Animal lover opens up seven-star pet resort
Thursday, September 22nd, 2011
Pampered pets can live the life of luxury in the world’s first seven-star animal hotel in Dubai – complete with air conditioned suites and an on-site GYM.
Irish ex-pat Aideen O’Mara set up the Urban Tails Pet Resort as a pet equivalent to the mega-rich resort’s famous Burj Al Arab hotel.
Charging up to #68 per night, the hotel has plasma TVs in rooms and butlers to cater for the animals’ every need.
There are webcams all over the resort so owners can log in from wherever they are in the world for peace of mind.
And speakers play classical music in communal areas of the resort to ”promote calmness”.
Dogs are not allowed on public beaches or in parks in Dubai and have to spend five months inside because of the unbearable heat.
Aideen moved to the UAE in 2004 where she worked at an international school for seven years before she spotted a gap in the market and set up her hotel this year.
She wanted to create an environment where cats and dogs could ”socialise in luxury surroundings” while their European owners return home at the hottest time of the year.
Urban Tails – which styles itself as a seven-star resort like the famous Burj al Arab hotel – has suites to accommodate 70 dogs and 40 cats while their owners are away from home.
Aideen, said: ”I have always had pets and I feel that animals are given a bit of a raw deal in the UAE in terms of pet services on offer and they do not have much freedom in comparison to dogs in Europe.
”I came up with the idea of a pet resort as, first of all, most of the pets in Dubai use boarding facilities and secondly, there was no facility in the country that was attempting to make boarding stress free for the pet and their owners.
”When dogs are staying with us we socialise them in groups and get them out of their suites, playing a few times a day so that when they are put back in they are too tired to be anxious.
”We have plasma TVs in all the dog suites to give them company and let them hear sounds that remind them of home.
”I wanted the dogs to actually enjoy the boarding experience instead of hating it.”
Prices start from £20 per night for the Junior Suite with the slightly larger Deluxe and Urban Suites costing £24 and £25.50 respectively.
All suites and play areas have a special design layout to reduce noise and minimize stress
The top-of-the-range Royal Suite costs a jaw-dropping £68 per night, although the service comes with a personal butler and pickup and delivery in the ‘pet limo’.
Aideen added: ”It’s not all about dogs either. Our cat guests also get out of their condos every day so they don’t feel like they’re cooped up.
”Sometimes we are able to mix a few cats together so they can play on the Cat Jungle and run around after each other.”
”It’s been our first summer but we were full for the whole season and the animals seem to love it.
”Owners are always saying that when their car pulls up outside the gate the dog is pulling at the leash to come inside. Some dogs even have to be pulled out the gate when they are leaving.”
April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008