Modern Vet: How A 24/7 Gamble Built The Foundation For Veterinary Consolidation In MENA

When Mansoor Alshiha decided to launch Dubai鈥檚 first true 24/7 veterinary hospital, advisors told him this decision wouldn鈥檛 directly generate profit. They were right. The overnight service, staffed with emergency and critical care (ECC) veterinarians on-site around the clock, still barely breaks even.

But Alshiha, now CEO of Vet Alliance Holding, says the gamble was never about profit.

鈥淧ets don鈥檛 have two hours in an emergency,鈥 he recalls. 鈥淭hey barely have two minutes. We built the 24/7 hospital because it was needed, not because it was profitable.鈥

 

The Problem With 鈥24/7鈥

 

Before Modern Vet, most 鈥24/7鈥 clinics in Dubai operated on-call, with no veterinarians physically present overnight. Emergencies often meant long delays, sometimes with tragic outcomes. Alshiha鈥檚 decision to staff his hospital continuously was both a financial risk and a cultural shift.

鈥淭he economics were punishing,鈥 he admits. 鈥淥vernight salaries, idle equipment, low patient flow. But credibility came first. And in medicine, trust is the most valuable currency.鈥

From Emergency To Multi-Specialty

 

That credibility became the foundation for transformation into Dubai鈥檚 first multi-specialty veterinary hospital, introducing oncology, cardiology, orthopaedics, dentistry, dermatology, and advanced imaging. Conditions that once required referrals abroad could now be treated locally.

鈥淓mergency built credibility. Credibility built scale,鈥 says Alshiha. 鈥淭ogether, they built the brand.鈥

 

A Different Growth Model

 

Ironically, while the 24/7 service struggled to break even, the rest of the business flourished. Modern Vet鈥檚 reputation spread through referrals and word of mouth, fueling growth without aggressive marketing.

鈥淲e succeeded by focusing on patients, not margins,鈥 Alshiha explains. 鈥淲ord of mouth did the rest.鈥

 

Building Vet Alliance

 

The success of Modern Vet laid the groundwork for , now the largest veterinary group in the MENA region. Its portfolio includes:

  • Modern Vet multi-specialty hospitals and clinics
  • Blue Oasis Vet 鈥 advanced imaging
  • accessible, community care
  • The Veterinary Referral Centre (TVRC) 鈥 the UAE鈥檚 first referral-only facility
  • Floof 鈥 a digital pet-care super-app
  • Blue Sky Pet Relocation global relo褨cation services
  • Dubai鈥檚 first licensed pet cremation service (launching 2026)
  • Modern Vet Mobile vet 鈥 The first fully equipped mobile vet service provider in the UAE

With more than 10 clinics and hospitals and over 300 employees, Vet Alliance has become a case study in how credibility-driven growth can reshape an industry.

 

Looking Ahead

 

Alshiha鈥檚 vision for Vet Alliance goes beyond scale. The group plans to reach 30+ clinics across MENA, introduce residency programs to train the UAE鈥檚 first veterinary diplomates, and expand Floof into the region鈥檚 leading digital ecosystem for pet care.

For Alshiha, it all started with a midnight emergency and a difficult decision to prioritise trust over profit.

鈥淭he 24/7 hospital was never about margins,鈥 he reflects. 鈥淚t was about setting a standard.鈥