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Zoos in Dubai offer much more than just a glimpse of wildlife; they create immersive experiences that blend fun, learning, and conservation. Alongside the city’s dazzling skyscrapers and luxury shopping, Dubai’s world-class zoos and aquariums showcase exotic animals, marine life, and desert species in unique settings. Families can enjoy interactive exhibits, kids can learn about nature, and adventurers can explore underwater tunnels or safari reserves. Whether you are a solo traveller, a couple, or with family, these zoos in Dubai promise unforgettable encounters with nature and wildlife.
10 Best Zoos In Dubai
Zoos in Dubai bring travelers close to exotic wildlife, rare marine species, and desert animals while offering fun, education, and unforgettable experiences for families, couples, and solo visitors.
1. Dubai Aquarium And Underwater Zoo
Photo: Dmytro Bukhantsov / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Located inside the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is a suspended aquarium. Here you can walk through a 48-metre tunnel surrounded by over 33,000 aquatic animals, including sharks, rays, and colourful reef fish. The atmosphere is enchanting, with blue-lit waters creating a magical experience. For an exciting change, you can also go on glass-bottom boat rides, shark dives, or even cage snorkelling. You can also meet otters, penguins, crocodiles and even some rare animals that only come out at night in the Underwater Zoo area. The aquarium and underwater zoo ticket price in Dubai ranges between AED 200 and AED 300.
Location: The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai
Special Experiences: Glass-bottom boat rides, shark dives, cage snorkelling, 48-metre underwater tunnel walk
Nearby Attractions: Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountain, Souk Al Bahar
Suggested Read: Wadi Hatta Park Adventures You Didn’t Know You Needed
2. The Lost Chambers Aquarium
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Inside Atlantis The Palm resort, The Lost Chambers Aquarium is themed around the mythical city of Atlantis. It contains over 65,000 marine animals spread across chambers and tunnels designed to look like ancient ruins. Walking here feels like stepping into a fantasy world. The layout is both scenic and interactive, with touch tanks that let you feel starfish or sea cucumbers. Moreover, there are fascinating experiences such as behind-the-scenes tours where you can learn how marine experts care for the animals. Additionally, the Ambassador Lagoon gives you a spectacular view of giant rays, sharks, and schools of fish swimming together.
Location: Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah
Special Experiences: Touch tanks, behind-the-scenes tours, Ambassador Lagoon viewing
Nearby Attractions: Aquaventure Waterpark, Palm Jumeirah Boardwalk, The Pointe
3. Dubai Dolphinarium
Photo: Magda Ehlers / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
The Dubai Dolphinarium is an indoor place where you can watch dolphins and seals do shows and do tricks with people. There are activities for the whole family to enjoy, and both kids and adults enjoy seeing how smart and playful the animals are. The dolphin and seal show is the best part. It has dancing, juggling, and audience interaction. You can also swim with dolphins in a safe place while being supervised by a professional. The Dolphinarium also has bird shows with parrots and other unusual animals doing tricks which makes your visit more interesting.
Location: Creek Park, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai
Special Experiences: Dolphin & seal shows, swimming with dolphins, exotic bird shows
Nearby Attractions: Dubai Creek, Children’s City, Dubai Frame
Suggested Read: Best Things To Do In Dubai Creek For An Epic Day Out
4. Green Planet Dubai
Green Planet Dubai is a beautiful glass biodome that holds a tropical jungle inside. There are more than 3,000 plants and animals living there, including toucans, sloths, snakes, insects, and small mammals. When you walk inside, you’ll find a warm, humid space that is very different from Dubai’s desert temperature. The main highlight is a huge man-made tree that goes across several floors and is meant to look like the layers of a real jungle. From the dark forest floor to the green trees each level lets you explore a different layer of the canopy. Visitors can also take part in various activities, like feeding lessons or meeting animals, which make the trip more interesting.
Location: City Walk, Al Wasl, Dubai
Special Experiences: Rainforest biodome exploration, animal encounters, feeding sessions
Nearby Attractions: Coca-Cola Arena, Jumeirah Beach, La Mer
5. Dubai Safari Park
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Dubai Safari Park covers 119 hectares and is designed as a complete wildlife destination. With more than 2,500 animals representing different continents, the park feels like a world tour in a single visit. Within its themed areas, like the African Village, Asian Village, and Arabian Desert Safari, each one was carefully designed to look like a natural environment. An exciting part of the trip is the drive-through tour, where you can see lions, tigers, giraffes, and zebras roaming freely around your car. The Grand Aviary is also home to hundreds of kinds of exotic birds, which makes it a great place for bird lovers. The Dubai Safari Park timings are between 9 AM to 6 PM.
