Your complete guide to Dubai Safari Park

• About
• Attractions
• Timings and Location
• FAQs

No one has ever recreated animals’ natural habitat within an urban setting in such a seamless manner like the team of Dubai Safari Park. Sad to say, the park is closed for summer. But it will reopen to the public in September 2021, hopefully with some exciting new attractions!

A marching band with exotic animals and birds lead a procession to mark the closure of the park. The authorities will move the animals and birds to shaded areas and cooler enclosures to protect the inhabitants from the sweltering summer heat. Renovations and expansion of the park are also expected during the hiatus.

Previously, this popular destination closed its gates for the public in May 2018 for renovation purposes. The redesigned facility has added several changes to enhance the experience for visitors.

Read on to learn about the attractions, timings and ticket prices at the Dubai Safari Park.

Note – Following its closure for summer, Dubai Safari Park will reopen to the public on September 27th, 2021.

About the Dubai Safari Park

Situated in the middle of the desert in Al Warqaa, the wildlife facility houses an expanded community of 3,000 birds, mammals, invertebrates and amphibians. It is also home to the African elephants, the world’s largest land mammal.

Dubai Safari Park offers visitors a plethora of interactive activities, awareness programmes along with the opportunity to feed the magnificent animals by hand. There are also various facilities in the park that make their visit more convenient and fun. A few of such amenities in the park are as follows:

• Restaurants and kiosks
• Baby changing rooms
• First aid facility
• Toilets
• Separate prayer areas for male and female

Dubai Safari Park Attractions

The Safari Park Dubai makes an eye-catching first impression with its beautiful lakes and verdant landscaping. A fleet of eco-friendly vehicles takes you around the gargantuan park.

The 119-hectare safari is divided into different zones, each featuring distinctive topography and animal population. Let’s find out what are the themes of these zones and what kind of animals they have.

Arabian Desert Safari

Want to see an Arabian Oryx in all its glory? This drive-through attraction is the place to be. A Dubai Safari Park marshall greets visitors before they begin the trip. During the short journey, visitors encounter some of the best-known animals in the Arabian Peninsula, from the Arabian oryx to gazelles and camels. However, the Hero Animal of this attraction is the Arabian Wolf!

• Native animals: Arabian Oryx, Addax, Arabian gazelle, Sand gazelle, Mountain gazelle and Scimitar-horned Oryx.

Explorer Village

The Safari Journey at the Explorer Village is the main attraction at the park. The traditional open safari transports you to the jungles of Asia and Africa for close encounters with their resident animal population. Visitors can explore the village in specially designed vehicles and spot many animal species like zebra, water buffalo and cheetah (the village’s Hero Animal).

Families love the cheetah run area, where they get the chance to see the frisky beasts in action. The place also offers giraffe feeding activities and a bird show.

• Native animals: Hippo, South African Giraffe, Sarus cranes, Guineafowl, Baboon, Scimitar-horned Oryx, Greater Kudu, Striped Hyena, Impala, Zebra and many more

African Village

Another go-to area in the safari park is the African Village, home to a range of exotic animal species like majestic white lions, giraffes, and the hero of this zone, the African elephants! The pachyderms are the star attraction at the park.

The Grand Aviary is the highlight of this attraction and the best place for keen birdwatchers. Making the experience more interesting is the guides who help you spot various rare birds during the journey. Don’t forget to drop by the reptile house the next time you get the chance to visit the park.

• Native animals: White Lion, Antelope, Meerkat, Gorilla, Lemur, Chimpanzee, Cheetah and more.

Asian Village

From tigers to gibbons, the Asian Village is home to popular native species from the Asian continent. Visitors learn fun and exciting things about the animals from the park’s expert keepers and guides. The Hero Animal of this attraction is the Moon Bear, also known as the Asiatic black bear.

• Native animals: Gibbon, Southern Cassowary and Mandarin Duck.

Kids Farm

Another attraction in Dubai Safari is the specially curated Kids Farm, a fun-filled combination of a farm and a petting zoo. In the Kids Farm, the little ones learn about traditional farm animals like chickens, goats and sheep. Here, kids enjoy connecting with nature, learning how to ride ponies and visiting the bird aviary.

