# Dubai Safari Park in Al Warqa'a > Dubai Safari Park is the city's zoo: about 3,000 animals on 119 hectares in Al Warqa'a. Season 8 opened on 12 October 2026 — daily 9:00–18:00, last entry 17:00; closed in summer. The Park Pass is AED 50, the Safari Bundle with the Explorer Safari and train AED 117; under-3s free. Allow 4–5 hours plus travel. Web page: https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-safari-park - City: [Dubai](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai), United Arab Emirates - YesGo score: 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - Entry: AED 50; AED 117 with safari tour - With kids: Fine with kids - Safari Park Pass: AED 50: all six zones, the short Arabian Desert Safari, live animal shows - Safari Bundle: AED 117, online only: adds the 35-minute Explorer Safari and unlimited park train - Children: Under 3 free; under-12s must stay with an adult - Season: From 12 October 2026; closed in summer, end date not yet announced - Hours: Daily 9:00–18:00, last entry 17:00 - Explorer Safari: Buses run 10:00–17:00 - Animal feeding: Giraffe, goat or tortoise AED 20; lemurs AED 75; pony walk free - Re-entry: Single entry — once you leave, the ticket is used - Food: No outside food or drink except water and baby food - Payment: Pay online by card; Visa, Mastercard and Apple Pay work almost everywhere in Dubai - Getting there: Metro to Centrepoint, then bus F10 to the gate, or a taxi - Address: Al Warqa 5, E44 Hatta Road, opposite Dragon Mart; free parking - Coordinates: 25.17750, 55.44940 - Facts checked: 03.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Closed in summer** — Season 8 opened on 12 October 2026; the park shuts in the hottest months (source: Dubai Safari Park official website; TradeArabia) - **≈ 3,000** — animals — mammals, birds and reptiles (source: Dubai Safari Park official website; English Wikipedia) - **4–5 hours** — the park's own advice for a visit — start at opening (source: Dubai Safari Park official website) - **119 ha** — the park's area (source: Gulf News; English Wikipedia (12.8 million sq ft)) - **12.12.2017** — the park opened to visitors (source: English Wikipedia; Gulf News) - **6 zones** — African Village, Asian Village, Explorer Village, Arabian Desert Safari, Kids Farm, Al Wadi (source: Dubai Safari Park official website; TradeArabia) - **1967–2017** — years of the old Dubai Zoo in Jumeirah, whose animals moved here (source: English Wikipedia; Gulf News) - **Al Warqa'a** — on the eastern edge of the city, off Hatta Road opposite Dragon Mart (source: Dubai Safari Park official website; English Wikipedia) - **35 minutes** — the Explorer Safari bus ride past lions, giraffes and rhinos (source: Dubai Safari Park official website; TradeArabia) - **Shoulders and knees** — should be covered under park rules (source: Dubai Safari Park official website) ## Dubai Safari Park tickets and prices The **Safari Park Pass** is **AED 50** per person. It covers all six zones, the 15-minute Arabian Desert Safari, the bird and wildlife shows, kids' workshops and one free animal encounter. Under-3s and People of Determination get in free. The **Safari Bundle** at **AED 117** is sold online only. On top of the pass you get the 35-minute **Explorer Safari** — a bus through the open habitats of lions, giraffes, rhinos and hippos — plus unlimited rides on the park train and two AED 10 vouchers for the shop and photos. Which one? With kids, or if you only visit once, get the Bundle: the zones are far apart and the train saves a lot of walking in the heat. Adults happy to walk can manage on the AED 50 pass, but you will miss the big cats up close. Buy on the official website and the e-ticket arrives by email. International Visa and Mastercard cards and Apple Pay are accepted almost everywhere in Dubai; there is also a ticket counter at the gate, but the Bundle is sold online only. > **Is Dubai Safari Park open now?