Al Ain Zoo in UAE : All About Recreation, Learning and Entertainment

If you are looking for a recreational spot in Al Ain where you can spend a great time with your kids, family members, or friends, visiting the Al Ain Zoo in UAE is the best option. It is one of the most sought-after environmentally sustainable and educational destinations where you can explore the natural habitats of more than 200 species of animals, including the endangered ones. The Al Ain Zoo has been consistently meeting its core objective of strengthening the cultural, environmental, and historical affiliation of the Nation. The zoo aims to bond the Emirati people with the preservation of the environment and gives them a chance to witness some of the endangered species along with their habitats.

Know The Significance and History of Al Ain Zoo

In 2005, the Al Ain Zoo was established by the late Sheikh Zayed B in Sultan Al Nahyan and is today the largest zoo of its category in the Middle East. For more than 50 years, this zoo has become the epitome of wildlife preservation, following the best global standards in UAE. The Al Ain Zoo has collaborated with environmentally-friendly establishments, like the Emirates-Wildlife Society and the Masdar initiative, to eliminate waste, enhance urban planning, and develop a sustainable and eco-friendly environment.

Besides these, the zoo management has also partnered with influential agencies like Edinburgh Zoo, the World Conservation Union and Species Survival Commission, the Northern Rangelands Trust of Kenya, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, and the Sahara Conservation Fund. Awarded the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Award for Excellence in the tourism sector, Al Ain Zoo promises to guarantee knowledge, education, recreation, and a big difference in the world of animals.

• Al Ain Zoo Ticket Price 

The Al Ain Zoo in UAE has an online portal from where you can book your tickets. However, you can also purchase the Al Ain Zoo tickets from the zoo as well. Refer to the below-mentioned information to get an overview of Al Ain Zoo’s fee structure for the different attractions:

• • Entertainer Ticket: AED 31.50 for adults, and you don’t require getting a ticker for your children below the age of 3 years. For children between the age of 3 to 12, the ticket fare is AED 10.50.
  • Safari Entertainer: AED 210 for a 45-minute adventure safari around the Al Ain Zoo in a safari truck. AED 1050 for a 60-minute safari tour for up to 6 visitors. However, children under 3 years of age must have a baby seat.
  • Ahlan Entertainer: AED 525 on Sunday to Wednesday for a guided tour for two children and five adults, AED 94.50 will be charged for additional visitors. AED 787.50 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Public Holidays, and AED 105 will be charged for additional visitors.
  • Annual Pass: AED 236.25 for adults and AED 94.50 will be charged for an additional guest.
  • Family Annual Pass: AED 661.50 for two adults and three children, and AED 94.50 will be charged for additional visitors.
  • Al Maha Royal: AED 2,625 for up to six guests

• AL AIN ZOO Opening Time

There are a few things you must be mindful of before planning your visit to the Al Ain Zoo:

• • Al Ain Zoo in UAE is open every day from 09:00 AM to 08:00 PM
  • The ticket counter will be closed one hour before the closing time, i.e. 07:00.PM

Note: The visiting time is subject to change during Ramadan

• AL AIN ZOO Contact Details

• • Telephone: 800 ZOO (966) Or +971-3-799-2000
  • Email: info@alainzoo.ae

• Al Ain Zoo Location

  • Location : Al Ain Zoo PO BOX 1204. Once in Al Ain city, please follow the brown tourist signs to Al Ain Zoo.

Everything About the Al Ain Zoo Safari

In the vicinity of the Hajjar mountains, the magnificent Safari offered by Al Ain Zoo covers 217 hectares of sheer bliss of watching the wild animals living in their respective spaces.

The African safari, which was launched in 2016, is one of the biggest man-made safaris, which is home to several African animal species, including the African Lion, Rhino, and Giraffe. It sprawls on a 54.5-hectare range and can be visited by taking a Safari SUV or a Safari Truck.

• Al Ain Safari Tickets

  • AL Ain Safari SUV – It has 6 seats and is a 60-minute ride. Opened from 9 am to 6 pm, you are required to book the night safari 48 hours prior to the trip. The cost of Al Ain Zoo Safari Tickets for adults is AED 1050
  • Al Ain Safari Truck – It has 22 seats and is a 45-minute ride. Only aged 5 plus are allowed on this tour. You can book any one of the slots available – 11:00 AM, 02:00 PM & 04:00 PM and the cost of Al Ain Zoo Safari Tickets is AED 210 for adults.

Tips That Come in Handy When Visiting Al Ain Zoo

When visiting the Al Ain Zoo in UAE, you must refer to the following tips:

• • You must learn about conservation and the breeding projects of endangered species like the Arabian Cats.
  • You must make the most of educational programs, environmental research programs, camps, outreach programs, school visits, and virtual programs.
  • Explore the animal celebrities and special occasions section.

What Kind of Animals Can You See at the Al Ain Zoo in UAE?

You can witness the following Al Ain Zoo Animals:

• Mammals

You must visit The King of the Jungle – the African Lion. Other favourites are the Arabian Leopard, Springbok, and the Nubian Ibex. The Arabian Sand Cat and its breeding procedures are other factors that grab maximum attention. Other than that, monkeys and gorillas like the Sacred Baboon, White Tiger, Arabian Wolf, African White Lion, Striped Hyena, Rothschild’s Giraffe, and Southern White Rhinoceros are also famous.

• Birds

Birds of prey will surely catch your attention. On the other hand, the sweet singing cockatoos and the Emu will also interest you.

• Reptiles

The Aldabra Giant Tortoise is a big hit among reptiles. The other star attraction is the gorgeous Nile Crocodile enclosure.

