Research

Community cats are increasingly visible in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) and the wider United Arab Emirates (UAE), highlighting animal welfare, public health, and community well-being challenges. This policy brief draws from ethnographic research conducted with local rescuers and feeders since October 2024, which reveals widespread burnout due to overwhelming suffering, insufficient resources, high levels of pet abandonment, lack of education about best practices around managed cat colonies, and gaps in current animal welfare policies. While Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Microchip-Return (TNVMR) programs show promise as humane and effective solutions, their expansion is hampered by cultural misunderstandings, structural barriers, and lack of education. This policy brief advocates for a community-centered approach, combining expanded TNVMR programs, targeted education campaigns, clearer legal frameworks, low-cost veterinary care, and stronger enforcement of cruelty laws. Practical recommendations include creating a network of rescuers as active stakeholders, enhancing oversight of pest control practices, “adopt-don’t-shop” initiatives, increasing the capacity and influence of the Ras Al Khaimah Animal Welfare Centre (RAKAWC), and mobile veterinary units. These steps aim to reduce suffering, improve public health, and foster a compassionate, sustainable coexistence between communities and street animals, positioning Ras Al Khaimah as a model for animal welfare in the UAE.

Recommended citation: Vora, N. (2025). Addressing Community Cat Care and Animal Welfare in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (Policy Paper No. 87). Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research.