Apart from the farm, other kid-friendly attractions at the safari park include:

• Giraffe feeding
• Kids interactive activities
• Grand aviary

Timings and Location

Dubai Safari Park Timings

The Dubai Safari timings are 09:00 am to 05:00 pm daily. A tour of the whole park easily take over 5 hours, so make sure you have enough time to explore everything when you plan your visit. 

Schedule of show timings

The best way to make the most of your trip is to schedule your visit according to the park’s daily attractions. Here the timings for the shows:

• Bird Show (Small Theatre Show): 10:00 am to 10:30 am | 01:30 pm to 02:00 pm
• Amazing Creatures of the World (Big Theatre Show): 11:30 am to 12:00 am | 03:00 pm to 03:30 pm
• Raptor Show (Open field): 04:00 pm to 04:30 pm

Dubai Safari Park Location

It is located in Al Warqa’a 5 and is approximately a 12-minute drive away from the neighbourhood of International City. The Safari Park can be easily accessed by either the Al Awir/ Ras Al Khor Road or the Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street (D54). The park is close to residents of villas for rent in Mirdif and those living in the flats for rent in Al Warqaa.

Other Information

Parking in Dubai Safari Park

There are over 3,500 free parking spots in the park, with transport to and from the main gate.

Dubai Safari Park Contact Number

You can contact on their toll-free number: 800900. The official website also has a handy feedback form if you wish to leave any comments after a visit. 

Sustainability and Conservation Efforts in Dubai Safari Park

There is more to the ambitious attraction than just entertainment. The park is built on a landfill site and, in doing so, has transformed the area into a reusable space. Moreover, the park has also adopted several eco-friendly and sustainable technologies like harnessing solar energy to power its facilities and electric vehicles.

Other efforts include repurposing food and animal waste which is then used as fertiliser in the park. Several recycle bins are also spread throughout the facility for visitors to use. The park also makes efforts in protecting endangered species through extensive scientific research.

Our Verdict

The Dubai Safari Park offers an immersive wildlife experience unlike any other in the UAE. A lot of work has gone into making sure the animals here are comfortable, a marked improvement to the cramped environs of the erstwhile Dubai Zoo. We definitely recommend it for a day of fun for all animal lovers in Dubai and abroad!

FAQs

What is the Dubai Safari Park Tickets Price?

The Dubai Safari Park entry fee is AED 50 for adults and AED 20 for children. A Combo Dubai Safari ticket costs AED 85 for adults and AED 30 for children. Ensure that you take advantage of these Dubai Safari Park offers if you plan to visit with family!

Entry is free for kids less than three years old as well as for the People of Determination. Differently-abled guests are expected to present their SANAD Cards upon entry and are allowed to bring two companions.

Those looking to book Dubai Safari Park tickets online can do so via the park’s official website.

How to get to Dubai Safari Park?

The best way to get to Dubai Safari Park is by car. However, for those who don’t have a car, the easiest way to get to the Safari Park by public transportation is to take the Metro to the Creek Metro Stop on the Green Line. From there you would need to take a taxi. The taxi ride from the Creek Metro Station to the Dubai Safari Zoo is about 16 minutes. 

What happened to the Dubai Zoo?

One of the things that a lot of visitors to the safari park in Dubai ask is what happened to the original Dubai Zoo in Jumeirah. The Dubai Zoo officially closed down in 2018 and the animals were then moved to the Dubai Safari Park. If you were a frequent visitor to the zoo in Dubai, you will certainly enjoy this park. 

Apart from the attractions, a thermal camera has also been installed in the park and manual thermometers are used to screen guests. A social distance of two metres is enforced with tickets placed on the floors to guide visitors.

When will Dubai Safari Park reopen?

The Dubai Safari Park has closed its doors for the summer season. It will reopen in September 2021, hopefully with many new fun-packed attractions.

If you fancy living close to the next adventure capital of Dubai, check out these properties for rent in Al Warqaa. Looking for other leisurely pursuits in the city? Plan your next trip to Dubai Parks and Resorts, which is fun for the whole family. For more options, consider the many theme parks in Dubai.

This brings us to the end of our review of the newly reopened Dubai Safari Park. For more updates on all, there is to see and do in the city, subscribe to MyBayut.