Things To Do At The Al Ain Zoo in UAE

Here are some other things that you can add to your bucket list when visiting the Al Ain Zoo in UAE:

• Kids Can Meet Their Favourite Animals at the Children’s Zoo

Besides being amazed by watching several kinds of animals, kids also love the Animal Rides, which are scheduled every day from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm and 03:00 pm – 06:00 pm. The cost of each ride is AED 15. Kids can also experience Budgie feeding, which comes for AED 10.

• Observe the Birds of Prey Hunt

This is a free-of-cost activity wherein in you can watch different birds of prey from 5 pm to 5:30 pm. Enormous and powerful birds like Vultures, Eagles, Owls, and Falcons simply take your breath away.

• Enjoy the Talent of Delightful Birds

The Cockatoos and the Mackaws are a delight to watch. You only have to pay AED 10, and it is open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 3:45 pm.

• Take a Tour of the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre

Only 53 people are allowed in one go, and this exquisite learning program is for animal lovers who want to learn more about the species, their habitats, and their history. These are guided tours.

• Enjoy Your Meal with the King of the Jungle

Enjoy your meal with the king of the jungle at the world’s largest man-made African Al Ain Safari. This is a 3-4 hour duration activity that takes place every day and costs AED 840 per person.

• Go on a Lemur Walk

Check out the flat toes and fingernails of the Lemur and take a walk inside their exhibit. This is available for the entire week except Mondays, and the timings are 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM & 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM. The Ticket Price is 31.50 AED

• Feed the Giant Giraffe

It is an out-of-the-world experience to feed a giant giraffe that flaunts a 45 cm long tongue. You can avail of this opportunity every day of the week, from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, and the cost is 31.5 AED for 4 persons.

Innovative Things Offered by the Zoo

We have already mentioned a vibrant range of offerings at the Al Ain Zoo, but it doesn’t just stop there. There is an ever-increasing number of activities you can do. Some of the latest offerings of Al Ain Zoo are as follows:

• A Happy Meal with the Happy Animal

This offering will urge you to skip your breakfast on the zoo visiting day. A delicious breakfast awaits you at the Al Ain Zoo with the majestic creature named Miss Zafrana the giraffe and her beloved family. You will get an opportunity to snap loads of pictures while feeding them. This experience is only available on booking 48 hours prior to your visit. Refer to the information below to know more about timing, venue and price.

• • Timing: Daily 09:00 AM
  • Venue: Giraffe Feeding Station
  • Price: AED 252 per person

• Cheetah Run

The cheetah run is a magnificent offering of the Al Ain Zoo. Cheetah is the fastest animal on the earth and we can’t outrun them. The Al Ain Zoo offers an experience like never before, you can watch the zoo’s champions and the fastest runners named Zaik, Cleo and Firas race to win the competition at the zoo named Cheetah Run. The race will be conducted in the zoo’s very own amphitheatre. We hope your reflexes are as fast as our champs to capture them in action on your cameras. Refer to the below-mentioned information to know more about the timing and venue.

• • Timings: On Saturday and Thursday from 01:00 PM onwards
  • Venue: Cheetah Run

• Peek Into the Man-made Safari

Say yes to the wildlife adventure by peeking into the Al Ain Zoo’s artificial safari. Indulge in the exclusive offering by visiting the zoo’s Giraffe and Rhino-Back of House experience. It allows visitors to explore giraffe and rhino enclosures. Here, you can meet Sudan the rhino and his beloved family and giraffes. This exclusive experience requires a 48-hour prior booking and six guests are allowed per session. Refer to the information below to get availability and price details.

• • Availability: Daily
  • Venue: Al Ain Safari
  • Price: AED 1050

• Greet the Migratory Birds With a Smile

Several species of birds from migratory bird segments have made Al Ain Zoo their new home after flying over almost every rugged terrain and numerous water bodies.

In addition, an ample amount of migratory birds have been spotted in the Al Ain zoo. Some of the spotted species are the sooty gull, white-cheeked tern, yellow-throated sparrow, and Socotra cormorant. The migratory bridle doesn’t stop here, you can also take a glimpse of some of the predatory waders and birds such as osprey and peregrine falcon. As per the reports of 2019 the Al Ain Zoo has been visited by around 98 species of migratory birds.

Animal Feeding Timings in Al Ain Zoo

You can watch your favourite Al Ain Zoo Animals eat by following this schedule:

Best Restaurant in Al Ain Zoo

Al Ain Zoo is lauded with exclusive restaurants in and around the zoo premises. Refer to information to get more details of some restaurants that serves flavoursome dishes:

• Yalanji Café

If you are inclined towards Arabian cuisine then this is one of the best spots for you. Here you can feast on simple yet fresh Arabic food in an extremely refreshing environment.

• Zarafa Cafe

This is one of the top-rated cafés in Al Ain Zoo serving delicious food such as burgers, pasta, sandwiches and so on. It serves both veg and non-veg meals to the visitors.

• Blue Kitchen

This is a must-visit place while visiting Al Ain Zoo. The fine coffee and flavoursome food in a soothing environment is an absolute treat. Moreover, the spot holds a 4.4 rating, which gives this eatery a decent spot.

• Ravi Restaurants and Sweets

We can’t deny the fact India holds one of the top spots in terms of best spices. Here, you can enjoy the indulgence of fascinating Indian spices in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Moreover, to complete your meal, you can taste some of the sweets that are a speciality.

Map of Al Ain Zoo

Refer to the below-mentioned image to gate a better understanding of Al Ain Zoo map:

Conclusion

A visit to the Al Ain Zoo is a must, especially if you love watching animals, learning about their habitats, getting educated about their species, and being an animal-friendly person who gets immense pleasure in watching how endangered species are being protected here. So, if you are visiting Al Ain or you want to spend a great weekend with your family and friends, especially the kids, the Al Ain Zoo is for you.

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Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)