The Dubai Zoo, also known by the name Dubai Safari Park, is the city’s zoo. Before 2017, it was located in the Jumeirah district, not far from the beach, under the name Dubai Zoo.
It is home to some 230 species of animals of all kinds, from foxes to hyenas, from pumas to Asiatic lions, but there were also some endangered species such as Bengal tigers, gorillas, the Arabian wolf, the Siberian tiger and even some indigenous specimens. Among the very interesting birds are the golden eagle and parrots, while there are also 400 reptile specimens.
A very important feature of the zoo is that it is home to some confiscated animals: some residents of Dubai seem to have a strong desire to have forbidden or exotic animals at home without caring about their health and welfare, and when they are abandoned they often end up at the zoo.
The Dubai Zoo was originally built by Otto J. Bulart, a foreign resident of Dubai, when Sheikh Rashid Bin Maktoum (the previous ruler of Dubai) granted him permission to build it on the two-hectare area he owned in the Jumeirah district.
The zoo was an important attraction in the city at the time because it was the first in the Arabian Peninsula and was also a distinctive symbol, marking the southern boundary of Dubai.
In 1971, the management of the Dubai Zoo was taken over by the city municipality. Initially it was home to only a few felines and monkeys, and also included a small aquarium where local fish and some reptiles could be observed. But between 1986 and 1989 the zoo was completely redesigned and rebuilt, in a renovation that continues to this day.
Tickets for the Dubai Safari Park can be conveniently purchased online before you leave, which we recommend in order to better plan your holiday in Dubai.
The Dubai municipality planned to build a new zoo in the Dubailand area, but in 2009 the project was put on hold until a later date. In 2012, however, it was announced that the animals of the now overcrowded zoo would be relocated to an open-air safari area over the next two years, redeveloping over 100 hectares of land in the Al Warqa’a area into what is now the Dubai Safari, and which has become home to more than 3,000 animals from around the world, including 350 endangered species.
Inside the Dubai Safari are over 100 species of plants, each located in different thematic areas (Arabia, Asia, Africa), with over 2500 trees in total. The animal cages will be customised according to the climate of the area, ensuring that the animals are comfortable and well fed.
Each cage is naturally air-conditioned and inside the Dubai Safari visitors can walk around or use solar-powered means of transport such as a monorail that allows for beautiful views from above.
Other attractions at the Dubai Safari include a golf course, a botanical garden and a butterfly garden, as well as restaurants and dining options. A total of over 3600 parking spaces are available.
City Card allow you to save on public transport and / or on the entrances to the main tourist attractions.
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