** Yes. The park is seasonal, and Season 8 opened on **12 October 2026**; it is open daily, 9:00–18:00, last entry 17:00. It closes for the hottest months; no closing date has been announced, though the park's own site listing points to 31 May 2027. Visiting in June to September? It will be shut. ## How to get to Dubai Safari Park 1. From **Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall** station, take the Metro Red Line towards the airport all the way to the terminus, **Centrepoint** (formerly Rashidiya) — about 40 minutes. You need a Nol card for the metro and bus; buy one from station ticket offices or machines, as buses don't take cash. 2. From the bus station at Centrepoint, take RTA bus **F10**, which runs through Mirdif and Al Warqa'a and stops at the park gate — around 30 minutes, every 12–20 minutes during the day (unofficial figures). 3. Door to door from Downtown that is roughly 1.5 hours. A taxi straight from Downtown takes 25–30 minutes outside rush hour; Careem and Uber both operate in Dubai and taxis take cards. 4. Middle ground: metro to Centrepoint, then a 15–20-minute taxi. 5. Show your QR ticket at the gate. Order your ride back in an app 10–15 minutes before you leave. ## Is Dubai Safari Park worth it? Yes for families and animal lovers in the cool season: the enclosures are spacious, and the Explorer Safari gets you close to lions and rhinos for a fraction of the price of Dubai's indoor attractions. It is one of the best-value half-days in the city. Less so if you're short on time or visiting in hot weather. The park is in the desert on the city's edge, shade between zones is limited, many animals retreat into the shade at midday, and the round trip by public transport eats up three hours. On a two-day trip, the [Dubai Aquarium](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-aquarium) in the Dubai Mall is the easier animal fix. ## What to see: the six zones - **African Village** — African elephants, giraffes with a feeding platform and meerkats. A good place to start, with restaurants and a gift shop. - **Asian Village** — Asian elephants, Komodo dragons and other Asian species among Asian-style buildings. - **Explorer Village** — the open valley visited by the Explorer Safari bus: lions, giraffes, rhinos and hippos. You can't walk in. - **Arabian Desert Safari** — a short, roughly 15-minute ride to the animals of the Arabian Peninsula; included in every ticket. - **Kids Farm** — farm animals and birds to feed; the highlight for toddlers. - **Al Wadi** — free pony walks twice a day, plus restaurants. - **Live shows** — birds of prey and wildlife presentations run to a timetable posted at the entrance; each lasts about 30 minutes, so arrive 10 minutes early for a seat. ## Animal feeding and encounters Some encounters are free: the pony walk in Al Wadi at 10:00 and 17:00, bird feeding at the Kids Farm at 12:00 and 15:45, and duck feeding in the African Village at 15:15. For **AED 20** you can feed giraffes, goats, tortoises, cormorants or macaws, groom a pony or meet a reptile. Lemur feeding on Lemur Island is **AED 75**, at 12:00 and 16:00. Spots are limited, so add them when you book online or ask at the counter as soon as you arrive. Times can change on the day — check the board at the entrance. > **Dress code and park rules** The park asks for modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Drones, large luggage, scooters and pets are not allowed, smoking only in designated areas, and photos are fine without flash. Even in winter, bring a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] It's the season: mid-October to late spring - [ ] I'll be at the gate by 17:00 — ideally at 9:00 - [ ] Bought the Bundle online if I want the Explorer Safari and train - [ ] Added a giraffe or lemur feeding - [ ] Nol card topped up for the metro and bus F10 - [ ] Shoulders and knees covered; hat and sunscreen packed - [ ] Water and baby food only — other food stays outside ## Dubai Safari Park vs Dubai Aquarium | | Dubai Safari Park | Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo | | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Open-air zoo, six zones | Aquarium and underwater zoo in the Dubai Mall | | Ticket | AED 50; AED 117 with the Explorer Safari | ≈ AED 199 for the basic package | | Open | Season only, October to spring | All year | | Time needed | 4–5 hours plus travel | 1–1.5 hours | | From Downtown | Metro + bus ≈ 1.5 h, or a taxi | A walk from the metro | | In the heat | Hard going — all outdoors | Indoors and air-conditioned | Choose the Safari Park for a cool-season half-day with kids. In summer or on a tight schedule, the aquarium is the easy option. ## Zoo morning, city evening Animals in the morning, flamingos at Ras Al Khor on the way back, sunset at the Dubai Frame. 