Get ready for a safari like no other, because this epic journey of the beautiful outdoors is going to take you on a wild ride throughout the UAE, jumping from Emirate to Emirate. Here is a specially curated list of all the most fascinating zoos, animal enclosures and habitats to see the most unique and incredible animals right here in the UAE.
Also read: Major Beach Expansion Planned In Dubai: Abundant Green Spaces, Food Carts & Camping
1. Dubai Safari Park
Dubai Safari Park, a vast 119-hectare venue, is a seasonal attraction that closes during the summer months. It is home to approximately 3,000 animals, showcasing a remarkable diversity of wildlife. Within the expansive park, visitors can encounter 78 mammal species, including an impressive range of 10 different carnivores and 17 primates. Additionally, the park houses 50 types of reptiles, 111 varieties of birds, as well as various amphibians and invertebrates. Dubai Safari Park provides a unique opportunity for visitors to observe and appreciate the wonders of the animal kingdom in their natural habitat.
Guests can enjoy a safari journey at Explorer Village and experience entertaining shows such as The Amazing Creatures of the World at Asian Village Theatre, which is sure to captivate the younger audience. The park offers attractions like giraffe feeding, bird feeding, goat feeding, and pony walks, making it an ideal destination for families. Located on Al Warqa 5, Hatta Road, Dubai Safari Park offers different ticket options to cater to various preferences and experiences. Ticket prices vary based on the desired experience, with a Day Pass starting at AED 50 for adults, AED 20 for children aged three to 12, and free entry for children under three. Additionally, two accompanying individuals of a Person of Determination, with an original Person of Determination card, can enter for free.
Quick Deets
Location: Al Warqa 5 – Dubai
Timings: Daily 9am to 5pm
Tickets: Book your tickets on their website
2. Dubai Crocodile Park
Dubai’s Crocodile Park, the latest family-friendly attraction, recently opened just before Eid Al Fitr in 2023. Spanning 20,000 square meters, the park houses an impressive collection of 250 Nile crocodiles. These snappy reptiles of all ages thrive in a carefully controlled climate environment.
Beyond the captivating crocodile exhibits, the park offers a range of family-friendly experiences, including a unique natural history museum, an African lake-themed aquarium, and expansive outdoor landscaped areas. Visitors have the opportunity to view these magnificent creatures from different perspectives.
Situated in Dubai’s Mushrif, adjacent to Mushrif Park, the Dubai Crocodile Park welcomes animal lovers of all ages. Ticket prices are AED 95 for adults and AED 75 for children aged 3 to 12.
Quick Deets
Location: Mushrif – Dubai
Timings: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tickets: book your tickets on their website
3. The Green Planet
Green Planet, located in the heart of Dubai at City Walk, Al Wasl, is a must-visit destination for families. The bio-dome is divided into four levels: Canopy, Midstory, Forest Floor, and Flooded Rainforest. This immersive experience introduces visitors to a tropical rainforest environment, home to over 3,000 plants and animals.
Also read: 13 Things To Do In June In Dubai & Abu Dhabi 2023; Events, Concerts, Kids Activities & More
An exciting opportunity for UAE residents is the “Adopt an Animal” program. Participants can support and care for fascinating creatures in the rainforest, such as Lemon the sloth, Kendrick the lemur, and Amal the slow loris. By adopting an animal, individuals make a year-long commitment to provide ongoing care and support.
Apart from the adoption program, general admission tickets to Green Planet are available. Visitors, both children and adults, can explore the diverse flora and fauna, learn about cultivation and sustainability methods, and gain insights into interconnected systems. Ticket prices are AED 140 for general admission and AED 110 when booked online. Children under the age of three enjoy free entry.
