Dubai is known for its extravagant attractions, sleek architecture, and luxurious experiences. But beyond the glitzy malls and towering skyscrapers, Dubai also offers some truly unique and memorable animal encounters. From getting up-close with aquatic life to interacting with mammals and birds from around the world, Dubai has an impressive variety of animal-centric activities perfect for animal lovers, families, and nature enthusiasts. Let’s take a look at the most prominent animal attractions in Dubai out of them.
Dubai Mall Aquarium
The crown jewel of animal attractions in Dubai is the Dubai Mall Aquarium. At 10 million liters of water and housing over 33,000 aquatic animals, it is one of the world’s largest suspended aquariums. Walking through the aquarium tunnel truly makes you feel immersed in an underwater world surrounded by sharks, rays, and schools of fish. It is a breathtaking experience.
The Dubai Mall Aquarium is also home to one of the most unique cage diving experiences on the planet. Adventure seekers can pay to don a diving suit and helmet and submerge in the tank with the fish and sharks! Cage diving allows you to observe the incredible animals up-close from the safety of a cage. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list activity.
Book Dubai Mall Aquarium tickets to see the tanks and underwater zoo. Opt for add-on cage diving or shark diving packages for unforgettable up-close animal encounters.
Dubai Dolphinarium
For a family-friendly activity, head to Dubai Dolphinarium at Creek Park. This indoor dolphin and seal show arena allows you to observe incredible dolphin acrobatics and seal antics. You’ll be amazed watching these intelligent marine mammals leap, splash, and show off their natural behaviors.
Interactive programs like Dolphin Adventure and Seal Adventure allow you to get in the water and play with the animals under the supervision of trained professionals. Nothing compares to looking a dolphin in the eye or feeding and petting their smooth skin. It’s a magical way for kids and adults alike to learn about marine life conservation.
If you want a truly immersive experience, book a Royal Swim to spend 30 minutes swimming solo with the friendly dolphins. You’ll never forget the incredible encounter!
Dubai Miracle Garden Butterfly Garden
Beautiful Butterfly Garden is a part of Dubai Miracle Garden, one of the world’s largest natural flower gardens. Hence, it is one of the Dubai animal attractions that you shouldn’t miss out. Meandering through the lush oasis filled with thousands of vibrantly colored butterflies is an experience that dazzles the senses. Watch butterflies flutter past as you relax amidst gorgeous exotic blooms.
Butterfly Garden isn’t just a lovely spot for viewing butterflies. This attraction makes conservation a priority by running breeding programs to increase struggling butterfly populations. When you visit, you’ll have the chance to symbolically adopt a butterfly and release it into the enclosure. Kids love participating in the release!
Combine a stroll through Butterfly Garden with seeing Dubai Miracle Garden’s impressive flower displays for an activity that mixes animal encounters with natural artistry.
Dubai Birdshow Aviary
For bird lovers visiting Dubai, you can’t miss Dubai Birdshow Aviary. This attraction in Al Awir gives you walk-through access to one of the largest collections of avian species in the UAE. Meander through tunnels and ponds as exotic birds like pelicans, flamingos, cranes, storks, peacocks, and toucans roam freely around you.
Not only does Dubai Birdshow provide a safe sanctuary for endangered and indigenous birds, but they also focus on information, education, breeding, and conservation. Expert wildlife caretakers are on hand to answer questions and discuss efforts being made to protect vulnerable avian species.
With bright tropical birds fluttering over your head as you wander through a massive enclosure filled with flora, a visit to Aviary feels like you’ve stepped into an exotic paradise. It’s a one-of-a-kind nature escape.
Mushrif Park
Nature enthusiasts visiting Dubai should plan an afternoon at Mushrif Park where you can observe indigenous Arabian wildlife in a natural setting. This massive park allows Native Arabian oryx, deer, ostriches, mouflon sheep, and more to roam freely amidst the sandy desert landscape.
Take an open-air safari tour aboard trucks to properly explore Mushrif’s 5.25 square kilometers while spotting animals. Knowledgeable guides will stop to point out gazelles grazing peacefully beneath acacia trees or ostriches strutting across the arid plains. Early morning and dusk tours offer prime wildlife viewing.
The sense of sonder and admiration you’ll feel catching sight of regal oryx framed against a fiery sunset sky is an experience you won’t soon forget. Mushrif Park showcases Dubai’s efforts towards conservation by providing a safe habitat where native species facing population decline can thrive.
Dragon Mart Reptile Shop
Calling all herpetophiles! Dragon Mart is Dubai’s massive Chinese trading hub district housing over 4,000 stores selling every sort of product. Among the barrage of shops, you’ll find rare reptile and amphibian vendors selling fascinating exotic pets and curios.
Perusing the reptile shops allows you to see incredible snakes, lizards, frogs, spiders, scorpions, and more behind glass tanks and terrariums. Chat with the knowledgeable proprietors about each creature’s care requirements, native origins, and unique traits that allow them to thrive in desert ecosystems. You can even opt to hold certain docile species after getting handling instructions.
Whether you want to window shop incredible reptiles or purchase a special souvenir like ornamental snakeskin, a visit to Dragon Mart’s one-of-a-kind reptile stores shouldn’t be missed on an animal-focused Dubai trip.
Al Bahia Beez
For a truly unique animal encounter, head 20 minutes outside Dubai to Al Bahia Beez honeybee farm. This pioneering operation focuses on cultivating bees to produce natural honey products free of antibiotics and chemicals.
At Al Bahia Beez, you’ll don a beekeeping suit to safely enter hives and get an up-close look at a working bee colony. Watching thousands of bees industriously caring for the queen, feeding larvae, building comb, guarding the hive entrance, and more is utterly fascinating. The guides will even show you frames dripping with rich golden honey straight from the source. Nothing beats pure honey's sweet taste when sampled fresh off the hive!
Beyond bee encounters, Al Bahia Beez's botanical gardens centered around plants that benefit bee populations are stunning to explore. Learning how traditional Arabic honey gathering practices preserve vital pollinator species makes the experience impactful. Don't miss this iconic Middle Eastern animal experience found just minutes from Dubai's city center!
Final Words
It’s clear Dubai offers far more than lavish hotels and thrilling amusement rides. A wide variety of interactive animal encounters provide travelers a new perspective. From sharks to dolphins, butterflies to falcons, camels to oryx, Dubai showcases incredible biodiversity. Visitors gain new admiration for the conservation efforts helping vulnerable native and endangered species thrive in the region. With this list of top animal attractions in Dubai, you’re guaranteed memorable and magical experiences with extraordinary creatures during your UAE getaway!
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