Hello guys!
Today just a quick article to sum up the various pet stores I found in Abu dhabi. If you have any suggestions, or reviews, I'll be very happy to add them to the list. Just leave a comment at the bottom of the article. And obviously, every time I'll find out about something new, I will update the article.

So here we go!

Lulu supermarkets : food for cats, dogs, birds, fishes. Some accessories such as leash/collar, brushes, very lame toys for dogs. Plastic and metal bowls for cats and dogs. Litter boxes (not covered) and different types of little for cats.

Carrefour supermarkets : cat and dog food, litter, some accessories for cats and dogs.

The American Vet : cat and dog food, including premium brands. Grooming products (shampoos, conditioners, brushes, scissors for claws, etc). Some nice toys. Water fountains. A couple of small cat trees.

Daiso : it's a Japanese value store with cheap items. The quality is not amazing, but it is soo cheap! The Madinat Zayed mall store is really big (it is located inside the Homes R Us store), with a nice inventory of toys for cats and dogs, brushes and combs, leashes and collars. The store in Al Wahda Mall has a little less choice but carries the essentials.
For cats, they also have these really lame scratching pads that you can either leave on the floor or pin on a wall. My cat wasn't too impressed by it, but it was better than nothing when I moved in :-D

Ace (hardware store in Yas Island) : no food but a nice variety of cats and dogs accessories, compared to the usual lack of choice. Quite a few toys and choice of small kennels. There's actually more choice in store than what is displayed in the above link :-)
This is the only place where I found an amazing corrugated cardboard scratching post for Charlie, from the brand Imperial Cat. It was expensive (around 100dhs), but I haven't found anything equivalent elsewhere.

When I prepared my cat's trip to Abu Dhabi, one of my biggest concerns was where he would stay while I would be looking for an apartment. During my first weeks, I was going to stay at a hotel, and pets were not allowed. To make it worse, I was going to arrive in the U.A.E. one day later than Charlie!

Charlie landed late in the evening, which was actually a good thing because we arrived in June, and the temperatures are so hot during the day. Upon arrival, he got inspected by customs and then was released to be picked up. Families can normally pick up their own pets, but they usually don't: they might not be in the U.A.E. yet (I wasn't), they don't have a car, etc.
I arranged with the American Vet Pet relocation team to get a pick up at Abu Dhabi Airport. They could also pick up my cat at Dubai airport for an additional fee, if it was more convenient for me. It's good to know, in case plane tickets to Abu Dhabi are too complicated to get from your city!
Then, they took Charlie out of his kennel and put him in a larger, more comfortable cage. They fed him and watered him, and he had a litter box - after nearly 24 hours of travelling, he probably needed it! Poor thing...
The next morning, the Vet team inspected him to see if he was alright. I got an email telling me that he was doing good, besides a little bit of stress (obviously!).
A few weeks before arriving in Abu Dhabi, I had also reserved a spot for him at the American Vet's cattery. It is basically a pet hotel, and I can assure you that it is a really awesome service. The availability is limited, so make sure that you make your reservation early enough.
I believe they have 4 rooms where they have several huge cages. Here are pictures that I took there, just so you see what to expect :

Every cage is really tall, a human can stand inside. They have 3 ledges inside, so your cat can jump and play. They are equipped with a litter box, bowls for food and water. You can bring your own food when you arrive in Abu Dhabi (but can't export more than for one day with the kennel, otherwise the customs will get suspicious). If your cat doesn't have a specific diet, the Cattery team has premium dry and moist food in fish and chicken flavor. They will try all of them with your cat and see what s/he prefers.
In front of each cage is pinned a list of instruction for each cat, as well as a recap table where the cattery staff notes down any daily relevant observation : for example Charlie stayed 2-3 weeks and his weight was regularly monitored. He had an ear infection problem, so that was also part of the things they had to check. They also cut his claws when needed.
You can also place any personal items you want in the cage (toys, a piece of clothing with your smell on it, etc.)
The cattery team usually turns the radio on during the day so the cats have a presence. They have a Feliway diffuser plugged at all times.
You can visit your pet whenever you want (the cattery has pretty long opening hours) and the cats are checked several times a day by the staff who is really, really dedicated. They're pet owners themselves and they know what they are dealing with. Trust me, I visited Charlie nearly every day, and every time I went someone was dropping by to see how the cats were doing.
If you have more than one cat, they can be placed together in the same cage. Otherwise, your cat will be alone for safety reasons. A curtain separates each cage so your cat has some privacy.
It is also reassuring to know that since the cattery is located inside the Vet's offices, your cat will immediately be checked in case something is going on (you need to give your consent for that on the application form, if you agree)
In case you're willing to export your dog, The American Vet also has a kennel service. It's located outside the city center, since dogs take more space and are more noisy than cats.

Honestly, I've been really happy with the Cattery's services. Without them, I don't know how I would have made it. I've done a bunch of research and I don't know any hotel in Abu Dhabi that allows pets. If you know any, please do let me know by posting a comment at the bottom of this article.

Now some of you may be wondering what was the cost for all the process. Here's a rough breakdown :

• The American Vet : import permit + pick up at the airport : 2500 AED ($680, 545€)

• Air Animal : plane ticket for Miami - Abu dhabi (with one connection in Dusseldorf) : $1400 (1120 €)

• The American Vet : cattery for 1 month : AED 1790 ($490, 390€). Since I checked out Charlie after 3 weeks, I got a refund for the week I didn't use.

Total cost : $2570 or 2055€. Phew... Yeah, that's a lot of money, and a lot of people who don't have a heart, such as my Father, will strongly disapprove of such an expense. Well yeah, I love my cat, sue me!! :-D
Overall, it took me around 2 months to get everything ready for Charlie's travel (considering I didn't have to get the Rabies Serum Neutralizing test, cf. my first article about pet relocation paperwork). The import permit and other documents aren't that long to get, but coordinating the whole thing and figuring it out takes a while. Obviously, the earlier you start planning, the easier it is! Good luck to you!