Quick Deets
Location: City Walk – Al Wasl – Dubai
Timings: Daily 10am to 6pm
Tickets: book your tickets on their website
4. Sharjah Arabian Wildlife Centre
Arabian Wildlife Centre offers visitors an immersive experience with four captivating attractions. This desert park is home to a diverse range of creatures, including Arabian oryx, cheetahs, baboons, hyenas, as well as a variety of snakes, bugs, and reptiles. Visitors can explore the Islamic botanical gardens, discovering native flora, fauna, and local herbs and spices. The Natural History Museum is a popular highlight, featuring interactive exhibits that cover fascinating topics like the Big Bang, dinosaur fossils, and hands-on experiments with electricity. Young visitors can enjoy the petting zoo, where they can closely interact with animals such as donkeys, peacocks, goats, and camels.
Located on Al Dhaid Road, Interchange 9 in Sharjah, Arabian Wildlife Centre offers admission tickets priced at AED 20 per adult, while children under 13 can enter for free.
Today, #NatGeoExplorer and founder of National Geographic Photo Ark @JoelSartore made hissss-tory! 🐍 This Arabian cobra, photographed at the Arabian Wildlife Centre in Sharjah, is the 12,000th species added to the Ark pic.twitter.com/b8HycWCTWp
— National Geographic (@NatGeo) November 16, 2021
Quick Deets
Location: Al Dhaid Road, Interchange 9, Sharjah
Timings: mon, wed, thur 9am to 6:30pm | Friday 2pm to 6:30pm | sat, sun 11am to 6:30pm | Closed on Tuesdays
Tickets: book your tickets on their website
5. UAE Pygmy Zoo in Ajman
Located in the Al Zorah development of Ajman, the Pygmy Zoo offers a variety of family-friendly attractions. Visitors can enjoy horseback riding, the opportunity to feed animals, interact with adorable puppies and cats, and capture memorable moments with parrots in photos. The zoo also features a dedicated play area and an outdoor cinema exclusively for children, ensuring a delightful experience for young visitors. Various food vendors are available to cater to visitors’ culinary needs.
Ticket prices for the Pygmy Zoo start at AED 15 for adults and AED 10 for children aged three to 12. Children under three years old can enter for free, making it an accessible and affordable outing for families.
Quick Deets
Location: Al Zorah – Ajman
Timings: mon-thur 3pm to 11pm fri-sun 2pm to 12am
Tickets: book your tickets on their website
6. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is a vast marine park located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Spanning an area of 183,000 square meters, it consists of eight distinct realms that house over 100,000 marine animals. Visitors are transported through various realms, including MicroOcean, Endless Ocean, Tropical Ocean, Rocky Point, and Polar Ocean (featuring Arctic and Antarctica, which is yet to open). The park offers an array of interactive experiences, rides, animal encounters, presentations, live performances, dining options (both above and below water), and shopping experiences. Tickets can be purchased online, with prices set at AED 375 for adults and AED 290 for children, while children under three years old can enter for free.
Also read: Everything You Need To Know About Abu Dhabi SeaWorld; Timings, Prices, Attractions And More
Quick Deets
Location: Yas Island – Abu Dhabi
Timings: Daily 10am to 6pm
Tickets: book your tickets on their website
7. Al Ain Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Park
Al Ain Zoo, the largest and most renowned zoo in the region, offers a captivating experience for visitors with over 4,000 animals and a variety of exciting activities. From giraffe-feeding and camel-riding to the delightful Elezba petting zoo, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this well-maintained facility. The zoo’s transparent enclosures showcase both indigenous and exotic species, allowing visitors to observe fascinating animals like Arabian oryx, Barbary sheep, rhinos, hippos, tigers, and lions. Conveniently located near the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) Al Ain Women’s College on Al Nahyan the First Street, the zoo provides a memorable adventure for all. Ticket prices for Al Ain Zoo are AED 30 for adults and AED 10 for children aged three to 12 years.
Quick Deets
Location: Nahyan The First St – Shiab Al Ashkhar – Abu Dhabi
Timings: Daily 9am to 8pm
Tickets: book your tickets on their website
8. Emirates Park Zoo and Resort
Emirates Park Zoo offers an extraordinary encounter with a diverse range of animals. From majestic wildcats like lions, tigers, and leopards to graceful herbivores such as giraffes and zebras, and playful primates like capuchins, guests will be immersed in a world of fascinating creatures. The vibrant birdlife showcases magnificent owls, hawks, eagles, and colorful parrots, while reptiles and other intriguing animals add to the zoo’s diversity.
