Pawdy Neighbors at Souk Al Manzil is more than just a typical cafe in Downtown Dubai.
The space, which is near Burj Khalifa, is part bistro and part pet spa. This means pet parents can enjoy a nice meal while keeping a watchful eye on their dog or cat being groomed in the next room, with only a piece of glass separating the two sides.
This hybrid business is the brainchild of husband and wife duo Rita Abou Obeid and Elie Raad, who decided to create Pawdy Neighbors after their own experiences as pet owners.
“Ever since we welcomed our first fur baby, Mini, 10 years ago, we’ve been on the search for nice places that are genuinely pet friendly, with not much luck,” says Raad.
“Every time we came to know about a new pet-friendly place, we would be the first to go try it out and get disappointed either with the pet-friendly section that is mostly outdoor or in a secluded corner, or with the food and beverages offered."
They also turned their attention to another common issue that can plague owners: what to do while their pets are getting groomed. While some people leave their pets alone with a groomer, it's often advised to stay to ensure their safety and well-being during the process.
“We would drop [our pets] off at the grooming spa and start wandering around, waiting for them to be ready. We always wished for that place where we can just enjoy some nice food and drinks while keeping a close eye on our babies being groomed and making sure they are being well taken care of. But this place didn’t exist, so we had to take it upon ourselves to create it.”
Pawdy Neighbors, which has been open since August, strives to be a space for pet lovers and pets to enjoy together. Tables are fixed to benches to avoid any spills or accidents that may occur with pets on leashes. This also means that pets can sit inside and next to their owners too.
On the menu is all-day breakfast, salads, paninis and wraps. There’s coffee, tea and matcha, as well as baked goods such as cakes, muffins and cookies. There’s even a vegan section.
The pair describe themselves as a “fit and healthy yet gourmet couple who appreciate good coffee and good fresh and wholesome food”.
“Accordingly, we curated a very balanced menu and made sure to source the best speciality coffee, tea and viennoiseries and to develop recipes for an exclusive range of vegan baked goods all made with gluten-free ingredients,” says Obeid.
However, it isn’t only humans who can enjoy a treat, as dogs can also get puppuccinos as a special snack after their pampering session at the pet spa, which is open every day from 9am to 9pm. It is run by certified freestylers who use their creativity to create grooming styles.
Owners can also book different services for their cats and dogs such as nail trimming (Dh35), ear and eye cleaning (Dh35) and even a body massage (Dh55).
Those who really want to spoil their pets can get the most expensive package called The Pawshiest Experience, which starts at Dh245 (based on the pet's size). It includes a wash, blow dry, nail clippings, teeth brushing and deshedding, among other things.
While many places try to be pet-friendly, Pawdy Neighbors aims to be a place for pets to get all the attention, while also catering to their owners. Obeid says the spot is open to anyone who likes cats or dogs and even those without their own little furry friends.
“We also welcome guests who do not have pets but enjoy being in their company which is almost like therapy."
For more, visit @pawdyneighbors on Instagram
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The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
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Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The years Ramadan fell in May
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
