Staycations are great, but if you happen to be a pet parent you'll find that planning a night away comes with a few additional things to think about, namely whether your pet can come with you or where they will stay instead.
In Abu Dhabi, there is a lack of pet-friendly hotels, as well as a limited selection of boarding places that welcome pets overnight, and the ones that do exist are certainly not cheap.
But W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island is set to change that with a new pet-friendly policy, which welcomes animals to check-in at the five-star resort.
Bring your dog, cat or goldfish
The resort on Yas Island is the first luxury hotel in the capital to allow guests to bring their pets for a staycation.
And it's not only dogs that are welcome. The W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island also welcomes cats and even goldfish.
Pets weighing up to a maximum of 18 kilograms can stay with their owners. Animals are allowed in the hotel's Living Room (lobby area) and inside the suites.
All pet guests will get their own bed, bowls for food and water, and a complimentary snack. Dog owners will also be provided with waste bags and can take their pet for a walk in the on-site Palm Garden. Cats will be provided with an in-room litter tray.
There's also a pet-friendly menu filled with tasty meals, snacks and toys that can be ordered from room service.
Not quite access all areas
Pets are not allowed at the pool or in any of the hotel restaurants or bars. However, dog-sitting services are available for guests who want to leave their rooms. These services need to be pre-booked in advance and incur a cost.
Pet fees typically cost Dh350 per animal, plus a daily hosting fee of Dh70, but to celebrate the first furry guests, the "P A W Esome Retreat" package is running until the end of the year.
Inclusive of a room for two adults and one pet, it also includes treats, toys and a special welcome pack for your four-legged friend. Breakfast for the humans is also part of the package and pets get a discount on the in-room Paw dining menu.
W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island opened in December 2019. As well as being Abu Dhabi's only luxury pet-friendly hotel, it's also the only hotel in the world to be located on top of a Grand Prix racetrack.
Stays from Dh735, plus taxes. W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; marriott.com
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Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
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Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
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1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
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