Snakes and Scorpions Around Your Villa in Al Ain: What to Do
If you find a snake or a scorpion at your villa, step back, keep children and pets away and don't try to catch or kill it. Some snakes and scorpions in the UAE are venomous and you can't safely tell which by looking. For a snake inside the house or one that won't leave, call the municipality or police for help; for any sting or bite, call 998 for an ambulance. Then look at why it came: in Al Ain, snakes follow rodents and scorpions follow insects.
What should I do if I find a snake or scorpion?
• Move everyone, including pets, away and keep watching from a safe distance so you know where it goes. • If it's indoors, close the door to that room and put a towel along the gap underneath. • Don't try to pick it up, trap it, hit it or spray it. • Call the municipality or police for help with a snake that's inside or won't move on. • For a sting or bite, call 998, keep the person still and calm, remove rings and watches near the bite, and don't cut, suck or put ice on it.
Why do snakes and scorpions come near villas in Al Ain?
Al Ain's villas often back onto open desert, farms or date plantations, and the gardens give wildlife shade, water and food. Snakes hunt rats and mice, so a villa with rodents in the garden, store room or majlis is a natural target. Scorpions eat insects such as crickets and cockroaches, and they shelter under stones, rubble, wood piles and stored items.
Outlying areas of Abu Dhabi near open land, such as some villa communities on the mainland, see the same pattern. Irrigation, overgrown plants and gaps under doors make it easier for them to reach the house.
How do I make my villa less inviting?
• Clear rubble, stones, wood piles, old furniture and building materials from the garden and against the walls. • Keep grass short and cut back plants that touch the house. • Fit door sweeps and seal gaps in walls, around pipes and under gates. • Store bird and animal feed in closed bins, and don't leave pet food outside. • Shake out shoes, gloves and towels left outside before using them, and use a torch in the garden at night. • Deal with any rat, mouse or insect problem, because that is what brings them.
When should you call a professional?
• You've seen a snake near the villa more than once. • You find rat droppings, gnaw marks or burrows in the garden or store room. • You see scorpions or lots of crickets and cockroaches around the house. • Your villa backs onto open land or a farm and you want to reduce the risk.
Friends doesn't list snake or scorpion removal as a service; for an animal on site, call the authorities. What we do is deal with what attracts them: rodent control with bait stations and proofing of entry gaps, and insect treatment around the villa. Our Al Muwaiji branch covers Al Ain. Call 050 112 7654 to book a free inspection.
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Call 050 112 7654 or request a quote. Serving Abu Dhabi and Al Ain since 2003.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all snakes in the UAE dangerous?
No, but some are venomous, and they're hard to tell apart. Treat every snake as dangerous and keep your distance.
Can pest control spray keep snakes away?
No spray reliably repels snakes. Removing the rodents they hunt and the places they shelter is what makes a difference.
When are scorpions most active?
Mostly at night and in the warmer months. Use a torch outside after dark and check shoes and bedding in outbuildings.