The answer for owners
- Abu Dhabi City Municipality's 4 September 2026 notice asks cat and dog owners to register their pets and keep ownership details current in TAMM's Animal Ownership service.
- Registration is completed with an approved Abu Dhabi veterinary clinic or establishment, which enters the pet and owner details in the system; the pet must have a microchip.
- Prepare accurate contact details and clear recent pet photographs. A tenancy contract may be requested to check your residential details.
- The notice also points to a separate TAMM service for reporting lost and found animals.
If you are asking how to register a cat or dog in Abu Dhabi, start with an approved veterinary establishment, not just a search for a form in TAMM. In its 4 September 2026 notice, Abu Dhabi City Municipality says the animal must be microchipped and the establishment completes the process by entering the animal's and owner's details into the Animal Ownership system. Call the establishment first to confirm it handles this service and what it needs from you.
What is the September update?
This is a renewed municipal call to register and update details, not the launch of a new service. The Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport announced the Animal Ownership service in January 2025. The newer notice makes the current owner task clear: check that a cat or dog's record exists and that the linked details remain accurate, particularly after a change of owner or contact details.
What should you prepare for the clinic?
- Your pet's microchip details. If you are unsure whether the chip is present or readable, ask the veterinary establishment to check.
- Accurate, current owner and pet information, including a contact number that will still work if the animal is found.
- Recent, clear photographs of the animal.
- A tenancy contract if the establishment requests it to verify your residence details.
- Your existing vaccination records so the establishment can check what applies to your pet. Discuss any care questions with its veterinarian.
The Municipality says owners should keep vaccinations, veterinary care and periodic checks current. It also asks for registered details to be updated when ownership transfers or the owner's information changes. If you have recently moved within the UAE, check each official and veterinary record separately; editing a personal pet profile is not the same as changing the Animal Ownership record.
Why does the record matter?
The municipality says the central record links an animal to an owner, supports checking microchip and vaccination information, helps with ownership transfers and can make reunification easier when a pet is lost. It also says TAMM has a lost-and-found animal reporting service. Registration and a missing-pet report serve different purposes; if an animal disappears, use the current reporting route as well as your local search plan.
If you plan to visit a participating hotel or tourism restaurant in Abu Dhabi, our pet-friendly venue guide explains the separate venue requirements. A TAMM record does not by itself guarantee entry to any venue.
What should you check before you go?
For a straightforward next step, ask your Abu Dhabi veterinary clinic whether it can register or update your pet in TAMM's Animal Ownership service, then take the documents it confirms you need. Keep the full microchip number and proof of ownership private rather than placing them in a public lost-pet post.
