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Dubai offers a lot of wonderful places to visit and most of which are world class icons including Burj Khalifa Dubai mall and Dubai fountain. These Marvels can be witnessed from outer space.
Among all of these, lies Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. It is one of the must visit places in Dubai. The Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is located in the Dubai Mall with more than 33,000 aquatic animals. Comprising over 140 species, the aquarium has over 400 Sharks in 10 million liter tanks. It also includes sand tiger sharks and many marine species.
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is one of the largest indoor aquariums that holds the Guinness World Record of largest Acrylic Pan. The progression and well-planned experience allow the visitors to come close to enhanced experience.
Location and accessibility
The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is located in the Dubai Mall. It is one of the largest shopping and entertainment destinations. The mall is easily accessible from multiple parts of the city making it best for both residents as well as in UAE.
Address
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo ground and level 2, the Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai UAE.
How to Get there?
There are multiple ways to reach Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo including
- By Dubai Metro: Dubai Metro is one of the efficient ways to reach the mall. Take the red line and stop at Burj Khalifa metro station. Fo through a convenient air conditioned walk wave known as Metro Link bridge connects you directly to the mall with a 15 minute walk.
- By bus: Multiple bus routes are available to Dubai Mall making it possible for public transportation options. The buses stop at Burj Khalifa/ Dubai mall bus stop.
- By car: If you want to drive, Dubai mall has ample parking space. The parking areas offer direct access to the Aquarium and Zoo, including cinema parking, Grand parking and fashion parking.
- By taxi and ride sharing services: Taxis and ride sharing services are widely available throughout the city. It will pick up and drop off you directly at the main entrance of Dubai mall. Uber and Cream are also convenient options to reach.
Timings
- Weekdays
10:00 AM – 11:00 PM – Last admission 10:15 PM
- Weekends
10:00 AM – 00:00 Midnight – Last admission 11:15 PM
Ticket Cost
Currently the entry ticket to Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo costs AED 199 (INR 4521 or USD 55)
There are separate tickets for the glass bottom boat ride, scuba diving, snorkeling and other additional activities apart from the above entry ticket.
There is a souvenir shop at the exit where you can buy things at their MRP.
And there is a personalized photo that the team at Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo will offer you. You can buy the same at additional cost.
Interesting Things to do in Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
Some of the best aquatic activities to take part in aquarium and underwater zoo are:
Aquarium tunnel
When you enter inside the 48m long aquarium tunnel, don’t forget to capture a pose.
Inside the aquarium tunnel
You can stand or sit on the side. See the fishes swimming around you. Younger kids love this activity. Mostly they get afraid and don’t trust the glass that separates them from the beautiful fishes. But as they ease up, they’ll start having a blast going up and down the tunnel.
A 20-30 minutes is enough to spend in the aquarium at Dubai Mall. Many people also dive into the fish tank and swim with fishes. However, there’s a separate entry ticket for this activity.
As you move further, the actual fun starts here.
Inside the underwater zoo, you’ll see Otters jumping on the one side and some little turtles and very tiny colorful fishes on the other side. Then you arrive at the Y – section, take left first or right as both paths lead to two different sections to explore.
On the left, this section has the penguin encounters, the way to go down in the fish tank to dive and swim with the fishes, the ticket counters for all the extra tickets you might want to purchase for interactive sessions and incubators breeding embryos of jelly fishes and several other aquatic species.
After finishing a round of the left section, move towards the right side. This section led to a big area that has several aquatic and nocturnal animals. These include –
Crocodiles – 3 big ones. The largest one is the King Croc, a whopping 750 kgs and measuring over 5m in length. Which is a native of the Australian Queensland region.
Reptiles including chameleons, lizards of different varieties, snakes of different types, frogs and many others.
Shark Feeding Encounter
Most people are afraid of sharks. We all have grown up thinking of this aquatic predator as one of the most terrifying animals on planet earth. Even the mere mention of the creature, makes you think of the ominous music from Steven Spielberg’s classic ‘Jaws’ whose antagonist is one of the most ruthless villains in cinema history.
The underwater world of Dubai aquarium, however, has played a vital role in breaking this stereotype. Now you can experience a brand new shark feeding encounter in the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo which brings you closer to these fascinating predators for the first time.
Located in The Dubai Mall, this attraction offers an exclusive shark feeding encounter where you can watch divers luring the sharks with buckets full of fish. Non-experienced divers can also enter the shark feeding arena. This thrilling 30-minute underwater adventure is followed by a tour of the behind-the-scenes facilities. You can watch the feeding of young sharks and learn about the aquarium’s shark breeding programme.
Shark Dives
Are you a daredevil looking for unforgettable thrilling adventures? In the Dubai Aquarium, all you need to do is to dive into the depths of a 10-million liter aquarium tank. You will come face-to-face with the world’s largest collection of Sand Tiger sharks in one of the most popular attractions in Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. The great thing is, you don’t need to be a certified diver to experience this shark dive. Anyone in Dubai and from all over the world can plunge in without any diving certificate at the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo.
