Dubai
isn’t a particularly dog-friendly place, yes…that cute Frenchie in the picture above was told off a minute after that photo was taken, for being on the beach!.

Yet, loads of us either have them as
pets, or are keen to see them as often as possible. So, what’s a canine lover to
do? Check out some of the places below, that’s what. From designated doggie
hangouts to pubs that allow pooches – there’s enough to keep tails wagging all
year round. Now that’s paw for thought. (Sorry)

Irish
Village

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The
Irish Village is one of the only fine drinking – and eating – establishments in
Dubai to allow dogs. Yep, with all the open space we have, for some reason our
furry friends are meant to prefer Netflix and chill at home rather than the
company of other people. However, this happy go lucky place is an exception.
Sit outside on one of their traditional pub benches and enjoy a hearty meal
(we’d recommend the baked potato topped with tuna, cheese and beans AED 45), and
let your dog feel the desert breeze on its face. Warning: there are quite a few
stray cats here so make sure your dog is OK with them.

(Dog lovers, Here are 12 Dog Memes That Will Guaranteed To Cure Any Bad Day)

Al
Qudra Lakes

The
cluster of man-made lakes in Al Qudra are worth checking out by every single
person in Dubai, but especially dog owners. Not only can you let your pooch run
free, you can also bring your own barbecue and even camp if the mood takes you.
There’s tons to do here, and all with your dog by your side. Why not spend an
afternoon spotting some of the 130 species of birds that frequent the area?
Make sure the dog doesn’t chase them, obviously. A little warning, it can be
dirty and there are a lot of campers, so for a bit of solitude go to a far
lake.

The
Greens

The
Greens – which is adjacent to Tecom for Dubai newbies – is not only a lovely
place to live, it’s a quaint dog walking paradise. Not only are there loads of
residents out taking their animals for a stroll, there are plenty of people who
travel over specifically to give their pet some exercise in this safe, and
pretty, environment. At the heart of The Greens is Bert’s Cafe, which offers a
laidback atmosphere for you and your dog to sit al fresco and refuel. For an
indication of prices, a freshly squeezed orange juice starts at AED 24.

Skydive Dubai

As
you approach Zero Gravity, you’ll notice there is a long, wide stretch of grass
near the open-air gym. Well, if you look past the muscles and monkey bars
you’ll see humans huddled watching their K9s frolic to their hearts content.
Yes, this may seem a weird place to bring your dog but with it’s idyllic
waterside location, as well as Insta-worthy views of twisty Cayan Tower and the
Marina – you’ll definitely have an ‘OMG I live in Dubai’ moment. You’re also
bound to make friends with the other crazy dog people.

(Check this out: Puppy Pilates Is Dubai’s Latest Fitness Trend!)

JLT

JLT
has always been one of the most dog friendly places in Dubai. Not only is there
a ready made walking routes, around the three lakes, to take advantage of, there are loads of places here
let you sit outside with pets.

One pet-friendly place in JLT is Hako Sushi, with it’s comfy sofa style seating and delicious maki rolls, best things is they don’t even mind your pooch snuggling up to you.

Doggy
Day Care at Daphne’s

When
we asked our dog owning friends the one place that they’d recommend above all others
it was unanimous: Daphne’s Doggy Day Care in Al Quoz. Due to the amount of
travel that people in Dubai do, it’s not a city that’s short of day care
options, but we hear that Daphne’s is a resolute favourite because it’s “small
enough to care”, and the owners and staff are such nice people. The dogs are
played with all day – and regular photos are posted on Instagram so you can
keep an eye on your baby when you’re not with it. Plus, and this is a big plus,
the dogs that go apparently absolutely love it. So no guilt required when you
need a night off to either work (or party) hard.

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