Dubai Safari Park — Tickets & Visitor Guide 2026

§ 01 — What it is

Dubai's answer to a proper zoo

Dubai Safari Park opened in 2017 on the site of the old Dubai Zoo, replacing the previous small city-centre facility with a purpose-built 119-hectare park in Al Warqa, roughly 25 minutes from Downtown. It holds over 3,000 animals across 78 species, arranged into five geographically themed zones — Arabian, African, Asian, a dedicated Safari Village and an aviary. It is significantly larger, better designed and more animal-welfare-conscious than the old zoo it replaced.

The honest positioning: this isn't a safari in the sense of an open-vehicle game drive (that experience is the desert safari — a completely different product covered elsewhere on this site). It's a well-designed modern zoo with naturalistic enclosures, a safari-style village area where you can walk among certain herbivore species, and a genuinely impressive collection including white lions, Bengal tigers, giraffes and a large Arabian wildlife section reflecting the region's native species.

3,000+

Animals

Species

119ha

Park size

Themed zones

§ 02 — The zones

What's in each area

Arabian Village

Native regional wildlife

Arabian oryx, gazelle, sand cats and other native desert species presented in landscaping that mirrors the actual UAE desert environment. The most educational zone and a good complement to a desert safari or Al Maha stay.

African Village

Big cats · Giraffes

The park's headline zone — white lions, giraffes, zebras and a strong big cat collection in spacious naturalistic enclosures. The giraffe feeding platform is a highlight for children (small additional fee).

Asian Village

Tigers · Elephants

Bengal tigers and Asian elephants headline this zone, alongside a good reptile house. Well-shaded walking routes make this a comfortable zone to explore even in warmer months.

Safari Village

Open-vehicle experience

A guided open-sided vehicle tour through a larger enclosure housing grazing herbivores — closer to the "safari" concept than the walking zones. Included in the standard ticket; departs at scheduled intervals.

§ 03 — Tickets & practical

Booking, timing & getting there

Tickets

Standard adult entry is 50 AED, children (3–12) 20 AED — genuinely inexpensive against Dubai's other major attractions. The Safari Village vehicle tour is included. Optional add-ons include giraffe/animal feeding experiences (20–40 AED) and a behind-the-scenes keeper talk programme at select enclosures throughout the day.

Best time to visit

Morning (opening at 9am until around noon) sees the most animal activity before the midday heat — animals are more visible and active early. The park is largely outdoors with shaded walkways, so it's most comfortable October–April; in peak summer, plan for an early start and expect to see animals resting in shade during the hottest hours.

Getting there

Dubai Safari Park is in Al Warqa, roughly 25 minutes by taxi from Downtown. There's no direct Metro connection — a taxi, Careem or the RTA bus service (Route X28 from Rashidiya Metro station) are the practical options. Free on-site parking for those driving.

Best for: Families, especially with younger children who haven't done a proper zoo visit. At 50 AED entry, it's one of the best-value full attractions in Dubai and a good half-day alternative to the more expensive theme park options when budget or a rest day from the bigger attractions is the priority.