Leaving a pet in Dubai while you travel takes a little more planning than handing over a lead and a bag of food. The heat, the choice between boarding and a sitter at home, and the paperwork your vet or boarding facility will ask for all matter. With a calm trial run and clear written instructions, most cats and dogs settle well, and you can travel without spending the whole trip worrying. Start early, especially for school holidays and summer, when good places book up quickly.
Boarding kennels, catteries or a sitter at home
Boarding suits pets that are sociable, used to other animals, and comfortable with a new routine. A sitter who visits or stays in your home can suit nervous pets, older animals, and cats that prefer their own territory. Neither option is automatically better. Ask about supervision, sleeping arrangements, exercise in hot weather, how emergencies are handled, and who will actually be looking after your pet each day. If a business looks after animals for payment, check that it is properly licensed, and confirm current requirements with Dubai Municipality sources or your vet if you are unsure.
Health checks and paperwork to prepare
- Make sure vaccinations are up to date and keep the record book or digital copy ready to share. Boarding facilities will usually ask to see it before confirming.
- Check flea, tick and worm treatment dates and tell the carer when the next dose is due.
- Visit your vet if your pet has a new health issue, is on medication, or has not had a check-up for a long time.
- Confirm your pet’s microchip details and your contact information are current, and add a second emergency contact who is staying in Dubai.
- Write down any allergies, old injuries, fears, and behaviours the carer should know about.
Rules about vaccination and animal care can be updated, so treat any list from a facility as its own house rules as well as official guidance, and check Dubai Municipality information if anything seems unclear.
Do a short trial first
If possible, book a trial day or a single night before a long trip. This shows you how your pet eats, sleeps and behaves after you leave, and it shows the carer whether your instructions work in real life. A trial also helps your pet recognise the place, the people and the smells, so the real stay feels less strange. For a home sitter, do a proper handover visit: show them feeding, litter or walks, doors and gates, air conditioning controls, and where cleaning supplies and the carrier are kept.
What to pack and write down
- Enough of your pet’s usual food for the whole stay, plus a little extra in case your return is delayed. Sudden food changes can upset stomachs.
- Measured portions or a clear feeding guide, including treats and foods that are not allowed.
- Medication in its original packaging, with dose, time and instructions written plainly.
- A familiar blanket or item that smells of home, plus a favourite toy if the facility allows it.
- Lead, collar with ID, harness, litter supplies for home care, and waste bags where relevant.
- Your vet’s name and location, your emergency contact, and instructions about how much the carer may authorise in an emergency.
Planning around Dubai heat
Heat changes the routine. Walks should be early in the morning or later in the evening, kept short on very hot days, and never in a parked car, even briefly. Ask boarders how they exercise dogs in summer, whether play areas are shaded or indoors, and whether fresh water is always available. For home sitters, leave clear guidance about air conditioning: pets should not be left in a home where cooling has failed on a hot day, so agree what to do and who to call if that happens.
While you are away and when you return
Agree how often you want updates and by what method, then let the carer get on with the job. One photo update a day is reasonable for many owners; constant messaging helps neither side. When you return, expect your pet to be tired, clingy, hungry or a little out of routine for a day or two. Restore normal feeding and walks gently, check for lumps, bites or stomach problems, and tell the carer how the stay went so the next booking is even easier.