Dubai Safari Park: Tickets, Animals, and Best Time

Where Dubai Safari Park sits and how to get there

Dubai Safari Park lies in the Al Warqa district, about 30 minutes from Downtown Dubai by car. Take Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, exit at Al Awir, and follow the brown signs. RTA taxis and Careem both reach the gate in under 35 minutes outside rush hour. Parking is free for private cars and AED 10 for taxis dropping off.

2026 ticket prices and entry rules

Adult tickets cost AED 150 on weekdays and AED 180 on weekends and public holidays. Children aged 3-12 pay AED 80; under-3s enter free. Online purchase through the official ICP-linked portal saves AED 20 per adult ticket. Carry your Emirates ID or passport; security scans every visitor. The park opens 9 am to 6 pm daily, last entry at 4:30 pm.

Which animals live at the park

The 400-hectare site holds more than 2,500 animals across six zones. In the African Savannah you meet giraffes, zebras, white rhinos and cheetahs. The Asian Jungle zone houses Bengal tigers, sloth bears and gibbons. Arabian Desert shows oryx, sand gazelles and caracals native to the UAE. The Australian Outback has emus and red kangaroos. A nocturnal house features fennec foxes and owls, while the bird aviary shelters flamingos and macaws. Daily keeper talks run at 11 am and 3 pm.

Best time of day to visit

Arrive at opening, 9 am, when temperatures sit around 24 degrees Celsius in winter months. Animals are most active before 11 am and again after 3 pm. Midday heat above 38 degrees Celsius sends many species into shade, so schedule the shaded nocturnal house and indoor café for 12-2 pm. Summer visits from June to September are quieter but limit outdoor time to early morning only.

Food, facilities and accessibility

Two cafés inside the park sell coffee, sandwiches and dates; cashless payment is required. Prayer rooms, baby-changing stations and wheelchair rentals sit near the main gate. Stroller-friendly paths cover 80 percent of the walking route; the remaining 20 percent uses golf-cart shuttles included in the ticket. Bring reusable water bottles, refilled at free stations every 500 metres.

Practical tips before you go

Book at least 48 hours ahead on peak weekends. Wear light cotton clothing, closed shoes and a hat. Sunscreen and insect repellent are sold at the gate shop. Photography is allowed everywhere except the tiger tunnel. Leave drones at home; RTA rules ban them over the park.

Ask Tovi for more

Tovi knows current 2026 UAE rules, fees, and processes. Ask anything. Ask Tovi free →

Want more UAE tips?

Ask Tovi anything about Dubai or UAE life — your AI guide answers in your language, 24/7. Ask Tovi free →