The story of Abu Dhabi's longest-running vet clinic

Four decades of treating UAE pets — from family cats and dogs to leopards, pythons, and parrots. This is the story of Dr. Faisal Shaheen and the New Veterinary Clinic.

Dr. Faisal Shaheen examining a cat with stethoscope at New Veterinary Clinic Abu Dhabi

circa 1980s Dr. Faisal with a colleague treating a cat in the early years of the clinic

Meet Dr. Faisal

A lifetime devoted to animals

Dr. Faisal Shaheen opened the New Veterinary Clinic in Abu Dhabi in 1981, when the UAE was a very different place. The expat community was small, regulations around pet ownership were just being formed, and there were almost no specialist veterinary services in the capital.

What started as a single vet clinic has, over forty-four years, become an institution. Generations of Abu Dhabi families — Emirati, expat, and everyone in between — have brought their pets here. Many clients have known Dr. Faisal for thirty years or more.

His reputation rests on three things: genuine care for every animal, the willingness to answer emergency calls personally day or night, and the rare specialist experience with exotic species that most vets in the region simply don't have.

Veterinary Medicine Degree UAE Licensed Practitioner Exotic Animal Specialist 44+ Years Experience International Travel Expert

Our History

Forty-four years of trusted care

1981

New Veterinary Clinic opens in Abu Dhabi. Dr. Faisal begins what will become the UAE's most enduring private vet practice.

1990s

Featured in Gulf News for the clinic's role in helping expats navigate pet ownership and the growing demands of international relocation.

2000s

International pet travel services formalised. The clinic becomes recognised in Abu Dhabi for handling complex export health certificates.

Today

Still led by Dr. Faisal, still answering emergency calls personally. Modern premises, same founding values: every animal matters.

What makes us different

Abu Dhabi has plenty of vets. We're often asked why people travel across the city — or the country — to come here. Our regulars give the same reasons:

1. Continuity of care

Dr. Faisal has treated some pets from kitten to old age. That continuity matters: he knows the family, the previous illnesses, the behaviours that are normal for that specific animal. New vets see a snapshot. We see the whole story.

2. Genuine 24/7 emergency access

Pet emergencies don't keep office hours. Dr. Faisal's mobile is on — every day, every night. When you call the emergency line, you speak directly to him, not an answering service.

3. Exotic animal experience

Most clinics in the UAE simply won't treat exotic pets. We've been doing it since 1981 — including memorable cases involving leopards, pythons, falcons, and primates. If your animal is unusual, we've probably seen something like it.

4. Honest advice

We won't recommend a treatment that isn't necessary. We'll tell you when a procedure can wait, when a referral makes sense, and when you should bring your pet in immediately. Forty-four years of trust depend on that honesty.

Want to meet Dr. Faisal? Book a wellness exam for your pet — it's the easiest way to get to know us, and a yearly check is the single best thing you can do for your pet's long-term health.

Book with Dr. Faisal

Call us or send a message — we'll get back to you the same day.

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