10 Best Zoos and Aquariums in Dubai

Dubai is one of the most important cities in the United Arab Emirates, brimming with luxury and grandeur in every detail, offering first-class entertainment options for locals and visitors alike. That's why there are a number of zoos and aquariums in and around the city that are essential to see and do in Dubai.

Start with the classics: the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo and The Lost Chambers Aquarium. You can also go to the Dubai Butterfly Garden and enjoy all its splendour and colour, or experience a unique adventure at The Green Planet. Discover the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary and enjoy an interactive experience with dolphins at the Atlantis water park. The options are endless, and I'll tell you more below.

With an imposing structure that makes it one of the largest aquariums in the world, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo preserves important treasures from the underwater world. At least 150 different species of animals live in this aquatic temple, which you can discover as you explore it.

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 aquarium's biggest attractions is its underwater 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 as you walk through it you can see various marine species swimming in the water.

In addition, at the aquarium you can also meet one of the largest reptiles in the world in captivity, the famous King Croc, a 40-year-old saltwater crocodile from Australia.

Useful information

• Price: tours of the aquarium usually start at £37 per person.
• Duration: the tour lasts between 1 and 3 hours.

For many, this is 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, which swim around in approximately 11 million litres of water.

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

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

If you wish, you can 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, a visit to this venue is often combined with Aquaventure Waterpark.

Useful information

• Price: around £54 per person.
• Duration: there is no set time for visiting the site.

Although not officially a zoo, Atlantis Water Park in Dubai offers visitors an incredible aquatic experience: interaction and coexistence with dolphins. That's why it's a must-see on your 3-day itinerary in Dubai or even less, especially if you love aquatic life.

Admission to Atlantis Aquaventure Park allows you to enjoy it in many ways, but nothing compares to the dolphin experience. Participants are provided with all the necessary equipment for the activity, including a wetsuit, life jacket and towel.

Before starting, the guide briefly explains what the activity involves, the safety measures and how to interact with these gentle marine animals. During this magical experience, you can touch the dolphins, interact with them and even play with them. Participants also receive a photograph as a souvenir of this unique moment.

Useful information

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

Reptile lovers, especially crocodile enthusiasts, will find Dubai Crocodile Park the perfect place to visit. This park is home to at least 250 crocodiles from the Nile and is ideal for families. In fact, if you are in Dubai in July or August with children, admission is usually free.

The park is a huge complex that houses an African lake-themed aquarium, a savannah-inspired garden area, a natural history museum, as well as shops and restaurants. Tickets to Dubai Crocodile Park include access to all of the above areas.

In the park area, you can observe crocodiles in their natural habitat, consisting of small lakes, waterfalls, sandbanks and islands. It is possible to see specimens measuring up to 5 metres long, which can be very intimidating.

In the aquarium, the habitat of these animals is displayed 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 exhibits on the evolution of this species and how it has survived to the present day.

Useful information

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

The Green Planet is one of those zoos you never want to leave. Here, the animals are treated in a more intimate way and even have funny names. During a visit to this wildlife conservation area, you can see 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 viewing the animals, the zoo offers other activities such as encounters, which are immersive experiences with birds, sloths, armadillos, anteaters, reptiles and other species. These are 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 trips, rainforest camping experiences , summer camps and the chance to be a zoo keeper for a day. A wide range of options for fun, education and contact with animal life.

Useful information

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

If you visit Dubai in October, one of the zoos you can include in your itinerary is Dubai Safari Park, as this month the park usually reopens after its annual summer break (June to September) due to high temperatures.

This space is home to some 3,000 animals, including 78 species of mammals, 50 types of reptiles, 111 species of birds, as well as other invertebrates and amphibians. The area covers a total of 119 hectares of land and is divided into different 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 explorer village, where the cheetah, the fastest land mammal, stands out. You can also enjoy a safari experience.
• The children's farm, a space designed for children to interact with ponies, goats, sheep, donkeys, birds, ducks and other animals.

Dubai Safari Park also offers two great options for visiting, as you can explore the zoo during the day or take a night tour for a different experience.

Useful information

• Price: around £21 per person.
• Duration: it is estimated that it takes between 4 and 5 hours to visit the entire complex.

The Dubai Butterfly Garden could be called the temple of butterflies in Dubai. This zoo is home to more than 15,000 butterflies of around 45 species. The impressive structure consists of 10 huge domes designed with climate control to preserve these animals and allow them to coexist.

The place is characterised by its colourfulness and a variable temperature between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius, which is ideal not only for butterflies but also for growing plants and providing a pleasant atmosphere for visitors.

Tickets to the Dubai Butterfly Garden include access not only to the large domes, but also to the children's cinema, the butterfly museum, the souvenir shop and much more. If you are concerned about getting there because you don't know your way around Dubai, you can get there by car, direct bus or public transport.

Useful information

• Price: from £13 per person.
• Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Sharjah Aquarium is located about 25 km from downtown Dubai. This space is part of the museum network of the city of Sharjah, a neighbouring city of Dubai that 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, you can see seahorses, stingrays, reef sharks, clownfish and much more. There are 21 aquariums containing at least 1.8 million litres of water.

As its function is not limited to displaying marine life, the Sharjah Aquarium also serves as 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 enjoy an interactive experience in the touch pool, ideal for families. A visit to the aquarium can be combined with a private excursion to Sharjah from Dubai to make the most of the trip and learn more about this city.

Useful information

• Price: approximately £6 per person.
• Opening hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday to Thursday and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Fridays. Opening hours vary during Ramadan.

More than just a zoo, the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected wildlife area located in the heart of Dubai. In the hyper-arid environment of the city , there is a space full of wetlands where various species of unique importance to biodiversity coexist.

In this area of approximately 10 km², you can find birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, invertebrates and some plants. The place is home to several migratory birds, which during certain seasons, such as winter, take over the area to survive.

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

Useful information

• Price: free admission.
• Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday to Thursday and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Fridays. During winter, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Although not primarily designed as a zoo, the Falcon Hospital and Museum offers a wonderful experience of bird watching, interaction with birds and learning.

At this place, dedicated mainly to the health of falcons, you can learn a lot about them and take 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. This enclosure houses special tools and equipment used for falconry.
• A tour of the extensive aviary, where you can observe the birds in free flight.
• A visit to the examination room to see the falcons undergoing feather and claw repair.
• Tasting of an intercontinental buffet, to sample Arabic food in the hospital's conference centre.

Useful information

• Price: around £35 per person.
• Opening hours: from 10:00 to 14:00 Monday to Thursday and 10:00 on Fridays and Sundays. Opening hours vary during Ramadan.