Dubai Zoos and Aquariums

Dubai is one of the most important cities in the United Arab Emirates, full of luxury and majesty in every detail, offering first-class entertainment options for locals and visitors alike. As such, there are a number of zoos and aquariums in and around the city that are essential things to see and do in Dubai.

Start with the classics: the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo and The Lost Chambers Aquarium. Or head to the Dubai Butterfly Garden and enjoy its splendour and colour or experience a unique adventure at The Green Planet. Visit the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary and experience dolphin interaction at the Atlantis water park. There's no end to the options, and here's more.

With an imposing structure that makes it one of the largest aquariums in the world, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo preserves important treasures of the underwater world. This aquatic temple is home to at least 150 different species of animals that you can learn about as you explore.

Hundreds of animals such as seals, piranhas, crocodiles, rays and sharks live in its more than 10 million litres of water. This place is ideal to visit with children, as it will be a fun experience, but at the same time one of contemplation and learning about marine life.

On the other hand, one of the main attractions of the aquarium is its aquatic tunnel. This structure allows visitors to observe the animals from a different angle, with only the glass of the large tank separating them. The tunnel is 48 metres long and when passing through it you can see various marine species swimming in the water.

In addition, in the aquarium it is also possible to meet one of the largest reptiles in captivity in the world, the famous King Croc, a 40-year-old saltwater crocodile from Australia.

Useful information

• Price: Aquarium tours usually start at €42 per person.
• Duration: The stipulated time for this tour is between 1 and 3 hours.

This is for many the best aquarium in Dubai. The aquarium is part of the Aquaventure Waterpark complex , a huge water park in the city. It is home to at least 65,000 animals, circulating in approximately 11 million litres of water.

The Lost Chambers Aquarium is a themed aquarium, inspired by the kingdom of Atlantis. On a visit, you can see:

• The Ambassador's Lagoon, which is the main marine exhibit, in a seemingly endless tank.
• Some 21 exhibits of species such as rays, groupers, clownfish, sharks, jellyfish and the famous blue surgeonfish.
• 14 themed chambers housing interesting artefacts.

If you wish, you could join the diving and snorkelling experiences offered by the aquarium. In addition, there are many other activities to do in this fascinating space, such as yoga, meditation and a visit to the fish hospital. Given its location, the aquarium experience is often combined with Aquaventure Waterpark.

Useful information

• Price: around €54 per person.
• Duration: there is no stipulated time to visit the site.

Although not officially a zoo, the Atlantis Dubai Water Park allows its visitors an incredible aquatic experience: interaction and coexistence with dolphins. This is a must on your 3-day itinerary in Dubai or even less, especially if you love aquatic life.

Entry to Atlantis Aquaventure Park allows you to enjoy it in a variety of ways, but nothing compares to the dolphin experience. For this, participants receive the necessary equipment for the activity such as a wetsuit, life jacket and towel.

Before starting the activity, the guide briefly explains what the activity consists of, safety measures and how to interact with these gentle marine animals. During this magical experience it is possible to touch the dolphins, interact and even play with them. In addition, participants receive a photograph as a record of this unique moment.

Useful information

• Price: approximately 117€ per person.
• Duration: generally, the stipulated time is 1 hour.

Fans of reptiles, especially crocodiles, will find the Dubai Crocodile Park a perfect place. The park is home to at least 250 crocodiles from the Nile and is ideal for a family visit. In fact, if you're in Dubai in July or August with children, entry is usually free.

The space functions as a huge complex, housing the African lake-themed aquarium, the savannah-inspired garden area, the natural history museum, as well as shops and restaurants. Buying tickets to the Dubai Crocodile Park gives you access to all of the above areas.

In the park area, crocodiles can be seen in their natural habitat of small lakes, waterfalls, sandbanks and islands. It is possible to see specimens that measure up to 5 metres in length, becoming very intimidating.

Once in the aquarium, the habitat of these animals is shown in the aquatic areas, as they have the ability to hold their breath for up to 1 hour. They also have a third eyelid that helps protect their eyes from contact with water. The museum offers information and samples of the evolution of this species to survive up to the present day.

Useful information

• Price: from 23€ per person.
• Opening hours: from 10:00 to 20:00.

The Green Planet is one of those zoos you don't want to leave. Here, the animals are treated in a more friendly way and even have funny names. During a visit to this wildlife conservation space you can meet at least a dozen species that will leave you speechless.

This zoo is home to Avo, the anteater; the white-headed marmoset, a monkey from Colombia; a bat with 1.8-metre wings; a blue and gold macaw called Goldie; Limón, the sloth; Kendrick, the lemur and many more animals.

In addition to animal appreciation, other activities at the zoo include encounters, which are immersive experiences with birds, sloths, armadillos, anteaters, reptiles and other species. Usually accompanied by a guide or biologist, who provides visitors with as much information as possible about the animals.