For those seeking thrills, an exhilarating zipline experience is available, adding an extra level of excitement to the visit. To create unique memories, guests can even enjoy dining with elephants, and feeding the hungry hippos adds an adventurous touch to the zoo experience. The Emirates Park Zoo is located in the Al Shahama area of Abu Dhabi, with tickets priced at AED 50 per person, and children under three years of age can enter for free.
Emirates Park Zoo collaborates with National Geographic in the Photo Ark project by Joel Sartore for an act of wildlife using the power of photography.#emiratesparkzoo #emirateszoo #nationalgeographic #natgeo pic.twitter.com/gcHHbjdAtZ
— Emirates Park Zoo and Resort (@emiratesparkzoo) September 30, 2021
Quick Deets
Location: 12th St – Al Bahyah – Abu Dhabi
Timings: weekdays 9am to 8pm | sat-sun 9am to 9pm
Tickets: book your tickets on their website
9. Hatta Honeybee Discovery Centre
Nestled amidst the Al Hajar mountains, the Hatta Honey Bee Garden and Discovery Centre offers a captivating experience for visitors to immerse themselves in the world of bees and gain insights into their intricate ecosystem. Through guided tours and workshops, guests can explore the centre and its surroundings, getting up close to 300 hives and observing the fascinating dynamics of a bee colony. The educational tour provides valuable knowledge about the different roles of bees, the honey production process, and the crucial role they play in pollination and biodiversity conservation.
Also read: 14 Free Evening Escapes In Dubai: Unveiling The City’s Nighttime Treasures
Located on Al Fay Road in Hatta, the Hatta Honey Bee Garden and Discovery Centre welcomes visitors with ticket prices of Dh50 per adult and Dh30 per child. It’s an opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of bees while surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the Al Hajar mountains.
Quick Deets
Location: 2 km from Hill Park – Dubai
Timings: Daily 9am to 5pm
Tickets: book your tickets on their website
10. Umm Al Quwain – The Zoo Wild Life Park
Umm Al Quwain Zoo Wildlife Park offers a captivating experience for visitors to observe a diverse range of animals, including lions, tigers, bears, crocodiles, and the beloved celebrity resident, Habouba the orangutan. Habouba happily joins guests on leisurely strolls around the park, adding an extra charm to the visit. Visitors also have the opportunity to feed the animals and enjoy horseback riding for added enjoyment and adventure.
Situated along E55 Al Shuwaib-Umm Al Quwain Road at Kabir – Alzubair, Umm Al Quwain Zoo Wildlife Park provides a convenient location for animal enthusiasts. The ticket price for all ages is AED 25, ensuring an accessible and affordable experience for everyone.
Quick Deets
Location: Kabir – Alzubair – Umm Al Quawain
Timings: Daily 8am to 8pm
Tickets: book your tickets on their website
11. The RAK Zoo
Covering an expansive area of 1 million square meters, RAK Zoo is home to a diverse collection of 40 wild, rare, and endangered animals. Visitors can admire African and white lions, white and exceptionally rare golden tigers, black panthers, cheetahs, and a variety of beautiful birds, creating a captivating experience within the zoo.
In addition to the fascinating animal enclosures, the zoo offers a range of facilities for visitors to enjoy. These include a women and children’s horse-riding club for training purposes, restaurants and cafes, a dedicated children’s play area with toys, cycling paths, horse and camel riding tracks, family-friendly walking areas, and designated rest zones, ensuring a well-rounded experience for visitors of all ages.
Conveniently located near Saqr Park in Ras Al Khaimah, RAK Zoo welcomes visitors with an affordable ticket price of AED 40 per person. Children under four years old can enter for free, making it an accessible destination for families to enjoy.
Quick Deets
Location: Ras al Khaimah
Timings: Daily 9am to 9am
Tickets: book your tickets here
You may also like: 6 New Indoor Parks UAE Has To Look Forward To This Summer
