Heard of 'chief dog officer'? Dubai sees rise in pet-friendly communities

Inspired by the growing number of pet owners in Jumeirah Lake Towers, the community ran a unique competition last month — to select the Chief Dog Officer (CDO) of JLT. A winning pup will hold the title for one year. 

“Dogs are a big part of daily life at the community, from morning walks to regular visits to pet-friendly cafés and the dog park,” said a spokesperson for JLT. “The Chief Dog Officer initiative is a fun way to celebrate that spirit while encouraging positive interactions across shared spaces.” 

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The CDO will serve as JLT’s dog ambassador for one year with their responsibilities including welcoming new dogs and pet parents to the community, encouraging friendly and responsible behaviour in shared spaces, showcasing pet-friendly cafés, walking routes, and outdoor community spots, participating in neighbourhood gatherings and pet-friendly events, promoting clean, considerate, and responsible use of common areas and supporting and engaging with local pet-focused businesses. 

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Pet-friendly communities like JLT are on the rise in the UAE as more pet parents move to the country. From dog parks and beaches to pet-focused businesses, there are plenty of options for those looking to spoil their four-legged friends. 

At Palm Jumeirah, the Golden Mile Galleria is a pet-friendly mall while the W Hotel there is pet friendly and welcomes pets up to 18kg in designated rooms for an additional fee. In the Greens community, there are several pet-friendly areas and the Zabeel House hotel is home to two dog-friendly restaurants including Lah Lah, which has a dedicated dog lift. 

Animal friendly outings

Last year, Dubai Islands beach opened the first beach park for dogs in Dubai. The dedicated 460sqm space features an obstacle course, agility see-saw and hoop ring. It also has a dedicated pet shower and fountain for dogs to drink from.

In 2023, the beach became the first in the emirate to allow pets to swim in the ocean and has an off-leash area where pet owners can take their dogs off their leashes. Last month, the destination held the Woofstock festival which had dog training demonstrations

For Sadia Ahmed, the hunt for a pet-friendly community eventually led her to shifting to Emirates Hills. “I was born and raised in Dubai and growing up, there weren’t many pet-friendly communities,” she recalled. “I was living in an apartment in Zabeel when I fell in love with my dog at a local rescue centre. Unfortunately, my building did not allow pets, so I began looking for a pet-friendly community.”

She said that she checked several communities including Town Square, JVC and Arabian Ranches before settling on Emirates Hills. “We are regulars at the dog park there,” she said. “We have a lot of friends there and we love the pet-friendly vibes of the community.”

Pet platforms

In addition to pet-friendly communities, there are platforms for pet parents to meet and sociallise with each other. The platform Doggie Adventures has a directory which lists all the dog friendly places in Dubai and the UAE. It also regularly hosts events for pet parents.

On Sunday, the platform hosted a Santa Paws by the Shore event which had a Christmas mini-market among other attractions 

For many pet lovers, the app Flopster helps them meet fellow pet parents. The platform also hosts several events regularly including adoption days in partnership with local animal rescue centres.

• Dubai

Nasreen Abdulla

nasreen@khaleejtimes.com

Nasreen Abdulla is a Special Correspondent covering food, tech and human interest stories. When not challenged by deadlines, you’ll find her pulling off submissions on the jiu jitsu mats.