Winter in the UAE is the ideal time to get outdoors and enjoy some time with pets. The cooler weather is a welcome relief, especially for pet owners, who can explore more of Dubai and Abu Dhabi without the concern of summer heat.
No matter the emirate, these pet-friendly cafes and restaurants offer warm hospitality, delicious food and, perhaps most importantly, spaces where pets are as welcome as their human companions.
Dubai
Arrows & Sparrows

A popular spot in The Greens, this cafe features a cosy outdoor terrace that welcomes pets. It offers a variety of health-conscious meals, including vegan and gluten-free options, as well ass some signature coffee blends.
Daily, 7am-10pm; Emaar Business Park; 04 558 8141
1762 Stripped
The cafe in Jumeirah Lakes Towers has a large, pet-friendly outdoor terrace, where dogs can stretch out comfortably while owners enjoy their meal. Staff are attentive to furry guests, offering water bowls and sometimes bringing treats to keep them entertained.
Daily, 7am-9pm; One JLT; 04 448 6604
Counter Culture Cafe

Located at the Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites, Counter Culture Cafe offers a laid-back, pet-friendly outdoor seating area for enjoying breakfast or lunch with your pet, who can keep cool at the designated drinking stations. On offer is an array of freshly baked goods, smoothies and brunch classics.
Daily, 7am-10pm; Dubai Marina; 04 319 4000
Cafe Artois
Located at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, Cafe Artois combines a waterfront setting with a pet-friendly vibe. The spacious terrace offers beautiful views of Dubai Canal, as well as an extensive food and drink menu. Pets are welcome to sit outdoors and provided water bowls.
Monday to Thursday, 4pm-1am; Friday, 4pm-2am; Saturday, noon-2am; Sunday, noon-1am; Business Bay; 04 414 3000
Tail Cafe

This Dubai Investment Park spot offers a dedicated pet-friendly experience, complete with spacious outdoor seating, water bowls, leash hooks and shaded areas. The cafe also often holds adoption days.
Daily, 7am-9pm; Green Community Village; 04 835 7281
Abu Dhabi
Coffee Architecture
This venue at Mamsha Al Sadiyaat is known for its passion for specialty coffee, as well as its warm and pet-friendly atmosphere. Canines can join their human companions at the outside tables. Emirati founder Nooran Albannay's love for coffee is evident, with a variety of specialities on the menu.
Sunday to Thursday, 9am-10pm; Friday and Saturday, 9am-midnight; Mamsha Al Sadiyaat; 055 446 3433
Drop
The Yas Bay spot has made its mark with minimalist interiors and excellent coffee. The outdoor seating area is pet-friendly, and water bowls are available upon request. A variety of coffee blends and pastries are on the menu here.
Sunday to Thursday, 8am-11pm, Friday to Saturday, 8am-midnight; Yas Bay Waterfront; 02 550 4683
Crunch & Munch Cafe

The boutique cafe at Sheikha Fatima Park has an outdoor seating area where pets are allowed, and they can also accommodate special requests from pet owners. The menu here offers a variety of items, including breakfast platters and smoothies.
Daily, 8am-11pm; Sheikha Fatima Park; 02 633 3433
The Lighthouse
With stunning views over the waterfront, the Yas Bay restaurant offers a chic yet pet-friendly setting where furry friends can accomany their owners on the terrace. The cafe is known for its Mediterranean-inspired menu, and staff welcome pets, often providing water bowls to keep them comfortable while you dine.
Monday to Thursday, 8am-midnight; Friday to Sunday, 8am-1am; Yas Bay Waterfront; 02 236 7831
Circle Cafe
Its outpost on Saadiyat Island welcomes pets to the outdoor area. The menu here is diverse, and includes fresh bagels and hearty pasta dishes. It also offers a relaxed and scenic setting.
Daily, 8am-10pm; Saadiyat Island; 02 448 4255
Some tips for visiting pet-friendly cafes in the UAE
Bringing your pet to a cafe is a great way to bond and socialise, but it’s essential to ensure your pet’s comfort and safety. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Always check before visiting. While these cafes are pet-friendly, policies can change, and it’s always a good idea to call ahead and confirm.
- Always pack essentials. Bring a portable water bowl and leash, as most venues will require pets to stay leashed. Having a few of your pet’s favourite treats or toys can also help keep them calm.
- Always respect others. Other guests might not be comfortable with pets around, so keep yours close to your seating area and always be mindful of their behaviour around other people and pets.
- Always clean up after your pet. Carry waste bags with you and dispose of them properly.
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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if you go
The flights
Fly direct to Kutaisi with Flydubai from Dh925 return, including taxes. The flight takes 3.5 hours. From there, Svaneti is a four-hour drive. The driving time from Tbilisi is eight hours.
The trip
The cost of the Svaneti trip is US$2,000 (Dh7,345) for 10 days, including food, guiding, accommodation and transfers from and to Tbilisi or Kutaisi. This summer the TCT is also offering a 5-day hike in Armenia for $1,200 (Dh4,407) per person. For further information, visit www.transcaucasiantrail.org/en/hike/
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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Abu Dhabi card
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
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5pm: Valcartier
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6pm: Dhafra
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
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Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
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The biog
Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito
Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa
Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".
Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically Return to me. "I cry every time".
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Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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Rating: 4/5
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The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now