Aside from the glitz and glamour of its several stunning cities, the UAE also provides a broad range of wildlife experiences through its well-established zoos and animal parks. From the bustling metropolis of Dubai to the oasis city of Al Ain and beyond, the UAE's zoos provide a look into the region's vast biodiversity and the conservation efforts underway to protect its precious animals. The UAE's zoos offer much more than just seeing animals in enclosures lounging in the sun, they offer wonderful wildlife experiences to visitors of all ages.
So, If you adore animals or have children who are captivated by animal interactions, here are some of the most famous zoos in the UAE that the whole family can enjoy.
Al Ain Zoo
Al Ain Zoo is perhaps the biggest and oldest zoo in UAE. Established by H.H. the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan himself in 1968, it is home to over 4,000 animals including some of the most rare and endangered species in the region like Dama gazelles and the Arabian sand cats. The zoo also serves as a temporary home for hundreds of migratory birds. Within the zoo complex, the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre educates visitors on the region's unique ecosystems, wildlife, and the importance of environmental sustainability.
A visit to Al Ain Zoo gives you the opportunity to encounter Western lowland gorillas, African foxes, white lions and tigers, and other unique animal species. You can also watch the preppy parrots steal the show, learn how crocodiles are fed, go on horseback excursions around the area, visit the endangered rhino family, or ride a bicycle around the zoo. Al Ain Zoo also provides customized zoo tours for tourists, as well as regular events and educational activities focused at raising awareness about animal conservation and the need to protect vulnerable species.
Location: Nahyan The First St, Shiab Al Ashkhar, Abu Dhabi
Timings: 03:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tickets: AED 30 for adults | AED 10 for kids
Dubai Safari Park
Dubai Safari Park is home to around 3,000 species from around the world spread across its 119-hectare area. The park operates with a focus on customer experience, educational projects, and promoting a wide range of animal welfare and conservation strategies. The Dubai Safari Park consists of five key attractions, including the African Village, Asian Village, Arabian Desert Safari, Explorer Village, and Adventure Valley. Visitors can also explore the free-roaming regions and visit popular attractions like the Safari Journey and the Kids Farm.
The Arabian Village is home to Gulf-region animals such as the Arabian oryx, while the African Village is home to elephants, lions, and giraffes. The Asian Village is home to tigers, gibbons, and moon bears. The safari element, which allows you to experience an African-style open safari in the Explorer Village, is the highlight of the Dubai Safari Park. This immersive safari experience aims to resemble the animals' natural habitats as nearly as possible, allowing guests to observe these creatures behaving naturally and, in some cases, interacting with one another. Dubai Safari Park also has a Kid's Farm, a Grand Aviary, and a variety of entertaining activities and animal interactions.
Also Read- 9 new experiences at Dubai Safari Park to help you get closer to the animals
Location: Al Warqa 5, Dubai
Timings: 09:00 am - 05:00 pm
Tickets: AED 50 for adults | AED 20 for kids
Emirates Park Zoo
Nestled in the capital city of Abu Dhabi, Emirates Park & Zoo is another gem in the UAE's array of wildlife attractions. Spanning over 80,000 square meters, this zoo is home to a wide variety of animals, from big cats to reptiles and birds. The zoo is divided into 13 distinct zones dedicated to various animal species. The Wildlife Walk takes you face-to-face with beautiful Asian elephants and big cats. The snake alley is where you'll meet the anaconda and its other slithering companions. The brown bear is a content camper, but he prefers to sleep in his Bear Cave. What sets Emirates Zoo Park apart is its interactive approach to animal encounters. Visitors can participate in unique experiences such as feeding and playing with animals while being supervised by trained professionals. This zoo also offers accommodation, allowing people to spend the night amidst the animal habitats, creating a memorable experience for the entire family.
Emirates Park Zoo is very popular for the various experiences it provides. You can have breakfast with parrots, discover sea lions playing at the Animal Theatre, and even feed the giraffes if you wish to! Other zoo attractions include the Camel Farm, Crocodile Pool, Hippo House, Birds of Prey, Primate Paradise, Mammal Cave, Equine Enclosure, Giraffe Park, Bird Park, Reptile House, and Flamingo Park. There is also a petting zoo enclosure.
Location: 12th St, Al Bahyah, Abu Dhabi
Timings: 09:00 am - 09:00 pm
Tickets: AED 30 per person
Ras Al Khaimah Wildlife Park
Nestled amidst the rich history of Ras Al Khaimah, this wildlife park marries the allure of nature with the charm of heritage. This zoo is open every day for families in search of good animal attractions in the emirate. It is home to several animal species, including lions, panthers, crocodiles, tortoises, camels, horses, ostriches, and peacocks. Visitors can explore the picturesque landscapes, where animals reside in spacious and thoughtfully designed enclosures that blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings. This park not only offers a chance to witness wildlife up close but also allows visitors to immerse themselves in the cultural heritage of the region.
The chimpanzees at this zoo have achieved celebrity status. They reside in an air-conditioned enclosure where you can visit them, play with them, and even feed them! The Ras Al Khaimah Wildlife Park also has an equestrian club and a theater where visitors can enjoy horseback riding and other outdoor events and activities.
Location: Al Digdaga, Ras al Khaimah
Timings: 09:00 am - 09:00 pm
Tickets: AED 40 per person | Free for toddlers
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is the most captivating tourist attraction located at Dubai Mall – The largest mall in the world. The Underwater Zoo, located on level 2 above the Aquarium Tank, takes you through three biological Zones: Rainforest, Rocky Shore, and Living Ocean. Watch out for Otters, Piranha, Lionfish, Giant Spider Crabs, Seahorses, Garden Eels, Archerfish, Water Rats, Paddlefish, Cichlids, and many more wonderful aquatic animals in 40 different aquatic displays.
