Keeping dogs cool in the UAE summer - in pictures


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Having spent a few summers in the UAE, we’ve developed a repertoire of tips and tricks on how to stay cool, such as frequenting air-conditioned cinemas and malls or an evening swim in the community pool. But when your family includes a dog, it is essential to know how to keep them safe in the heat and offer summertime treats.

The National photographer Chris Whiteoak visited several dogs and their owners to find out how they keep their four-legged friends comfortable. Agent, a dachshund, wore a canine life vest as he took a swim in the sea at a beach in Umm Al Quwain.

At Business Bay, Hamad Mughawer treated his dogs Emi, a Havanese, and Oscar, an English cocker spaniel, to some special doggy ice cream by Swedish brand Hugo and Celine. My Second Home pet resort, in Dubai Investments Park, is full of pups enjoying recreational options, such as swimming in the pool and playing in the world's largest indoor dog park. Find out more at mysecondhomedubai.com.

Tips for your canine friend

Natalie Stones of Animal Action UAE recommends ways to keep your canine cool this summer:

Natalie Stones, co-founder of Animal Action UAE with her dog Penny, a terrier-Chihuahua mix. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Natalie Stones, co-founder of Animal Action UAE with her dog Penny, a terrier-Chihuahua mix. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Use cooling pads or freeze rolled wet towels that can be laid out on the grass or ground during your dog's outdoor play time.
  • Fill a small kiddie pool with water - preferably the night before so the water is cool in the morning and stays cooler longer, or add bags of ice cubes - and have your dog fetch balls you throw into it.
  • When you water your grass or plants, let your dog enjoy a spray from the hose, specifically on the belly, chest and head.
  • Never walks dogs when it is too hot. Touch the back of your hand to the ground and if it is too hot to keep your hand there for five seconds, it is too hot for a dog to be walked on that pavement, so stick to grassy areas.

Learn more about what Animal Action UAE does in the community at www.facebook.com/animalactionuae, where you can also find furry friends who need foster homes and forever homes.

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UAE squad

Ali Kashief, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdelrahman, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Mohmmed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammad Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Eisa, Mohammed Shakir, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Adel Al Hosani, Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah), Waleed Abbas, Ismail Al Hammadi, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai) Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Mahrami (Baniyas)

While you're here
The specs

Common to all models unless otherwise stated

Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi

0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)

Power: 276hp

Torque: 392Nm

Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD

Price: TBC

'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'

Rating: 3/5

Directed by: David Yates

Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29

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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
​​​​​​​Release Date: April 10