Transforming pet care: UAE startups push innovation

According to figures by Pet World Arabia, the pet care industry in the United Arab Emirates is projected to surge from $300 million (€285.9M) in 2023 to over $2 billion (€1.9B) this year.

The UAE has become a hub for pet care innovation and cultural exchange in the Middle East. Market research data by TGM shows that 52% of Emiratis surveyed in 2023 owned pets. 33% had a dog as their pet. That’s much higher than in neighboring Saudi Arabia, where just 9% of those surveyed owned a dog.

GlobalPETS takes a closer look at the latest companies that are stirring up pet care in the country.

PetRepublic

Dubai-based PetRepublic has introduced an innovative e-passport service to streamline record-keeping for owners. Its app launched in February 2024.

It simplifies managing travel bookings, tickets and medical records, including vaccination history and health preferences. The platform also allows the booking of veterinary appointments and linking all data to pets’ microchips, enabling pet parents to use these features to issue missing pet reports, for example.

Founder Mohamed Alzaabi says he hopes the solution will replace additional pet passports and vaccination books by providing a centralized database.

The company tells GlobalPETS of its plans to expand its service to Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates, focusing on pet hubs such as Dubai and Sharjah.

Pet Watch

Pet Watch, another UAE-based platform, was launched in late 2024 to address the growing need for reliable pet care services amidst a 25% rise in pet ownership over the past 5 years.

The online platform connects pet parents with reliable, thoroughly vetted, trained, certified pet sitters. It also includes features like vaccination record maintenance, appointment reminders and GPS tracking for real-time pet location monitoring during care.

“Pet Watch was created out of a genuine need among pet parents. We understand the worries that arise when leaving a beloved pet behind,” comments Founder Monja Madan.

Madan further shares with GlobalPETS that grooming services are growing annually at 15%. This aligns with the increased demand for premium pet spa treatments and mobile veterinary clinics.

In 2025, the platform plans to roll out new features and services, update existing offerings and partner with like-minded industry professionals to expand its reach. Pet Watch also aims to boost its education efforts to simplify pet care for owners.

Flooff

Another recent regional launch includes the pet care and pet business management app Flooff, launched in May 2023. Billed as an “everything pets app,” the platform simplifies booking veterinary, grooming and pet boarding appointments.

It also provides a digital pet profile to maintain all pet-related information and grants simplified access to exploring unique and local pet products.

In addition to its consumer-focused features, Flooff provides a business marketplace for pet companies to manage real-time bookings while offering instant marketing and payment tracking support.