Dubai cat cafe provides petting as therapy - in pictures

“All your stress will go away,” says Omnia Fareed, whose sisters started the Ailuromania Cat Cafe in 2015

Ailuromania Cat Cafe in Dubai was one of the first establishments of its kind in the Middle East. The cafe, which opened in 2015, hosts shelter cats with the intention of sparking interest between felines and humans with a view to adoption. The cafe, which derives its name from the Greek for 'cat lover', is inspired by animal welfare cafes in the UK and South Korea. Reuters

Ailuromania Cat Cafe's feline guests are also residents at a government-run animal shelter in Ras Al Khaimah. Reuters

A moment for relaxation at the Ailuromania Cat Cafe in Dubai. Reuters

Human and feline meet at the Ailuromania Cat Cafe, where customers also go to enjoy the company of cats when their circumstances mean they cannot keep them. Reuters

It's been a hard day at the Ailuromania Cat Cafe in Dubai. Reuters

Like other businesses in Dubai, Ailuromania Cat Cafe follows coronavirus regulations and capacity restrictions. Reuters

Special attention for the owner of the Ailuromania Cat Cafe in Dubai. Reuters

A worker feeds a cat at the Ailuromania Cat Cafe. Reuters

“Anyone who is stressed just has to find a cat. All your stress will go away,” says Omnia Fareed, whose two cat-loving sisters Allaa and Iman started Ailuromania Cat Cafe after university. Reuters

A cat is seen at the Ailuromania Cat Cafe in Dubai. Reuters

A man finds himself the centre of attention at the Ailuromania Cat Cafe in Dubai. Reuters

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