking to push a relevant cause or those looking to promote dog friendly services.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogsindubai/
Helping Hands for Small Paws (closed group)
Helping Hands for Small Paws of the UAE is not a charity and does not operate as one. They are a Facebook community of animal lovers, sharing their experiences with small animals such as rabbits, rodents, reptiles, birds, fish (not cats and dogs).
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/928979197160937/?fref=ts
The Bin Kitty Collective
The Bin Kitty Collective is a community forum for people who want to help stray or injured cats. The forum helps people to help their community through discussions and action in relation to rescue, NTR programs, fostering and adoption.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/188028987947593/
UAE Pet Lovers
UAE Pet Lovers is devoted to rescuing and rehoming animals within the UAE. Their vision is to work for a world in which all humans respect and live in harmony with all other members of the animal kingdom.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/uaepetsloverss/
Wings and Feathers
Wings and Feathers advocates for and supports the care of birds in Abu Dhabi and the greater UAE. They help rescue birds in danger and give possible care, along with vet intervention, and then rehome them.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wingsAndFeathers/
UAQAC Umm Al Quwain Animal Care
A voluntary organization that feeds, helps and rescues stray and abandoned animals in Umm Al Quwain.
FB:https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Animal-Welfare-Project-UAQ/403544929787083
Email: tawpuaq@gmail.com
AlRahma Animal Welfare Society
AlRahma is a UAE based No-Kill animal welfare/rights group which is involved in education and awareness, programs such as TNR, fostering and adoption.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/126695727405920/
Animal Welfare Al Ain
Animal Welfare Al Ain is a small group of volunteers, dedicated to helping sick, injured and abandoned animals in Al Ain. They do not have a shelter but assist with arranging fostering and adoptions.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/67110730652/
Web: https://www.animalwelfarealain.org/
Email: animalwelfarealain@gmail.com
RAK Feline Rescues
RAK Feline Rescues mission is to rescue abandoned & sick animals, provide temporary shelter & care, find secure & loving homes, provide advice, support & guidance for pet owners & increase the public’s awareness of their responsibility towards animal welfare. They also run an ongoing TNR programme.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/RAKfelinerescues/
Email: fayebelline37@gmail.com
Instagram: rakfelinerescues
The Dubai Municipality has an application called Aleef, which is a platform for current and prospective pet owners to manage the adoption and care of animals in Dubai. Dogs for adoption can be found on this application.
What does Aleef do?