Rixos Premium Dubai has chosen to welcome the new year with a gesture rooted in compassion and community support, as its Quality and Sustainability team visited the Stray Dog Center in Umm Al Quwain. The visit aimed to support the shelter’s ongoing work caring for abandoned animals across the UAE.
During the initiative, the team donated food, toys, and handcrafted dog beds made from recycled hotel textiles, reinforcing the hotel’s commitment to sustainability, animal welfare, and social responsibility beyond the hospitality setting.
During the visit to the dog shelter, the team delivered essential supplies, including pet food, toys, and comfortable bedding designed to improve the daily lives of rescued animals. The initiative was carefully planned to address both immediate needs and longer-term comfort for dogs awaiting adoption.
The project also had an even wider environmental impact, creating a circular economy, which saw 605 kg of end-of-life hotel textiles transformed into 50 handcrafted dog beds. By giving discarded materials a second life, the initiative both reduced waste and provided animals with warmer, safer spaces to rest. In doing so, the project helped avoid approximately 0.27–0.30 tonnes of CO₂e emissions while reinforcing the importance of responsible resource use.
“Sustainability is not only about protecting the planet, but also about caring for all the lives we share it with,” said Ozgul Aktolga, Director of Quality and Sustainability at Rixos Hotels. “By turning waste into warmth, we were able to make a small but heartfelt difference just in time for the New Year. This initiative will become a regular practice across all Rixos Hotels in the UAE, with continued collaboration with the Stray Dogs Center to support animal welfare.”
Founded in 2013, the Stray Dogs Center (SDC) is a non-profit animal welfare organisation dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming abused, abandoned, and neglected animals across the UAE. Operating under a strict “no kill” policy, the centre is home to around 1,500 rescue dogs, alongside a small number of cats and other animals, many of which arrive in critical condition. Through comprehensive medical care, rehabilitation, and a robust adoption programme in the UAE and internationally, SDC has successfully rehomed more than 6,000 dogs, giving vulnerable animals a second chance at life.
One of a number of recent initiatives by Rixos Premium Dubai, this visit to the Stray Dog Center highlighted the power of teamwork, purpose, and compassion. Looking ahead, Rixos Premium Dubai has further plans to expand its CSR and sustainability efforts throughout the year, with plenty of community-focused initiatives designed to create a positive impact and support those who need it most.
