Mansoor Al Hammadi’s love for his dogs is what has led him to his latest venture: a first-of-its-kind dog gym in the UAE.
The Emirati, who has three dogs, is the owner of Posh Pets Boutique & Spa in Al Bahteen Tower on Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. Spread over two floors, the ground floor is a boutique shop selling items such as pet food, clothing, toys and accessories.
However, it’s the top floor that piques the interest of dog owners the most. Walking up a narrow black staircase, there are two small treadmills filling the space on the first floor, in addition to the two rooms used for grooming.
Al Hammadi says it was during his travels he was inspired to look for something to help dog owners in the UAE.
“In other countries, I see most people run with their dogs at any time of the day. If you think about it here, even in the winter, we still have summer and heat,” he tells The National. “We needed something to encourage owners to let their dogs run freely.
"So, the idea of the gym is to bring a healthy environment for all kinds of dogs in the UAE. I started with two treadmills and the others are on the way.”
I don't really look at my dogs as dogs, I look at them as part of my family
Mansoor Al Hammadi,
owner of Posh Pets
The treadmills are specifically designed for dogs, to help with their health and fitness as well as keeping them entertained especially as the rising temperatures in the UAE make it difficult to be outside.
Al Hammadi says canines are never forced to run as the treadmills are mechanical, meaning they go at the speed the dogs go, unlike electric ones which give little control to those on it.
There are also a few safety measures put in place for the safety of the dogs.
At Posh Pets, clients are required to complete a health and fitness registration form before booking a session. The form helps the staff determine factors that may be detrimental to the dog. Breed, age, weight and medical history are also checked before utilising the treadmills.
Canines are only allowed to use the machines for 15 minutes on their first couple of trips before gradually increasing to 30 minutes and so on. This is to ensure a dog’s muscles can properly adjust to using the machine at longer intervals.
Dogs are also required to wear a harness, which is fastened to a spring system, to ensure they stay safely secured. There is also a manual break the staff can use in case it needs to be stopped.
“We have three highly trained professional staff who have undergone extensive training. They deal with all aspects of the treadmill, from the health and safety of the dogs to the maintenance of machines,” he says.
Since opening in September, he says he has had plenty of positive feedback and good reviews from pet owners who have stopped by.
“When I brought the treadmills, I tried it on my own dogs first for almost two months. I didn’t share it with any customers because I wanted to do an examination to see the results first,” he says.
One of his dogs, a 10-year-old Rottweiler named Leila, has experienced health improvement since using the machine. She used to go on daily walks for two hours during the winter but he was worried it was not enough.
“Since she started the treadmill every day, she’s increased from being able to run freely for 15 minutes to one hour. She used to limp before, she used to have a problem standing, she always wanted to sit down because she’s old but now she’s like a puppy,” he says.
But for Al Hammadi, Posh Pets isn’t just a business, it's something he also wanted to do to help the dog community.
"I don't really look at my dogs as dogs, I look at them as part of my family."
More information at www.instagram.com/poshpets12
Scroll the gallery below to see the dogs for adoption at K9 Friends Dubai.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday Sassuolo v Torino (Kick-off 10.45pm UAE)
Saturday Atalanta v Sampdoria (5pm),
Genoa v Inter Milan (8pm),
Lazio v Bologna (10.45pm)
Sunday Cagliari v Crotone (3.30pm)
Benevento v Napoli (6pm)
Parma v Spezia (6pm)
Fiorentina v Udinese (9pm)
Juventus v Hellas Verona (11.45pm)
Monday AC Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Match info:
Burnley 0
Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')
Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)
Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
FIGHT%20CARD
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
More on Quran memorisation:
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Company%C2%A0profile
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Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Stan%20Lee
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Gelb%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs%20
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Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Company%20profile
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KLOPP%20AT%20LIVERPOOL
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EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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MATCH INFO
Northern Warriors 92-1 (10 ovs)
Russell 37 no, Billings 35 no
Team Abu Dhabi 93-4 (8.3 ovs)
Wright 48, Moeen 30, Green 2-22
Team Abu Dhabi win by six wickets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Aayan%E2%80%99s%20records
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