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Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

The huge acrylic wall of Dubai Aquarium in The Dubai Mall with sharks and rays over a reef and shoppers watching
Photo: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free view; tunnel ≈ AED 199
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
Mon–Fri 11:00–21:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–21:00, last entry 20:15
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Main tank wall from the mall
Free, during mall hours
Silver: tunnel, Underwater Zoo, Penguin Cove
≈ AED 199
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Gold: + glass-bottom boat and fish feeding
≈ AED 269
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Platinum: + skip the line and an animal encounter
≈ AED 399
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Children
Under 2 free (unofficial)
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Closed
Never — open 365 days a year
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Where to buy
Official Dubai Aquarium website or the ticket desk in the mall
Payment
Visa and Mastercard work in the mall and online; the metro needs a Nol card
Metro
Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, then the covered link bridge, ≈ 10–15 min on foot
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
25.19756, 55.27842YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

10 million litresof water in the main tank, visible from several mall levels
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Freeto watch sharks and rays through the main panel from the mall
SourceEnglish Wikipedia — the tank is visible from three mall levels, and mall entry is free
48 mwalk-through tunnel under the water
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaPlatinumlist
≈ 33,000aquatic animals in the aquarium
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaPlatinumlist
400+sharks and rays, including sand tiger sharks
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaPlatinumlist
4 November 2008opened together with The Dubai Mall
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Guinness record2008 — the largest shopping-mall aquarium
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
≈ 33 × 8 mviewing panel — one of the largest in the world
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Gentoo penguinslive in Penguin Cove, with lighting that mimics the Antarctic day
SourceDubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo official website
Emaardeveloped the aquarium along with the mall
SourceEnglish Wikipedia

Dubai Aquarium tickets and prices

Tickets come as passes. Silver — around AED 199 per adult — covers the Aquarium Tunnel, the Underwater Zoo and Penguin Cove. Gold, around AED 269, adds a glass-bottom boat ride over the tank and fish feeding. Platinum, around AED 399, adds skip-the-line entry and one animal encounter on top of Gold.

We mark these prices as “verifying”: the official site and resellers list them differently and the passes change from time to time, so check the official Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo website before you go. Resellers state that children under 2 enter free.

Buy online on the official site or at the ticket desk next to the tank. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere in Dubai, including the mall and the aquarium website; extras such as otter, ray or reptile encounters are sold separately.

Opening hours and last entry

The aquarium is open every day: Monday to Friday 11:00–21:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:00–21:00, with last entry at 20:15. It closes well before the mall does, so plan it for the afternoon and keep the evening for the fountains.

Hours change during Ramadan and on some holidays, and a few older pages still quote later closing times — check the official site on the day. The free view of the main tank is available whenever The Dubai Mall itself is open.

How to get to Dubai Aquarium

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On foot

More tips

  1. Take the Dubai Metro Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station — about 25 minutes from DXB airport with no changes, or 15–20 minutes by taxi.
  2. You need a Nol card for the metro; bank cards don't reliably work at the gates. Buy one from the machines or ticket office at any station.
  3. From the station, follow the air-conditioned covered link bridge — about 820 m, 10–15 minutes on foot.
  4. The bridge leads straight into the mall; follow signs for Dubai Aquarium — you'll see the glass before you reach it.
  5. The ticket desk and tunnel entrance are beside the tank; the route continues up to the Underwater Zoo.

Is Dubai Aquarium worth it?

The free view — absolutely: it's on the way to the fountains and costs nothing. The paid part is worth it with children or if you love marine life; sharks gliding over the tunnel and the penguins are what kids remember.

If you've already done big aquariums elsewhere, Silver can feel short: the tunnel takes minutes, and the headline view is the same one you get from the mall. In that case, spend the money on the Burj Khalifa observation deck and enjoy the tank for free.

Gold is the pass to pick if you want to see the sharks from above on the glass-bottom boat. Platinum mainly buys time — useful at weekends, when the tunnel queue gets long.

What is Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo?

A public aquarium and indoor zoo inside The Dubai Mall, at the foot of Burj Khalifa. It opened with the mall on 4 November 2008 and was developed by Emaar.

The main tank holds 10 million litres and around 33,000 animals, including more than 400 sharks and rays. Its viewing panel is roughly 33 m wide and 8 m tall, and in 2008 Guinness listed it as the largest shopping-mall aquarium.

It isn't the world's biggest aquarium overall — others hold more water. What makes it unusual is that it sits in the middle of a shopping mall, so you can walk past it on the way to dinner.

What to see inside

  • The main panel — sand tiger sharks, rays and shoals of fish over the reef; the lowest mall level gives the best view.
  • The 48 m tunnel — sharks and rays pass overhead and alongside; linger in the middle, where the rays settle on the glass.
  • The Underwater Zoo upstairs — crocodiles, otters, snakes and rainforest species.
  • Penguin Cove — Gentoo penguins in a multi-level habitat with Antarctic-style lighting and a slide into the pool.
  • Daily feeding shows — times are posted at the entrance.
  • Glass-bottom boat (Gold pass) — a look down at the sharks from the surface of the tank.

