Thousands of pets abandoned in Dubai as owners flee Iran war
Mar 11th 2026
Animal charities say shelters in Dubai are overwhelmed after a spike in pet abandonment linked to evacuations around the Iran war, and organisations are urging owners to plan for their animals.
- Charities report thousands of pets have been abandoned in Dubai as people leave the region amid the Iran war.
- About 45,000 British nationals have left the Middle East since March 1 and the UK ran an emergency evacuation flight last week.
- The RSPCA warns fleeing owners risk leaving pets as hidden victims and urges people to make plans for their animals.
- Local shelters including K9 Friends, Dubai Street Kitties and Six Hounds say they are full, underfunded and receiving daily abandonment cases.
- The UK and UAE have an agreement so pets brought back to Britain do not require quarantine, and Dubai has installed 12 AI-powered feeding stations to help strays.
Articles
- Thousands of pets being abandoned in Dubai as owners flee over Iran war www.theguardian.com