Location: Al Warqa 5, Dubai
Special Experiences: Drive-through safari, Kids Farm, Grand Aviary, animal feeding
Nearby Attractions: Dubai Crocodile Park, Mushrif Park, Dragon Mart
Suggested Read: Creek Park Bird Show
6. Dubai Crocodile Park
Photo: Tashmetova808 / Wikimedia Commons
The Dubai Crocodile Park is a special place for Nile crocodiles. It has more than 250 lizards living in a natural setting. The park is set up with well-kept areas that look like the crocodiles’ natural rivers, which helps them thrive. As you walk through the park you will see these animals swimming smoothly or lying in the sun. The building also puts a lot of thought into safety, with glass viewing screens that let you get close while keeping your distance. The inside museum has interesting information about the history and biology of crocodiles, which makes the visit more educational.
Location: Near Mushrif Park, Dubai
Special Experiences: Nile crocodile habitats, crocodile museum, educational exhibits
Nearby Attractions: Dubai Safari Park, Mirdif City Centre, Rashidiya Park
7. Dubai Butterfly Garden
Photo: Ginevrajocosa88 / Wikimedia Commons
The Dubai Butterfly Garden is a colourful attraction where you walk among more than 15,000 butterflies from around the world. The garden is spread out over domes that are full of flowers and make for a beautiful setting. Sometimes the butterflies land gently on people, which makes the experience feel magical. There are also teaching areas in the garden where you can learn about how butterflies change from caterpillars to adults. Additionally, kids enjoy being able to see these tiny bugs up close, and adults enjoy the calm atmosphere. The park is connected to the Dubai Miracle Garden, so you can spend the whole day having fun with nature-themed activities.
Location: Al Barsha South 3, Dubailand, Dubai
Special Experiences: Walk-through butterfly domes, butterfly learning centre
Nearby Attractions: Dubai Miracle Garden, Global Village, IMG Worlds of Adventure
Suggested Read: Explore Hatta Hill Park
8. Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
Photo: Florian Kriechbaumer / Wikimedia Commons
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a beautiful nature escape in Dubai. It is tucked away on the edge of the busy city. It includes marshes and mangroves along Dubai Creek and is home to thousands of migrating birds all year long. The sanctuary is best known for the flocks of pink flamingos that live there. During the cooler months, they make beautiful scenes against the city skyline. People who watch birds may also see herons, egrets, and even predators like ospreys. Also, the site has bird hides that are put in a way that lets you watch wildlife up close without bothering them.
Location: Ras Al Khor, Dubai Creek, Dubai
Special Experiences: Bird watching hides, flamingo spotting, nature photography
Nearby Attractions: Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai Creek Harbour, Downtown Dubai
9. Aquarium At Burj Al Arab Jumeirah
Photo: Naomi Tamar / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Some beautiful aquariums can be found in the restaurants and lobby of the famous Burj Al Arab hotel. The colourful reef fish, corals and other exotic sea creatures that live in these tanks give the fancy setting a touch of grandeur. When you dine here, you can enjoy high-end food while watching fish swim. The tanks are well-maintained with high-tech systems that ensure the animals stay healthy. The design also combines art and marine life, which will make your visit more unique. It’s still a unique event in Dubai, even though most attendees are guests or have dinner reservations.
Location: Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah, Dubai
Special Experiences: Dining with aquarium views, luxury marine displays
Nearby Attractions: Wild Wadi Waterpark, Jumeirah Beach, Souk Madinat Jumeirah
Suggested Read: Best Things To Do In Dubai In Summer
10. Dolphin Bay At Atlantis The Palm
Photo: Francesco Guida / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Atlantis’ Dolphin Bay The Palm is one of the most exciting places to see dolphins in Dubai. There are beautiful lagoons where you can connect with bottlenose dolphins. The experience is made to fit people of all ages and swimming levels, so families, couples, and single visitors can all enjoy it. Every time you engage with a dolphin, a professional trainer will make sure that you not only have fun with hugs, kisses, and fin shakes, but also learn about dolphin behavior and how to protect them. Dolphin Bay also has premium packages that include private events and photos, which will make your day one you’ll never forget.
Location: Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Special Experiences: Dolphin interactions, shallow & deep-water encounters, premium private packages
Nearby Attractions: The Lost Chambers Aquarium, Aquaventure Waterpark, Nakheel Mall
Zoos in Dubai highlight the city’s modern yet immersive way of connecting people with nature. From underwater tunnels and tropical rainforests to wildlife sanctuaries, these attractions blend fun with learning. Families, couples, and solo travellers can enjoy unique encounters with marine life, birds, and exotic animals, often located near malls and landmarks. Each zoo offers something special, making Dubai a must-visit for animal lovers. Plan your adventure easily with TripXL.
Cover Photo: Jose Almeida / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