1. [Dubai Safari Park](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-safari-park) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · AED 50; AED 117 with safari tour 2. [Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/ras-al-khor) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free 3. [Dubai Frame](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-frame) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · AED 50, children 3–12 AED 20 ## Not to be confused with The old Dubai Zoo in Jumeirah closed in 2017 — its animals now live here. A “desert safari” is something else entirely: a 4x4 trip into the dunes, covered on our [desert safari](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-desert-safari) page. The indoor rainforest The Green Planet and Abu Dhabi's Emirates Park Zoo are separate places with their own tickets. ## Tips - Arrive at 9:00: it is cooler, the animals are more active and there is no wait for the Explorer Safari. - Do the Explorer Safari first, before the lions retreat into the shade, then tour the villages on foot or by train. - With small children, rent a stroller at the entrance — the zones are far apart. - Plan your day around one or two feeding sessions and book them in advance. - Eat at the cafés in the African Village or Al Wadi — outside food isn't allowed. - Weekdays are quieter than the weekend, which in the UAE is Saturday and Sunday. - Out of season? The Dubai Aquarium is open all year. ## Questions ### How much are Dubai Safari Park tickets? The Safari Park Pass is AED 50 and the Safari Bundle, with the Explorer Safari and park train, is AED 117 online. Under-3s go free. ### What are Dubai Safari Park timings? In season the park is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00. The Explorer Safari buses run until 17:00. ### Is Dubai Safari Park open now? Yes — Season 8 opened on 12 October 2026 and the park is open every day. It closes in the summer months; the end date hasn't been announced yet. ### How do I get to Dubai Safari Park by metro? Take the Red Line to Centrepoint, then bus F10 to the park gate. Allow about 1.5 hours from Downtown, or 25–30 minutes by taxi. ### How long do you need at Dubai Safari Park? The park recommends 4–5 hours. Add the journey — up to 1.5 hours each way by public transport. ### Is the Explorer Safari worth it? Yes, if you want to see lions, rhinos and giraffes up close: they live in the open valley you can only reach by the safari bus. It comes with the AED 117 Bundle. ### Can you bring food into Dubai Safari Park? No, apart from water and baby food. There are restaurants, cafés and kiosks across the park. ### Is Dubai Safari Park good for kids? Very: there is a Kids Farm with free bird feeding and pony walks, shows and a park train. Under-3s are free, and under-12s must stay with an adult. ### Is Dubai Safari Park the same as a desert safari? No. The Safari Park is a zoo; a desert safari is a 4x4 trip into the dunes, usually with a camp dinner. ## How we checked Season, hours, prices, ticket contents, rules and directions come from the park's official website on 03.11.2026. The site's FAQ page is left over from last season and contradicts the rest (winter hours to 20:00, train in the basic pass), so we use the home and ticket pages instead. The site gives the Explorer Safari start as 9:00 on one page and 10:00 on another, so that row is marked “verifying”. The park has not announced when the season ends. Bus F10 and taxi journey times are unofficial. Other facts are checked against at least two sources. ## Sources - Dubai Safari Park official website: home, Tickets, Plan Your Visit and FAQ pages — season, hours, prices, rules and directions, 03.11.2026 - TradeArabia and Emirates247, September 2026 — Season 8 opening on 12 October - Gulf News — opening on 12.12.2017, 119 hectares, animals moved from the old zoo - English Wikipedia: Dubai Safari Park, Dubai Zoo; Wikidata Q48809735 - English Wikipedia and RTA press release (2021) — Rashidiya station renamed Centrepoint - Property Finder, January 2026 — bus F10 from Centrepoint (unofficial) --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.