One of the issues I find in my neighborhood is abandoned cats. I find this a harmful practice and UAE has addressed this issue with appropriate laws. Residents who abandon their pets may now suffer legal consequences under new regulations announced by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. An executive regulations comprising of nine articles outlining the responsibilities of animal owners and the health and technical standards of animal facilities has been released, with failure to follow the regulations punishable by law.

The legal amendments detail pet ownership obligations, stating animals should not be abandoned under any circumstances, and says that any act considered as animal cruelty could carry a fine or jail sentence. The UAE is strongly committed to animal welfare.

A ministry circular also offers new regulatory standards on animal nutrition and guidelines for loading, transporting, and unloading animals.

Amendments on animal welfare will also allow prosecution of the overwork of animals used on farms and in industry. Animal owners are considered in violation of the law if f they use animals in a way that goes against their nature in art and entertainment performances, in pranks or in staged animal fights. The law has banned administering animals with growth hormones, steroids or other illegal additives.

Electroshock devices such as cattle prods have also now been banned, as well as the use of sharp tools to handle animals. Animal rights campaigners have called for a crackdown on illegally selling animals on social media.