Royal Pet Festival 2026: Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi Hosts a Luxury Weekend for Pets (Oct 10–11)
Royal Pet Festival returns to Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi on 10 & 11 October 2026 — pet shows, shopping, wellness, photo booths and workshops for dogs, cats and their humans.
Royal Pet Festival 2026: Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Pets
If your dog already walks into rooms like they own the place, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi might finally be the venue that matches the energy. This October, the capital is hosting the Royal Pet Festival — a full weekend built around dogs, cats and the humans who spoil them.
Save the dates: Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2026.
After a strong debut last year, the festival is back at one of the most iconic hotels in the UAE, turning the palace grounds into a pet playground full of shows, shopping, photo spots, wellness sessions and workshops.
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Event details at a glance
| Event | Royal Pet Festival 2026 |
| Dates | Friday 10 & Saturday 11 October 2026 |
| Venue | Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi |
| Open to | Dogs, cats and their humans |
| Organiser | Soul Concept Events |
| Tickets / info | soulconcept.ae/pet-festival-2026-2 |
| Follow | @soulconceptevents on Instagram |
The setting alone is worth the drive from Dubai — palm-lined courtyards, marble corniches and that famous gold-tinged facade make for the kind of photos your pet's Instagram has been waiting for.
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Tickets & pricing
Soul Concept has released three ticket tiers for the October weekend. Prices are straightforward and the event is open to the public — no invite needed.
| Ticket type | Price | What's included |
| Child Ticket | AED 15 | For children above 6 years. Fun activities and games included on both days. |
| Adult Ticket | AED 35 | Entry for adults. Full access to all festival activities across October 10–11, 2026. |
| VIP Ticket | AED 135 | Premium access with priority seating, gifts and exclusive perks. |
All tickets are valid for the full two-day festival. Buy tickets directly from Soul Concept →
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What's actually happening on the day
Royal Pet Festival isn't a quiet meet-and-greet. Across both days, expect:
- Pet shows and competitions — best dressed, best trick, cutest cat, you name it.
- Shopping booths from UAE pet brands: food, toys, collars, accessories, treats.
- Pet photo spots built specifically so you can leave with a frame-worthy shot.
- Wellness sessions covering nutrition, grooming and behaviour.
- Workshops with trainers, vets and animal welfare experts.
- Food trucks and lounges for the humans, because someone has to hold the leash.
It's the rare UAE event where your pet is genuinely the guest of honour, not a tolerated plus-one.
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Why it matters for UAE pet owners
October is the start of the good season for dogs in the UAE. Temperatures finally drop into the high 20s and low 30s, evenings on the Corniche become usable again, and outdoor events stop feeling like a heat risk. Royal Pet Festival is essentially the opening ceremony of UAE pet season — and Abu Dhabi keeps pulling ahead as the more pet-friendly emirate.
If you've been following the new rules letting Abu Dhabi hotels and restaurants welcome pets, this festival fits the pattern: the capital is treating pets as residents, not nuisances.
Worth knowing before you go: pet registration is now mandatory in Abu Dhabi. If you're driving in from another emirate, make sure your microchip and vaccination records are up to date.
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Getting there from Dubai
- By car: ~1h 20m from Downtown Dubai via the E11 to Corniche Road. Emirates Palace has its own dedicated drop-off and large parking.
- Stay overnight: Emirates Palace itself, plus a few pet-friendly hotels in the wider Abu Dhabi guide, make a weekend trip very doable.
- Bring: water bowl, mat or small blanket, poo bags, treats, a long leash, and a cooling vest if your dog is heat-sensitive.
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Tips to make the most of the weekend
- Go early. Mornings are cooler, queues at photo spots are shorter, and your dog has more patience before sensory overload kicks in.
- Book one workshop, not five. Pick the session that matters most (training, nutrition, first aid) and treat the rest as walk-up.
- Bring a travel mat. Marble looks beautiful but it's hard on older joints — give your dog a base to rest on between activities.
- Watch the social cues. Dozens of unfamiliar dogs in one place is intense. If your dog stiffens, yawns repeatedly or tucks their tail, take a break in a quiet corner.
- Hydrate often. Even in October, dogs running on adrenaline forget to drink. Offer water every 30–45 minutes.
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Planning the rest of your Abu Dhabi pet weekend
Make a full trip out of it:
- Browse our Abu Dhabi pet-friendly hotels guide for stays that genuinely welcome dogs and cats.
- Need to brush up on the rules? Read How dog-friendly is the UAE really — Dubai vs Abu Dhabi.
- Coming back to Dubai after? Plan an October cool-down at one of our dog-friendly beaches or dog parks.
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The bottom line
Royal Pet Festival at Emirates Palace is the closest thing the UAE has to a true "pets first" weekend — and it's happening in the most photogenic venue in the country. Block October 10 and 11 in your calendar, check festival info and tickets here, and start picking your dog's outfit now. They're going to be photographed.