Up to 3 years jail, QR100,000 fine for failing to register dangerous animals

Published: 17 April 2025

Deadline for registration expires on April 22; list includes 48 species,
such as tigers, lions, and certain dog breeds

NT Bureau
Doha

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, Yesterday called on all individuals possessing animals and species classified as dangerous to promptly register them through its website or via the designated email before the deadline on Apr. 22.

This measure aims to ensure public safety and uphold the applicable laws.

In a statement, the ministry confirmed that the possession of such animals or species without a license constitutes a clear violation of Law No. (10) of 2019 and is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years, a fine not exceeding QR 100,000, or both.

The law also stipulates a harsher penalty imprisonment of up to 25 years if the violation results in a person’s death or permanent disability.

In this context, Head of the Wildlife Department at the ministry Dr. Dhafi Nasser Haidan said that the comprehensive survey to catalogue dangerous animals and species is part of implementing national legislation and Qatar’s obligations under international agreements.

The list includes 48 species, such as tigers, lions, certain dog breeds like Rottweilers and Dobermans, and primates like baboons and green monkeys.

Dr. Haidan noted that the ministry’s objective through this survey is to create an integrated database covering the types of these animals, their locations, and the surrounding environmental conditions.
This would help ensure compliance with the regulatory standards for their care and upbringing, safe-guard the well-being of the owners and the animals, and strengthen environmental security in the country.

He added that after the registration deadline, the ministry will begin conducting field visits to verify the conditions in which these animals are kept by registered owners.

Additional visits will be carried out to detect violations and enforce legal action against non-compliant individuals.

Furthermore, the ministry plans to launch specialized training programs for those responsible for caring for such animals, to equip them with the skills to handle them according to approved standards.
The Head of the Wildlife Section urged all owners to complete the registration procedures before the deadline and warned of the legal consequences of non-compliance.