Exotic Pets

Owning an exotic pet in Dubai has long been a status symbol for wealth in the Middle East. This dates back to when Egyptian and Persian royalties owned big cats as a sign of power. Many well-off folks flaunted possessing a baby leopard or a cheetah in their car or boat, even letting them run free on the beach.

In 2017 the United Arab Emirates put up a law banning people from owning these wild animals. Officials were concerned about the dangers of these animals running wild. Anyone involved with the ownership and sale of these exotic animals could face jail time or a $136k fine.