Rocky Shore - This is where the land meets the sea, a rugged, harsh environment where only the tough survive. If you don’t mind getting your hands wet, you can also reach out and touch some of the hardier rock pool inhabitants.
Rainforest - Imagine walking along the banks of a pristine riverbed surrounded by some of the most incredible freshwater animals alive. Dangerous Piranha, Giant Catfish, playful Otters, and Water Rats are just some of the animals you’ll meet here.
Living Ocean – Here, visitors are immersed in an enchanting underwater realm, where vibrant coral reefs and intricate ecosystems come to life, showcasing a diverse array of aquatic creatures from graceful sea turtles to elusive seahorses.
Location: Level 2, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai
Timings: 10:00 am – 12:00 am
Tickets: Start from AED 90
Also Read: Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo in Dubai Mall
UAE Pygmy Zoo
More like an animal farm, the UAE Pygmy Zoo is a one-of-a-kind wildlife attraction in the UAE. This one-of-a-kind zoo in Ajman is home to a variety of bird, reptile, and mammal species. It has the cutest array of tiny creatures in its petting farm area. Children can interact with pygmy goats, play with adorable puppies, and ride the pony and camel. Watch the colorful birds flaunting their beautiful plumage, take a picture with the zoo's resident macaws, feed the bunnies, or observe the turtles lying around. The UAE Pygmy Zoo has a variety of creatures to visit and learn about, including ostriches and emus, as well as deer and llamas.
This zoo is particularly focused on pygmy animals, which are known for their diminutive size and unique characteristics. Through its exhibits and educational programs, the UAE Pygmy Zoo encourages visitors to appreciate the intricacies of these lesser-known species.
Location: Al Zorah, Ajman
Timings: 03:00 pm to 11:00 pm | Weekends: 02:00 pm to 12:00 pm
Tickets: AED 5
The Zoo Wildlife Park
The Zoo Wildlife Park is located in Umm Al Quwain. It is home to a diverse range of big cats, including lions, lynx, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, and black panthers. There are also smaller tamed cats available for kids to play with. The zoo's resident brown bear is a huge hit, and he can typically be found reclining around his pen, enjoying the attention. Make friends with Abooba, a lovable orangutan. The witty fellow enjoys mischief and pleasant company. The bunnies are a great attraction for kids because they are energetic and always hungry - the children get to play with and feed them. Other species at the zoo include vultures, hyenas, Arabian oryx, and a black bear, among others.
Location: Kabir, Alzubair, Umm Al Quawain
Timings: Mon-Thu 03:30 pm - 08:00 pm | Fri - Sun 03:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Tickets: AED 25 per person | Free for toddlers
Other spots for Animal encounters in UAE:
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary: The Ras Al Khor Sanctuary is a wetland reserve where you can find over 450 species of animals. Every year, this vast reserve serves as a breeding site for animals like crabs, mammals, and fish, but the flamingos are the real attraction, they always steal the show in winter. You can look closely to find thousands of native bird species including the grey herons, great egrets, reef herons, cormorants, black-winged stilts, sandpipers, osprey, and other colorful bird species.
Also Read: Admire nature at its best at the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary in Dubai
Dubai Dolphinarium: Dubai Dolphinarium is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Dubai, which features the most distinctive indoor family entertainments in the UAE. One of the most well-known shows features the adorable dolphins playing with and splashing the audience while interacting with their trainers and jumping through hoops. They also have adorable seals, which are playful and sociable animals, in addition to dolphins. You can also decide to go swimming with the dolphins and have a close encounter that you will always remember!
Also Read: Top Parks in Dubai You Must Visit
Green Planet: The Green Planet is an indoor zoo and park located in Dubai's City Walk area. It features nearly 3,000 plants and creatures in its artificial "bio-dome" tropical rainforest, including birds, reptiles, and fish. Apart from animal interactions, the park also offers camping and a variety of other interesting experiences for tourists, making it one of the greatest indoor summer activities in Dubai. Popular experiences include – Meet the Anaconda, Camping in the Rainforest, Adopt an animal, Sloth encounter and many more.
Also Read: The Green Planet Dubai - The Best Things To See and Do
Crocodile Park: The Crocodile Park is the latest animal attraction in Dubai, where you can learn more about the biggest reptiles in the world – Crocodiles. This park, which is home to over 250 freshwater Nile crocodiles, provides animal lovers with an unmissable opportunity to get up close and personal with this amazing species. The park covers an area of 20,000 square meters and includes a museum on the history and future of crocodiles, a lake-themed aquarium with African feelings, and outdoor landscaped areas.
Also Read: Dubai Crocodile Park invites visitors to turn fear into educational fascination
Sharjah Wildlife Center: Arabia's Wildlife Centre, located in Sharjah Desert Park, is home to various species, including the Arabian Oryx, the UAE's national animal, and the Arabian leopard, the region's iconic big cat. These endangered species have their own large landscaped enclosures and are bred in the nearby Sharjah Wildlife Centre. Because they are rare animals to witness, it is a popular tourist destination in Sharjah. Sharjah Desert Park is also one of Sharjah's only parks with a conservation center and an Islamic Botanical Garden.
In conclusion, the UAE's collection of zoos and wildlife parks offers an impressive variety of experiences for animal lovers and conservation enthusiasts alike. From the vast landscapes of Dubai Safari Park to the intimate encounters at Emirates Park & Zoo, each establishment has its own unique charm and contributes to the broader mission of wildlife preservation and education. These zoos not only provide entertainment but also serve as crucial platforms for raising awareness about the importance of protecting our planet's biodiversity. So, whether you're a resident or a visitor to the UAE, be sure to explore these incredible destinations that celebrate the beauty and diversity of the animal kingdom.
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