Three pet-friendly events happening in the UAE in February

The RAK Fine Arts Festival, the Dubai Pet Festival and Paws by the Beach are events for pet-owners to mark on their calendars

The Dubai Pet Festival will take place at Souk Al Marfa on February 27. Photo: Dubai Pet Festival

With the temperature as it is, now is the ideal time to discover the Emirates with your favourite feline or canine. In addition to pet-friendly hotels such as ME Dubai or Abu Dhabi's Rahal Ranch, there are special events happening this month.

From a whole weekend devoted to pets to the return of the Dubai Pet Festival, here's a look at what's on in the UAE this February.

RAK Fine Arts Festival's Pet-Friendly Weekend

When: February 18 to 20

The RAK Fine Arts Festival is hosting a pet awareness weekend as part of the emirate's new Ras Al-K9 initiative to make it more pet friendly. In celebration of the festival’s 10-year anniversary, there will be a schedule of workshops, pet yoga, an art tour with dogs, a pet fashion show and an adoption day hosted by the RAK Animal Welfare Centre.

Scroll through the gallery below to see which dogs will be at the adoption day. Fosterers are also encouraged to stop by.

Paws by the Beach

When: February 26 and 27

Ras Al Khaimah will host its first pet-friendly festival on Marjan Island called Paws by the Beach. The event runs on February 26 and 27 and is designed to be an educational platform to help raise awareness about animal welfare. Local pet groups, vendors, training schools, pet relocation companies, rehabilitative organisations and veterinarians will also be on-site and giving presentations.

Dubai Pet Festival

When: February 27

The Dubai Pet Festival is returning as a one-day event at Souk Al Marfa, Deira Islands, on February 27. The event will be from 2pm to 10pm. Expect myriad activities for pets and visitors, such as dog-training demonstrations, a police K9 dog squad show, grooming demos, fancy dress competitions, a petting farm and play areas for children. There are also exhibitors who will be selling pet products and access to animal welfare and adoption agencies.

Visitors must register their pets at the entrance with a mandatory veterinary check and temperament assessment, and all pets must have a valid passport with up-to-date vaccinations as per UAE law.