Before you go: checklist

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Free view vs Silver vs Gold vs Platinum

Free viewyou are hereFreeThrough the panelNoNoNo queue10–15 min
Silver≈ AED 199Plus the tunnelYesNoNo60–90 min
Gold≈ AED 269Plus the tunnelYesYesNo1.5–2 h
Platinum≈ AED 399Plus the tunnelYesYesYes1.5–2 h

Adults without children are usually happy with the free view. With kids, Silver; Gold if you want the boat.

Dubai by the water, compared

Water-themed places in Dubai rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Burj Al Arab5930 minFree11.3 km
Palm Jumeirah522 hFree17.0 km
The Dubai Fountain4530 minFree7 min walk
Dubai Creek and the abra crossing401 hAbra AED 1–2, waterfronts free7.6 km
Dubai Water Canal391 hFree4.5 km
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary3945 minFree4.4 km
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zooyou are here381 hFree view; tunnel ≈ AED 199—
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Old Dubai)371 h 30 minFree7.7 km
Dubai Marina331 h 30 minFree18.7 km
Madinat Jumeirah and Souk Madinat291 h 30 minFree11.9 km
Al Shindagha Museum281 h 30 minAED 50; students 5–24 AED 207.7 km
Atlantis, The Palm271 h 30 minAquarium ≈ AED 125, waterpark ≈ AED 30017.9 km
JBR Beach and The Walk262 hFree19.7 km
Al Mamzar Beach Park212 hAED 5, car AED 3015.6 km

Downtown Dubai in an afternoon and evening

The aquarium in daylight, the mall and the observation deck at sunset, the fountains after dark — all within one block. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zooyou are here1 h · Free view; tunnel ≈ AED 199
  2. 3 min walk from the previous stopThe Dubai Mall2 h · Free entry
  3. 9 min walk from the previous stopBurj Khalifa1 h 30 min · from AED 189
  4. 4 min walk from the previous stopThe Dubai Fountain30 min · Free; Boardwalk and abra ride paid

4 places · about 5 h 16 min with walks · 16 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

The Dubai Mall

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2 h · Free entry · 3 min walk

The Dubai Fountain

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

30 min · Free; Boardwalk and abra ride paid · 7 min walk

Burj Khalifa

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

1 h 30 min · from AED 189 · 7 min walk

Museum of the Future

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2 h · Closed until Q1 2027 · 42 min walk

How to do it right

  • Stand at the glass first — if the sharks and rays are enough for you, skip the tunnel.
  • Weekday afternoons are the quietest; evenings and weekends get crowded at the tunnel entrance.
  • The aquarium closes at 21:00 and the Dubai Fountain shows run in the evening — do them in that order.
  • The best free photo is from the lowest level at the edge of the panel, as a ray drifts by.
  • Bring a light layer: the mall's air conditioning is chilly, especially for children.

Questions

How much are Dubai Aquarium tickets?

The main tank is free to view from the mall. The Silver pass (tunnel, Underwater Zoo, Penguin Cove) is around AED 199, Gold around AED 269 and Platinum around AED 399. Check the official site for today's price.

Can you see Dubai Aquarium for free?

Yes. The giant panel faces the mall concourse, so you can watch sharks and rays without a ticket whenever the mall is open.

What are Dubai Aquarium opening hours?

Daily: Monday–Friday 11:00–21:00, Saturday–Sunday 10:00–21:00, last entry 20:15. Hours change during Ramadan.

How long do you need at Dubai Aquarium?

10–15 minutes for the free view; 60–90 minutes for the tunnel, Underwater Zoo and penguins; up to two hours with the boat and a feeding show.

Is Dubai Aquarium worth it?

The free view is a must. The paid part is worth it with kids or if you love marine life; if you've seen big aquariums before, the free view may be enough.

Which floor is Dubai Aquarium on?

The tank spans several levels of The Dubai Mall and is best seen from the lowest one; the Underwater Zoo is upstairs. Follow the Dubai Aquarium signs.

How do I get to Dubai Aquarium by metro?

Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, then the covered link bridge — about 820 m, 10–15 minutes on foot. You need a Nol card for the metro.

Is it the biggest aquarium in the world?

No. Guinness listed it in 2008 as the largest shopping-mall aquarium; the tank holds 10 million litres and around 33,000 animals.

Is Dubai Aquarium the same as The Lost Chambers?

No. The Lost Chambers is a separate aquarium at Atlantis The Palm on Palm Jumeirah, with its own ticket.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo official website: hours, Silver, Gold and Platinum passes, Penguin Cove, animal encounters, 03.11.2026
  • Platinumlist (ticket seller): hours, child policy, tunnel, animal numbers, 03.11.2026
  • The Dubai Mall official website: mall opening hours, 03.11.2026
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo; Wikidata Q4059427
  • Travel guides on paying for the Dubai Metro with a Nol card (unofficial)
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 03.11.2026 ·
How we checkedHours, passes and what they include come from the official aquarium website; it blocks automated access, so we checked its pages in the search index against the reseller Platinumlist — both give Mon–Fri 11:00–21:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–21:00 and last entry 20:15. The site's contact page still shows older hours until 23:00 and midnight; we show the newer ones. Pass prices differ between pages (Silver appears at both AED 199 and AED 269), so all prices are marked “verifying”. Tank volume, tunnel length, animal numbers, opening date and the Guinness record are checked against at least two sources; species counts differ (140 to 300), so we leave them out. Free entry for under-2s is unofficial. Metro timings and the bridge walk are marked “verifying”.

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