Business and pet owners have called for tighter regulations governing online sales of animals after scam posts advertising pedigree dogs on Dubizzle were reported.
The online marketplace has been highlighted as a hotbed for users posting adverts that offer in-demand dog breeds for adoption.
While it is illegal to sell dogs on the site, adoption is allowed. Rogue sellers are utilising the loophole to make contact with potential buyers before demanding purchase fees.
Different people were trying to buy the same dog which probably doesn't even exist
The owner of Ras Al Khaimah boarding and training centre Homely Petz said his business name had been hijacked by scammers trying create a veil of authenticity when attracting buyers.
“I have been contacted by people who have seen adverts using my company name but a different phone number advertising dogs on Dubizzle,” said Neil Anderson, who runs the kennels in Al Duhaisah.
“The site does not allow the sale of these dogs, so sellers hide behind an adoption process to advertise pets legally.”
Dubizzle has a clear policy about its in-house regulation of animal adverts.
“Selling animals without a licence in the UAE is a criminal offence,” it said online.
On Wednesday, there were 108 dogs advertised for adoption on the site in Dubai.
“This man wanted a Pomeranian. The seller told him it was illegal to advertise online so had to go via an agency using the same name as my business, Homely Petz,” Mr Anderson said.
“It was all done via WhatsApp and the customer was sent several photos of the dog. He was told to pay money upfront to him, but collect the dog from us.
"I told him we didn’t sell animals as we were a boarding and training facility.
“This happened on three separate occasions, with different people trying to buy the same dog, which probably doesn’t even exist.”
One buyer who contacted Homely Petz said she was asked to pay a Dh1,800 ownership transfer fee and shipping costs upfront.
Moroccon Hajar Elyaakoube, who lives on Reem Island, paid Dh4,371 to have an Australian shepherd dog shipped by a pet agency that turned out to be fake.
“I was looking for a specific breed and saw an ad online,” she said.
“I contacted the seller and it felt normal as I was given a tracking number and transferred the money to a UAE account.
“I received a call saying my dog was at the port, but I needed to pay insurance and shipping costs before they could deliver.
“They said I would be refunded 90 per cent of the costs, and I did not want the dog spending time in a crate at the port so paid the fees.”
Ms Elyaakoube felt suspicious when the company asked for another Dh5,000 in fees, so she called her bank, cancelled the transaction and got a refund.
Anyone found selling pets online without a government licence can be fined Dh20,000 per animal.
A Dubizzle spokesman encouraged shoppers to report suspicious adverts.
“We’re very proud of the fact that we are able to provide a platform where existing pet owners and aspiring pet owners can adopt and rehome their beloved pets,” he said.
“We’re very aware of the trauma that stray or abandoned dogs and cats go through and are happy to be able to contribute in helping these animals find a new home and family through our website.
“We have very strict policies in place when it comes to buying and selling of these animals and have prominently specified on our website that we do not allow any kind of monetary exchange for this activity.
“We also request our users notify us of suspicious accounts using our platform for illegal practices and make sure appropriate action is taken.
“Unfortunately, what happens once the adopter contacts the advertiser is beyond our control, and we can only rely on people reporting this unethical behaviour.”
Online sales banned
Buying or selling animals is also prohibited on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, yet the sites and other online marketplaces are awash with pets for sale.
Reported listings can be removed, with accounts suspended or terminated at the discretion of the social media provider.
Pomeranian puppies are advertised for sale online in the UAE for Dh9,800 while golden retrievers, malamutes and Labradors are also offered for between Dh4,000 and Dh7,000.
One site has more than 1,500 dogs advertised for sale in the UAE.
It is the latest example of a thriving black market for pets.
Booming online trade
The Stray Dogs Centre in Abu Dhabi recently reported the case of a puppy brought in to be re-homed after it had been sold by a backyard breeder.
The young dog was a stray with fur dyed to make it look like a golden retriever, a more popular breed.
The young dog’s skin was badly burnt by the bleach and required medical care before it could be offered for adoption and given a new home.
Susan Aylott, a vet and partner in Animalia veterinary clinic in Al Bateen, said online pet sales were becoming a real problem.
“It’s not just Dubizzle - we see many fake scams on Facebook too,” she said.
“Some pet markets and breeders are misleading people as we have seen fake passports for sick animals being sold who are far too young. Many do not survive.
“We need to be completely transparent when dealing with animals and build awareness of the law and what individuals can do to report such issues.”
Sniffer dogs detect Covid with 91 per cent accuracy
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Tuesday results:
- Singapore bt Malaysia by 29 runs
- UAE bt Oman by 13 runs
- Hong Kong bt Nepal by 3 wickets
Final:
Thursday, UAE v Hong Kong
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Sassuolo v Bologna (11.45pm)
Saturday
Brescia v Torino (6pm)
Inter Milan v Verona (9pm)
Napoli v Genoa (11.45pm)
Sunday
Cagliari v Verona (3.30pm)
Udinese v SPAL (6pm)
Sampdoria v Atalanta (6pm)
Lazio v Lecce (6pm)
Parma v Roma (9pm)
Juventus v Milan (11.45pm)
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Bawaal%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nitesh%20Tiwari%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Varun%20Dhawan%2C%20Janhvi%20Kapoor%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
How Apple's credit card works
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
List of officials:
Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
The%20new%20Turing%20Test
%3Cp%3EThe%20Coffee%20Test%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EA%20machine%20is%20required%20to%20enter%20an%20average%20American%20home%20and%20figure%20out%20how%20to%20make%20coffee%3A%20find%20the%20coffee%20machine%2C%20find%20the%20coffee%2C%20add%20water%2C%20find%20a%20mug%20and%20brew%20the%20coffee%20by%20pushing%20the%20proper%20buttons.%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EProposed%20by%20Steve%20Wozniak%2C%20Apple%20co-founder%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
