Yas Island is becoming the capital's most dog-friendly hotspot with pet-friendly restaurants, bars and walkways. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Yas Island is becoming the capital's most dog-friendly hotspot with pet-friendly restaurants, bars and walkways. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Yas Island is becoming the capital's most dog-friendly hotspot with pet-friendly restaurants, bars and walkways. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Yas Island is becoming the capital's most dog-friendly hotspot with pet-friendly restaurants, bars and walkways. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Woofs welcome: how Yas Island is quickly becoming Abu Dhabi’s pet-friendly hub


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Twelve years after it first opened to the public, Yas Island is undergoing a bit of a transformation.

Over the past year, the island has welcomed an 18-000-capacity-indoor-entertainment venue, debuted the world's first Warner Bros hotel and launched Yas Bay Waterfront — the capital's newest leisure and entertainment hub complete with an Ibiza-style beach club.

And it seems the area is also now making a name for itself as the go-to place for pet owners in the city, with several outlets on Yas Island welcoming guests that want to dine with their four-legged friends in tow.

If you’re in the capital and want to head out with your dog, here’s where you’ll be welcome on Yas Island.

Diablito

Diablito is dog-friendly every day of the year. Photo: Diablito Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi / Facebook
Diablito is dog-friendly every day of the year. Photo: Diablito Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi / Facebook

For tasty tapas and delicious stone-baked pizzas served with a side of Yas Marina views, the popular casual dining spot Diablito has you covered. With a Spanish-style menu, regular drinks deals and a welcoming atmosphere, it’s also open for those who want to dine with their dogs in tow. Four-legged diners are welcome to join on the downstairs terrace, where you'll also get great superyacht views. The terrace is small, so it makes sense to pre-book if you're bringing your furry friend along.

Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.instagram.com/diablito_yasmarina

Emmy Squared Pizza

New York's Emmy Squared made its international debut, in Abu Dhabi, this year. Photo: Emmy Squared
New York's Emmy Squared made its international debut, in Abu Dhabi, this year. Photo: Emmy Squared

The New York restaurant chain, known for its Detroit-style pizza, has found its first UAE home at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Bay Waterfront. Drawing inspiration from the original Brooklyn outpost, the restaurant serves square-shaped pizzas with crisp bases, fluffy focaccia dough and caramelised cheesy crusts. With indoor and outdoor seating and a location offering views of the waterfront, this new spot is also pet friendly — with dogs welcome to join on the terrace.

Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.instagram.com/emmysquaredpizzauae

The Lighthouse

Abu Dhabi’s outpost of The Lighthouse restaurant serves up Mediterranean-inspired classics, great coffee and a yummy selection of pastries. It also has daily drinks deals and super-friendly staff who welcome human and doggy guests with a smile. You’ll only be able to sit outside if you bring Fido along, but huge umbrellas mean that it should be easy enough to find a spot in the shade of this Yas Bay eatery.

Yas Bay, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.instagram.com/thelighthouse_ae

Akiba Dori

Akiba Dori at Yas Bay is dog-friendly, with pups allowed on the terrace. Photo: H Skirka
Akiba Dori at Yas Bay is dog-friendly, with pups allowed on the terrace. Photo: H Skirka

Following its success in Dubai Design District, Japanese street-food concept Akiba Dori has recently opened at Yas Bay. The only Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizzeria in the UAE, the eatery takes its name and decor inspiration from the neon-filled district of Akihabara in the capital of Japan. Inside, it’s all neon lights and brightly-coloured furniture, but outside on the terrace things are a little more chill, so much so that you can bring your dog along when dining here. Staff will happily fill up a water bowl for your pooch, so you can both enjoy a refreshment accompanied by waterside sunset views.

Yas Bay, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.instagram.com/akibadori

Stars N Bars

Dogs at the Stars N Bars Sunday brunch at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Stars N Bars / Facebook
Dogs at the Stars N Bars Sunday brunch at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Stars N Bars / Facebook

While it’s not quite 100 per cent dog-friendly, Stars N Bars at Yas Marina hosts weekly seasonal Sunday brunches where pups are welcome. The long-running American-themed eatery welcomes dogs and humans from noon until 4pm, every Sunday during winter, with a Dh99 menu that includes one drink and items such as a full English breakfast, French toast and shakshuka. Even better, dogs get a big bowl of water and treats to keep them occupied while you eat. The last event this season took place at the end of March, but this is one to keep on your radar when the temperatures cool down again.

Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.starsnbars.ae

Yas Bay Waterfront

Dogs are welcome on Yas Bay Waterfront, with waste bags and bins provided to make it easier to clean up after your four-legged friend. Photo: Facebook
Dogs are welcome on Yas Bay Waterfront, with waste bags and bins provided to make it easier to clean up after your four-legged friend. Photo: Facebook

The recently opened Yas Bay Waterfront is one of the hottest places to go to in the capital right now, and it’s also incredibly dog-friendly.

With beautiful waterfront views, wide open palm-lined pathways and several very cool sculptures dotted along the perimeter, it’s a great place to go for a sunset walk. Dogs are welcome, as long as they are kept on-lead at all times. There are even handy bins with waste bags attached to them to make it easier to clean up after your dog.

W Abu Dhabi — Yas Island

W Abu Dhabi — Yas Island is the UAE capital's first dog-friendly hotel. Photo: W Hotels / Marriott
W Abu Dhabi — Yas Island is the UAE capital's first dog-friendly hotel. Photo: W Hotels / Marriott

Yas Island is also where you'll find the first luxury hotel in the capital that allows guests to book a room with their dog.

The W Abu Dhabi — Yas Island welcomes pets, including dogs, cats and goldfish, that weigh up to a maximum of 18 kilograms, with the animals allowed inside the hotel's Living Room (lobby area) and suites.

Doggy guests will get their own bed, bowls for food and water, and a complimentary snack. There's also a pet-friendly menu filled with tasty meals, snacks and toys that can be ordered from room service.

And while it’s great that the hotel welcomes pets, keep in mind that they’re not allowed at the pool or in any of the hotel restaurants or bars, but with many dog-friendly eateries nearby, you can simply head out of the hotel and find somewhere to dine at Yas Marina or Yas Bay Waterfront.

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.marriott.com

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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
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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BOSH!'s pantry essentials

Nutritional yeast

This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.

Seeds

"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."

Umami flavours

"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".

Onions and garlic

"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."

Your grain of choice

Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."

TOUCH RULES

Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.

Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.

Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.

A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.

After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.

At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.

A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Director:Matt Reeves

Rating: 5/5

Updated: April 09, 2022, 1:15 PM`