The Green Planet also offers school excursions, rainforest camping experiences , summer camps and the experience of being a zookeeper for a day. A range of options for fun, education and contact with animal life.

Useful information

• Price: from 43€ per person.
• Opening hours: from 10:00 to 18:00.

If you visit Dubai in October, one of the zoos to include in your itinerary is the Dubai Safari Park, as this is the month when the place usually opens its doors again after the annual break during the summer (from June to September) due to the high temperatures.

This space is home to about 3 thousand animals, corresponding to 78 species of mammals, 50 types of reptiles, 111 species of birds, as well as other invertebrate animals and amphibians. The area covers a total of 119 hectares of land and is divided by environments and themes, which are:

• The Asian village, where you can see the famous moon bear , an endangered species, and other animals representative of the Asian continent.
• The African village, with animals such as the African elephant and other mammals such as the meerkat.
• The explorers' village, where the cheetah, the fastest land mammal, stands out. You can also enjoy a safari experience.
• The children's farm, a planned space for children to share with ponies, goats, sheep, donkeys, birds, ducks and other animals.

The Dubai Safari Park also offers two great options for the tour, as it is possible to visit the zoo during the day or take a nocturnal visit, for a different experience to the traditional ones.

Useful information

• Price: around €243 per person.
• Duration: it is estimated that it takes between 4 and 5 hours to visit the whole complex.

You could call the Dubai Butterfly Garden as the temple of butterflies in Dubai. This zoo is home to more than 15,000 butterflies corresponding to some 45 species. The impressive structure is made up of 10 huge domes designed with a controlled climate for the preservation and coexistence of these animals.

The place is characterised by its colourful and variable temperature between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius, which is ideal not only for the butterflies, but also for the cultivation of plants and provides a pleasant atmosphere for visitors.

Tickets to the Dubai Butterfly Garden give you access not only to the large domes, but also to the children's cinema, butterfly museum, souvenir shop and much more. Equally, if you're worried about getting to the site because you don't know your way around Dubai, it can be reached by car, direct bus or public transport.

Useful information

• Price: from €13 per person.
• Opening hours: from 09:00 to 18:00.

The Sharjah Aquarium is located about 25 km from downtown Dubai. It is part of the network of museums in the city of Sharjah, a neighbouring city to Dubai, which is of great cultural importance to the United Arab Emirates.

This aquarium is home to a diversity of marine life with approximately 100 species. In its large tanks it is possible to see seahorses, sea rays, reef sharks, clown fish and much more. There are 21 aquariums containing at least 1.8 million litres of water.

As its function is not only limited to exhibiting marine life, the Sharjah Aquarium fulfils the role of an educational centre, with various programmes such as turtle rehabilitation. This is to promote the preservation of ecosystems and raise awareness of the importance of protecting the environment.

Visitors can participate in some of the workshops organised by the institution, observe the feeding process of the species and live an interactive experience in the touch pool, ideal for sharing with the family. A visit to the aquarium can be combined with a private excursion to Sharjah from Dubai to take advantage of the tour and learn more about the city.

Useful information

• Price: approximately €7 per person.
• Opening hours: 8am-8pm Saturday-Thursday and 4-8pm Friday. Opening times vary during Ramadan.

More than a zoo, the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected wildlife area located in the heart of Dubai city. In the hyper-arid environment of the city, a wetland area is home to a variety of species of unique biodiversity importance.

Birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, invertebrates and some plants can be found in this area of approximately 10 km². The site is home to several migratory birds, which during some seasons such as winter take over the site to survive.

Thus, this enclosure allows not only the appreciation of this natural wonder, but also promotes the importance of preserving wetlands. When visiting this space you can see flamingos, mallards, teals, ducks, shorebirds, birds of prey, songbirds and much more.

Useful information

• Price: free admission.
• Duration: from 9:00 to 16:00 hours from Saturday to Thursday and from 14:00 to 18:00 hours on Fridays. During the winter, from 07:30 to 17:00.

Although not essentially a zoo, the Falcon Hospital and Museum is a wonderful experience of bird appreciation, interaction and learning.

At this place, dedicated primarily to the health of falcons, it is possible to learn a lot about them and get beautiful photographs holding one on your arm. The experience includes:

• A visit to the falconry museum, a practice dating back at least four thousand years. The museum houses special tools and equipment used for the activity.
• A tour of the extensive aviary, where you can observe the birds in free flight.
• Visit to the examination room, to see the falcons in the process of repairing their feathers and claws.
• Tasting of an intercontinental steak, to taste the Arabian food in the hospital's conference centre.

Useful information

• Price: around €41 per person.
• Opening hours: 10:00 to 14:00 Monday to Thursday and 10:00 on Fridays and Sundays. Opening times vary during Ramadan.