A new luxury hotel catering specifically to cats has opened in Dubai. Pawsome Pets, a pet relocation specialist company in the UAE, has announced the opening of a cat boarding facility in Al Quoz, which is akin to a five-star hotel.
Spanning more than 370 square metres, the space is equipped to make feline friends feel at home while their owners are away.
In addition to spacious rooms, there are three lounges the cats can take advantage of, whether they want to expend energy playing or simply laze around. The rooms are filled with cat trees, scratching posts and window hammocks, as well as places to hide and sleep.
“We know pets and their owners, and we have noticed a gap in the market to provide a quiet, relaxing, ‘zen’ space for cats within Dubai,” says owner Kirsty Kavanagh. "With carefully thought-out and very spacious condos, our cattery offers large sleeping and living areas, cosy hiding spaces, scratching posts, toys and, of course, lots of one-on-one attention from our animal-loving team."
Rates start at Dh80 per day and includes full board, with bedding, supervision and food. Additional services, such as daily light grooming, administering medication or extra one-on-one play time, can be added, too.
This is Pawsome Pets's first foray into the pet boarding market, as, for the past four years, the pet relocation specialist has helped to relocate over 2,300 pets, including rescues, to 60 countries.
In the past couple of months, more pet-friendly places have popped up around the Emirates. Vibrissae, a new cat cafe, in Safa 1 has opened its doors, while the W Abu Dhabi on Yas Island has become the first pet-friendly hotel in the capital.
Take a look through the photo gallery above to see more from the cat hotel.
More information is available at pawsomepets.ae
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Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
