The UAE's Biggest Dog Park Has a Swimming Pool — Inside Pawsome Park at RAK AWC
Pawsome Park at the RAK Animal Welfare Centre is 7,000+ sqm of off-leash space with an agility park, a walking path and a dog swimming pool. Here's what it costs, how to register and whether it's worth the drive from Dubai.
The UAE's Biggest Dog Park Has a Swimming Pool
If you have spent a Dubai summer trying to give a high-energy dog a proper run, you already know the problem. By May the sand is too hot to stand on, the fenced runs are empty by 8am, and "exercise" turns into ten careful minutes on a shaded pavement before everyone retreats indoors.
Which is why a park an hour and a half up the coast keeps coming up in conversation: Pawsome Park at the RAK Animal Welfare Centre, which the centre describes as the largest outdoor dog park in the UAE — over 7,000 square metres of landscaped off-leash space, with an agility park, a dog walking path, a cafe area for the humans, and a swimming pool for the dogs.
Here is what is actually there, what it costs, and the honest version of whether it is worth the drive.
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What Pawsome Park actually is
Pawsome Park sits inside the RAK Animal Welfare Centre grounds in Ras Al Khaimah. According to RAK AWC, the park includes:
| Feature | Detail |
| Off-leash area | 7,000+ sqm of landscaped space |
| Swimming pool | Dog swimming pool on site |
| Agility park | Fully equipped |
| Walking path | Dedicated dog walking path |
| Cafe area | Owners can sit and socialise while dogs play |
| Access | Members only |
The centre also lists a doggy daycare and a dog hotel as future additions — those are planned, not open, so do not drive up expecting to board your dog.
For scale: 7,000 sqm is roughly the footprint of a full-size football pitch, which is an order of magnitude more space than the typical fenced community run you will find in Dubai.
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The pool, honestly
This is the part worth being straightforward about, because it is the reason most people click.
An outdoor pool in the UAE between roughly May and September is not cold. Sitting under the sun all day, outdoor water in this climate behaves much like the sea does in summer — closer to bathwater than to a cool-down. Treat the pool as enrichment, play and low-impact exercise, not as a way to bring a hot dog's temperature down.
That distinction matters. A dog that is already overheating needs shade, cool (not iced) water and a vet — not a warm pool. If you are not sure what heat stress looks like in a dog, read our guide to dogs in Dubai's desert summer heat before you go.
Used sensibly, though, swimming is genuinely brilliant for UAE dogs: it burns energy fast, it takes the load off joints, and it works for older or arthritic dogs who can no longer take long walks. Go at the cooler end of the opening hours and it is one of the better options in the country.
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Membership, prices and how to register
Pawsome Park is members only — you cannot simply turn up and walk in. Memberships are bought through the clinic reception at RAK AWC.
| Pass | Price |
| Day pass | AED 20 |
| Monthly pass | AED 50 |
| Annual pass | AED 399 |
| One-time registration fee | AED 100 |
Registration requirements:
- Your dog must be fully vaccinated, including the kennel cough vaccine
- Bring the vaccination book with you
- Book a registration appointment in advance on 056 357 6013
- Your dog completes a behaviour assessment on arrival to check they are suitable for the park
Opening hours: daily, 12:00 to 22:00.
That behaviour assessment is a good sign, not a hurdle. A screened membership park is a very different environment from an open public run where any dog can walk in — it is one of the few places in the country where you have a reasonable idea of who your dog is sharing the space with.
An annual pass at AED 399 works out at around AED 33 a month, which is less than a single grooming appointment. If you are in the northern emirates it is an easy yes. From Dubai the maths depends entirely on how often you would realistically make the drive.
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Getting there from Dubai
Ras Al Khaimah is roughly an hour and a half from central Dubai in normal traffic, and longer coming back on a Friday or Saturday evening. Plan it as a day trip, not an after-work outing.
A few practical notes for the drive:
- Never leave your dog in a parked car, even for a couple of minutes. Interior temperatures in the UAE climb dangerously fast.
- Run the air conditioning to the back seats — the rear footwell is often much warmer than the driver's seat.
- Break the journey if your dog is anxious in the car.
- Aim for the later part of the opening window. A 12:00 arrival in August means walking your dog across hot ground; arrive at 17:00 or 18:00 and the whole experience changes.
Given the opening hours start at midday, the practical summer visit is late afternoon into evening.
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What to bring
- Drinking water for both of you — a collapsible bowl and a carry bottle. Pool water is not drinking water.
- Vaccination book if you have not registered yet
- A towel — a soaked dog in an air-conditioned car is a cold dog
- Poo bags, obviously
- Your own shade plan: a hat and sunscreen for you, and a shaded spot picked out before your dog needs it
Test the ground with the back of your hand before letting your dog walk on it. If you cannot hold your palm there for seven seconds, it is too hot for paws — the same rule that applies at every beach and park in the UAE.
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If Ras Al Khaimah is too far
A three-hour round trip is not a weekly plan for most people. If you want water and off-leash space closer to home, Dubai's indoor parks are the realistic alternative — climate-controlled, open year-round, and much easier to fit into an ordinary weekend.
- My Dogtel Indoor Park, Dubai Investment Park — 15,000 sqft across four play areas with separate zones by dog size, an indoor swimming pool and a 2,000 sqft outdoor area.
- Pawlympics Indoor Dog Park — air-conditioned indoor play space, one of the most-visited listings on this site.
- RAKAWC Dog Park — the full directory listing for Pawsome Park, with amenities and location.
You can filter the whole directory by area, dog size and amenities on our dog parks page, or browse the wider list in our guide to Dubai's dog parks by area.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the biggest dog park in the UAE?
Pawsome Park at the RAK Animal Welfare Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. RAK AWC describes it as the largest outdoor dog park in the UAE, at over 7,000 square metres of landscaped off-leash space.
Is there a dog park with a swimming pool in the UAE?
Yes. Pawsome Park at RAK AWC has an outdoor swimming pool for dogs alongside its agility park and walking path. In Dubai, My Dogtel Indoor Park in Dubai Investment Park has an indoor pool as part of its climate-controlled play areas.
How much does Pawsome Park cost?
A day pass is AED 20, a monthly pass is AED 50 and an annual pass is AED 399, plus a one-time AED 100 registration fee for new members.
What do I need to register my dog at Pawsome Park?
Your dog must be fully vaccinated including the kennel cough vaccine, and you need to bring the vaccination book. Book a registration appointment on 056 357 6013. Your dog will complete a behaviour assessment on arrival.
What are Pawsome Park's opening hours?
The park is open every day from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm for members.
Is the pool cold enough to cool my dog down in summer?
No. Outdoor water in the UAE summer sits close to bathwater temperature, so treat the pool as fun and low-impact exercise rather than a way to cool an overheated dog. If your dog is showing heat stress, get them into shade with cool water and contact a vet.
Can I bring my dog from Dubai for the day?
Yes — it is roughly a 90-minute drive each way from central Dubai. Register in advance by phone, plan for a late-afternoon arrival in summer, and never leave your dog in the parked car.
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Sources: RAK Animal Welfare Centre — Dog Park and PETWITHIT. Prices, hours and requirements can change — call RAK AWC on 056 357 6013 to confirm before travelling.