Hotels such as W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island and JA Hatta Fort offer dog-friendly staycations. Photo: Jakob Owens / Unsplash
Hotels such as W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island and JA Hatta Fort offer dog-friendly staycations. Photo: Jakob Owens / Unsplash
Hotels such as W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island and JA Hatta Fort offer dog-friendly staycations. Photo: Jakob Owens / Unsplash
Hotels such as W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island and JA Hatta Fort offer dog-friendly staycations. Photo: Jakob Owens / Unsplash

Lifestyle

Things to do

Pet-friendly festive events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Christmas dinners, adoption days and doggy staycations are on the cards

Evelyn Lau
Evelyn Lau

December 16, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

During the holiday season, pets deserve to be part of the celebration.

W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island and Pet Pavilion, also in the capital, will be hosting events for four-legged companions.

Meanwhile, My Second Home in Dubai is offering festival meals that come with complimentary meals for pets, while booking a stay at the animal-friendly JA Hatta Fort comes with free freeze-dried treats courtesy of Furchild.

Here's what other pet-friendly events are running.

Festive Tails at W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island

When: December 23, 5pm to 7pm

W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island is hosting an event called Festive Tails in its Palm Garden, where everyone including furry friends is invited. There will be seasonal treats, pet-friendly activities and the chance to bring home a new family member as the hotel will collaborate with local dog and cat rescue shelters for an adoption day. Entry to the event is free.

Paws & Presents at Pet Pavilion, Abu Dhabi

When: December 25, 5pm to 7pm

Dogs and their owners can head to Pet Pavilion in Mussafah for a Christmas Day celebration that includes activities as well as a special treat and gift package for four-legged companions. “Barkmas” activities include Jolly Ball Pit Playtime, Jingle Fetch All the Way and Santa’s Tail Waggin’ Agility. There is also a pet-parent gift exchange. Entry is Dh150.

Festive feast with My Second Home, Dubai

Pet resort and spa My Second Home in Dubai has teamed up with Harness Foods to offer a full traditional festive dinner for pets and their owners. Prices are Dh195 per person and it comes with a free meal for pets. Meals can be ordered through email info@mysecondhomedubai.com or by calling 04 881 8002.

Furchild and JA Hatta Fort, Dubai

  • Dogs are allowed to stay at JA Hatta Fort Hotel Dubai. All photos: JA Resorts & Hotels
    Dogs are allowed to stay at JA Hatta Fort Hotel Dubai. All photos: JA Resorts & Hotels
  • Located approximately 130 kilometres from the centre of Dubai, JA Hatta Fort Hotel is now officially dog-friendly
    Located approximately 130 kilometres from the centre of Dubai, JA Hatta Fort Hotel is now officially dog-friendly
  • The hotel is welcoming dogs of any size to spend the night with their owners in Hatta
    The hotel is welcoming dogs of any size to spend the night with their owners in Hatta
  • Dog beds and toys will be provided to pet owners upon request
    Dog beds and toys will be provided to pet owners upon request
  • Guests can order meals from any restaurant in the hotel from the Palm Tree Garden
    Guests can order meals from any restaurant in the hotel from the Palm Tree Garden
  • Enjoy mountain views of Hatta with your four-legged friend at JA Hatta Fort Hotel
    Enjoy mountain views of Hatta with your four-legged friend at JA Hatta Fort Hotel
  • The hotel will also host dog-friendly picnics and barbecues
    The hotel will also host dog-friendly picnics and barbecues
  • There's plenty of outdoor space for pups to explore
    There's plenty of outdoor space for pups to explore
  • Guests can dine in rooms or at picnic tables in the hotel's Palm Tree Garden
    Guests can dine in rooms or at picnic tables in the hotel's Palm Tree Garden

The raw and organic pet food company and pet-friendly hotel have teamed up for a holiday collaboration. Those who book a staycation in a dog-friendly Deluxe Mountain View room will receive complimentary Furchild freeze-dried treats for their companions. There will also be an in-room Furchild Dog Treats menu.

The specs

Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm

Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto

Price: From Dh139,995

On sale: now

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18

This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens

450,000

More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps

1.5 million

There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m

73

The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association

18,000

The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme

77,400

The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study

4,926

This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee

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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.

Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards

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Manchester United 2

Anthony Martial 30'

Scott McTominay 90 6' 

Manchester City 0

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Scoreline:

Barcelona 2

Suarez 85', Messi 86'

Atletico Madrid 0

Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)

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Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
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4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

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5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

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6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

US PGA Championship in numbers

1 Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.

2 To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.

3 Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.

4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.

5 In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.

6 For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.

7 Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.

8 Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.

9 Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.

10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.

11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.

12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.

13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.

14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.

15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.

16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.

17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.

18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).

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Updated: December 16, 2023, 11:43 AM