Saudi Arabia has opened its first café of its kind, where customers can visit with their dogs and other pets.
In the coastal city of Al Khobar, a café called “Barking Lot” was established in June this year, and there is no restriction on bringing pets. The café is receiving a warm reception in the city. Since there are few places in Al Khobar where people can take their pets outside the home, the public has welcomed the opening of this café.
The Kuwaiti owner of Barking Lot, Dalal Ahmed, told the news agency AFP that the idea for the café came to her during a previous visit to Saudi Arabia. According to her, she had brought her dog to Saudi Arabia but was not allowed to walk it on the beach. She said she was very upset, and at that moment, she decided to open a coffee shop where people with pet dogs could also come. According to Dalal Ahmed, shortly after, the plan to open a café for dog owners was successfully realized.
She explained that young people gather in the café with dogs of all breeds. Some pets happily roam around this new place, while others sit in their owners’ laps. When their owners drink coffee or soft drinks, the dogs comfortably stay at the counter. The café also has a section where dogs can be bathed and their fur dried with a dryer.
A Saudi citizen, Johra, told AFP that the idea of this café is very unique and a completely new concept. According to him, “It’s a special kind of place where dogs can come and meet other dogs.”
Another Saudi citizen, Nawaf, who visited the café for the first time, described it as very “beautiful.” Nawaf said, “I came here to play with dogs. This is the first café established for dogs.” In rapidly modernizing Saudi Arabia, the trend of adopting stray animals and keeping them as pets is also gaining momentum quickly.