Cage Snorkelling
If you think shark diving is a little risky, here is another safe option you could explore. The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo also offers a cage snorkeling adventure where you can enjoy close encounters with thousands of aquatic animals at once. For this safe thrill, you just need to wear snorkelling gear, get into a cage and dive into an aquarium full of different species of aquatic animals including sharks and rays.
Shark Walker
If you are not too thrilled about getting your hair soaked, yet want to experience the underwater world of the Dubai aquarium, worry not! You can experience close encounters with sharks, rays and many other aquatic species just by signing in for the Shark Walker experience. To experience this you are required to wear a white custom made helmet, which primarily helps to breathe comfortably underwater and at the same time keeps your hair dry. Get ready to spend 25 thrilling minutes immersed in the underwater paradise. See thousands of fishes from a close distance and enjoy unique underwater encounters.
Wonders at the Underwater Zoo
You can spot penguins, piranhas, crabs, water rats, sea horses, jellyfish and many more animals here. It is located on level two just above the aquarium tank in the Underwater Zoo at The Dubai Mall.
Meet the King Croc
Get ready to discover one of the world’s largest reptiles, King Croc which weighs a whopping 750kgs. You can experience the thrill, adventure and fear all at the same time as you watch this magnificent creature. The ticket for the King Croc Encounter is currently AED 230.
UAE’s Night Creatures
Watch the desert fauna come alive in the dark at the Underwater Zoo. One of the most kid-friendly activities in the Underwater Zoo, your children will certainly enjoy watching the bats, owls, chameleons and gerbils.
VRZOO Experience
Along with the above-mentioned activities in Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, you can also immerse yourself in the exhilarating world of some of the most amazing animals through the unique VRZOO experience. You can enjoy everything from an exclusive ocean experience, catch glimpses of gorillas in Uganda and witness rendezvous between sharks and whales in the beautiful Island of Maldives, from right here in Dubai. The immersive experience is one of the new attractions in Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo that you must visit.
There are two types of tickets for this attraction in the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. The Animal 360 Experience and Ocean Experience cost AED 30.
Dining Options
Aquarium Café
Located within the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, the Aquarium Café offers a unique dining experience where you can enjoy a meal while surrounded by stunning views of the aquarium’s main tank. The café serves a range of light snacks, sandwiches, salads, and beverages, making it a perfect spot to relax and refuel after exploring the exhibits. The serene ambiance, coupled with the sight of sharks and rays swimming by, creates a dining experience unlike any other.
The Dubai Mall Food Court
Just a short walk from the aquarium, The Dubai Mall offers an extensive food court with a wide variety of international cuisines. From fast food favorites to healthy options, the food court caters to all tastes and budgets. It’s an ideal place for families and groups to find something that everyone will enjoy.
Fine Dining Restaurants
For those looking to indulge in a more upscale dining experience, The Dubai Mall is home to several fine dining restaurants that offer gourmet cuisine in elegant settings. Some of these restaurants offer stunning views of the Dubai Fountain or the Burj Khalifa, providing a memorable dining experience. While not directly inside the aquarium, these options are easily accessible and offer a perfect way to end your visit.
Ice Cream and Dessert Shops
If you’re in the mood for something sweet, The Dubai Mall is home to a number of dessert shops and ice cream parlors. Enjoy a scoop of gelato, a gourmet cupcake, or a refreshing smoothie as you stroll through the mall or relax after your aquarium visit.
Special sessions and encounters at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
- Snorkeling experience in the fish tank for both divers and non divers.
- 2-day scuba diving training with PADI certification.
- Personal interactive session with Sand Tiger Sharks.
- Close encounters with penguins, piranhas, crabs, water rats, seahorses, jellyfish.
- Opportunity to feed fishes, penguins and otters.
- Glass Boat ride within the fish tank like a submarine ride.
- Diving in the Shark tank under expert supervision.
- Watch upclose the different aquatic animals getting fed.
- As you dive or snorkel, your experience gets captured using a camera, and can be later personalised and documented for you.
Interesting Facts about Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Dubai
Some of the interesting facts that you must know about to buy Aquarium and Underwater Zoo are
- Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo includes more than 33000 different species of aquatic animals from all around the globe.
- There are over 140 different species in the tank
- The tank has 10 million liter water making it one of the largest aquarium in the world
- You will not only witness the aquatic animals bus but also attend interactive sessions such as feeding.
- Interactive Educational videos help you learn more about unique species.
- The size of the fish in the aquarium ranges from tiny colorful fishes to giant sharks.
How about the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo?
You can either go to an aquarium or underwater zoo. If you have an online ticket, you will be scared at the entrance of both places. However, if you buy in percentage you can start the experience from near the aquarium on level zero.
