New Dubai shelter offers rescued cats full care before finding forever homesLast updated: July 29, 2026 | 14:234 MIN READCats inside Dubai Municipality Animal Welfare Shelter in Al Warsan. Virendra Saklani/Gulf NewsDubai: Rows of curious cats peer through their enclosures, some playful, others cautious, each waiting for a new home. At Dubai Municipality’s recently opened animal shelter in Warsan, nearly 100 cats are currently being cared for, rehabilitated and prepared for adoption as authorities step up efforts to tackle one of the emirate’s growing animal welfare challenges - pet abandonment.According to Dr Aysha Bin Ghelaita, Senior Veterinary Doctor at Dubai Municipality, the facility was established not only as a place for adoptions but also as a centre for education and community-based animal welfare initiatives.“One of the main issues we are trying to address is animal abandonment,” Dr Bin Ghelaita told Gulf News during a tour of the facility. “Unfortunately, there are cases where people dump their pets instead of finding them a new home. We want this shelter to be a place where animals can be given a second chance through adoption.”Located within the Birds and Pets Market in Warsan, the shelter is Dubai Municipality’s second dedicated adoption facility and forms part of a wider strategy to promote responsible pet ownership, reduce stray animal populations and provide a safety net for abandoned and lost animals.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.