Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo: how to buy, prices and discounts

Among the hundreds of attractions capable of surprising those looking for things to see and do in Dubai, besides the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world), we find the Dubai Aquarium, which is right next door.

With a huge variety of underwater creatures and ecosystems to explore, whether you prefer to observe them or dive in and swim with them, there is something for everyone here. In this post you will find the complete guide to visiting the Dubai Aquarium with prices, offers, recommendations and details to make the most of your visit. Let's get started!

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Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Tickets

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Tickets

Perfect if you want to visit the famous Dubai Aquarium and the Underwater Zoo without queues to make the most of your visit and not waste time.

From $42 at Hellotickets

With this entry you will be able to see no less than 33,000 aquatic creatures in 10 million liters of water. It is so spectacular that it has become a benchmark for this type of attractions and it is not surprising that it is part of the 25 best aquariums in the world.

Buying these tickets you will have access to the entire complex: the 48-meter tunnel and the three zones of the aquarium, divided into the living ocean, coastal reefs and tropical zone. For an extra fee, you can swim with sharks and even feed them. From jellyfish and penguins to crustaceans, mighty sharks and the King Crocodile, the largest recorded reptile of its species, the diversity of marine life is endless at the Dubai Aquarium

Why choose these tickets: If you are only interested in seeing the aquarium and don't want to do any extra activities.

Recommended if... You don't want to queue at the aquarium ticket office to get your ticket and have it in advance.

Booking the standard Dubai Aquarium ticket allows you to enter the facilities with access to all areas.

Apart from that, you can find other types of tickets that include extra activities such as fish feeding, guided tour or swimming with animals, among others.

The price is from 38 € and can be purchased at the box office when you visit the Dubai Mall, an option that I do not recommend much and the reason is the queues.

Yes, with your Dubai Explorer Pass you can visit the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo at the best price.

This pass offers discounted admission to the best theme parks in Dubai, including Legoland Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai, Atlantis Aquaventure and Motiongate Dubai; as well as boat rides and the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi experience.

In total there are 48 attractions that you can enjoy for 60 days from the date of purchase. For 5 to 7 day trips in Dubai, this is the most convenient offer.

Yes, you have several combination ticket options that include the aquarium and the Dubai Zoo. Remember that you are in a city where there are tourist attractions everywhere, so here are the options most recommended by visitors.

Combined tickets Burj Khalifa At The Top + Dubai Aquarium

The first combined alternative offers you the exclusive enjoyment of two must-see attractions in Dubai: the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Aquarium.

By booking tickets for the Dubai Aquarium and Burj Khalifa you will have access to the 124th and 125th floors of the Burj Khalifa and all areas of the Aquarium.

The price of this ticket starts from 67 ¤.

Combined tickets Burj Khalifa + Dubai Aquarium + Dubai Frame

Want more attractions to see at the Dubai Marina? Up the fun with three of Dubai's most iconic attractions with this ticket that you can buy from $88.5.

Enjoy all there is to see and do at the Burj Khalifa inside, which rises 828 meters and has hundreds of spaces to explore inside. You can also enter the observation deck on its 124th and 125th floors, with the best panoramic views of the city.

The next attraction in this entry opened in 2018, the Dubai Frame. It is a pair of towering 150-meter-high towers connected by a 93-meter observation deck bridge.

Burj Khalifa + Dubai Aquarium + Desert Safari combined ticket

Dubai is a desert area, so the most complete visits include a combination of cosmopolitan modernism and desert excursions, one of the things to do in Dubai with the family. Sign up to enjoy these 3 must-do Dubai experiences from 109 €.

Start the day with the views offered by the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, stroll through the 1200 stores of the Dubai Mall between the waterfall with sculptures of swimmers and visit the Aquarium and Dubai Zoo.

Finally, live a classic Dubai experience when you are picked up in a 4x4 at your accommodation to take you to the Arabian Desert. Travel to the dunes and participate in desert camp activities such as camel riding, henna painting and shisha smoking. End the day with a delicious buffet accompanied by unlimited drinks.

Dubai is also for children and the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo proves it by letting children under 3 years old enter for free.

However, when you buy tickets for the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo for children over 3 years old you will see that the price is the same as for adults.

Children under 3 years old get free admission to the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, as do persons with disabilities and their companion. However, the latter two must go to the ticket office to collect their tickets.

Absolutely! Booking tickets for the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo online will save you from queuing at the ticket office and save you time when visiting other areas of Dubai.

The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is open from Monday to Sunday throughout the year, including public holidays on the following schedule:

• Monday to Friday it is open between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm.
• On Saturdays and Sundays its hours are extended, between 10:00 and 24:00 hours.

But be careful! Admission is allowed until 30 minutes before the aquarium closes.

The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is located inside the Dubai Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the world and a landmark in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

It is easy to get to the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Just take the Dubai Metro from any of the stations in the city and get off at the Dubai Mall stop.

You can also get on one of the best tourist buses in Dubai and get off at the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall stop, (number 1 on the red route and number 15 on the blue route).

The activities in the aquarium are as wide as the enclosure itself and we could divide them into two main groups: the things to do with the sharks of the Dubai Aquarium and the activities with the rest of the marine fauna of the place.

Activities with sharks

• Cage diving with sharks: the experience is done using snorkeling equipment inside a safety cage in the aquarium. This approach not only allows you to see the different species of sharks, but also to observe rays, piranhas, clown fish, and many other marine species up close.
• Shark feeding: feeding sharks gives you a unique opportunity to learn about the feeding habits and behavior of these predators.
• Diving with sharks: if you are a marine life lover and you like adrenaline, this diving experience is definitely for you. After a brief theoretical explanation about diving, you will be equipped with everything you need to dive into the tank.

Other highlights of activities at the Dubai Aquarium

• Giant crocodile watching: this aquarium boasts of housing the largest crocodile in the world. It weighs about 750 kg and is 5 meters long.
• Discover scuba diving: if you are a beginner in scuba diving, this activity is perfect for you. You will be able to experience the sensation of breathing underwater while observing the beauty of the underwater world under the supervision of experts.
• Meet the otters: these charming creatures are a real delight to observe and learn about their behavior in their natural habitat.
• Observation of nocturnal animals in the area: a perfect activity to do in Dubai at night. At the Dubai Aquarium, night activities are also offered to observe animals that are active after sunset.
• Visit the mantas: mantas are one of the most fascinating species in the underwater world and at the Dubai Aquarium you can learn more about their lifestyle and behavior.

The estimated time needed to visit the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is 2 to 3 hours.

However, consider that due to its location in the Dubai Mall, there are many other things to do such as shopping, seeing its colorful sculptures or doing other activities inside the aquarium itself (such as diving with the sharks) that might require more space in your schedule.

Consequently, I recommend that you reserve at least one full afternoon for this activity.

Ideally, plan your visit during the aquarium's own activities if you are interested in participating in them.

• Stingrays feeding at 10:30 am.
• Shark feeding at 2:00 pm.
• Presentation of the otters at 14:30 hours.
• Presentation of the piranhas at 14:45 hours.
• Crocodile feeding, including the star of the show: King Crocodile, at 16:00 hours.
• Presentation of the penguins at 2:30 pm.

On the other hand, those interested in learning more about marine life can take daily tours guided by experts who will teach them how they care for these animals and what makes each species unique. These visits are free, so don't miss this opportunity.