Dubai Safari Park Guide 2026/27: Tickets, Zones, Timings and Tips

Dubai Safari Park is one of the easiest big days out in the city: more than 3,000 animals from over 300 species, six themed zones, two safari rides and plenty of hands-on encounters for children. It reopened for Season 8 on 12 October 2026, and the cooler months are the best time to visit. This guide covers what each ticket actually includes, how the two safari journeys compare, the encounters worth adding, how to get there and how to fit the park into a Dubai trip alongside a real desert safari in the dunes.

What is Dubai Safari Park?

Dubai Safari Park is the city's largest wildlife park, run as a conservation-focused attraction in Al Warqa, on the eastern side of Dubai. It covers around 119 hectares and is home to more than 3,000 animals from over 300 species, including 42 endangered species, according to the park. There's a 24/7 veterinary hospital on site, and many of the larger animals live in open-range habitats that you see from a vehicle rather than through bars.

It's important not to confuse it with a desert safari. The park is a zoo-style attraction you explore on foot, by park train and on short guided rides. A desert safari, by contrast, takes you out to the real dunes for dune bashing, camel rides and a camp dinner. Both are worth doing, and they fit together well on a family trip. If it's your first time in the dunes, our first-time desert safari guide explains what to expect.

The six zones explained

The park is divided into six themed areas. You don't need to see them in any order, but it helps to know what's where.

The park train links the zones. It's included with the Safari Bundle and available as an add-on with other tickets. With young children or older relatives, it saves a lot of walking in the heat.

Dubai Safari Park tickets and what they include

The official website lists two main tickets for the 2026/27 season. Prices below are the official figures at the time of writing and may change, so always confirm when you book.

Children under three and People of Determination enter free. Standard tickets are single entry, so once you leave you can't come back in on the same ticket.

You can buy direct from the park or through a reseller. The Dubai Safari Park Entry Pass on GetYourGuide is a popular option if you like to keep all your Dubai bookings, reviews and cancellation terms in one app. Compare what's included before you buy, because reseller listings can bundle different rides.

Premium and private experiences

For special occasions, the park also sells private group packages on top of the standard visit. At the time of writing, the official site lists:

• Behind the Scenes: a 90-minute private guided tour for up to 10 guests with backstage experiences, including rhino and elephant feeding, for AED 1,450 per group.
• King of Safari: a four-hour private experience for up to 10 guests with a private Explorer Safari, three animal feedings and reserved seating, for AED 2,500 per group.
• Dine in the Wild: a two-hour breakfast or dinner beside the giraffes or lions for up to six guests, for AED 2,150 per group.
• Jungle Capture: a three-hour early-morning photography tour for up to three guests, for AED 1,275 per group.

The two safari journeys compared

The rides are the main reason most people visit, so it's worth understanding the difference.

The Arabian Desert Safari is a short guided drive through around 60,000 square metres of recreated desert. It's a gentle introduction to the UAE's native wildlife, and a good primer if you're planning to visit the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, where oryx and gazelles roam the real dunes.

The Explorer Safari Tour is the one with the big animals. The park says places are limited, especially at weekends, and recommends riding in the morning when the animals are most active. Its own tip for photographers: sit on the right for lions and on the left for giraffes. Each ride is valid once per ticket, and journeys run subject to weather and animal welfare guidelines.

Animal encounters and daily presentations

Encounters are short, paid add-ons with limited places. You can add them at checkout or at the ticket counter on arrival, subject to availability. These are some of the options listed on the official site at the time of writing:

Giraffe feeding runs several times a day and is the one most families want, so add it when you book if you can. Rhino and elephant feeding are only available on the Behind the Scenes package.

The free daily presentations, each about 30 minutes, are included with every ticket. They include a bird show in the Explorer Theater and a small-mammal show in the Asian Theater. Times can change, so check the board at the entrance and plan your route around the shows you want to see.

Getting to Dubai Safari Park

The park is in Al Warqa 5, on the E44 Hatta Road opposite Dragon Mart.

• By car: Free parking is available in car parks P1 to P3, with EV charging at P1. Driving time from the city centre varies with traffic.
• By metro and bus: The park suggests taking the Red Line to Centrepoint and then RTA bus F10. Check current departures with RTA before you travel.
• By taxi: Ask for Dubai Safari Park's main entrance in Al Warqa 5.
• With a transfer: If you'd rather not deal with taxis or buses, the Dubai Safari Park with Private Luxury Transfers tour includes a private vehicle to and from your hotel.

Is Dubai Safari Park good for families?

It's one of the most family-friendly attractions in Dubai. The Kids Farm lets young children pet and feed animals, the park train cuts down on walking, and there are baby-changing facilities, stroller rental, prayer rooms, first aid points and free Wi-Fi. Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are available to rent, and the Arabian Desert Safari uses wheelchair-friendly vehicles. Some areas have limited accessibility, so the park suggests calling 800 900 to discuss specific needs.

Children must stay with an adult throughout the visit. For more ideas on keeping a desert holiday easy with kids, see our family desert safari tips.

Pros and cons

Tips for a better visit

• Go on a weekday. Weekends and public holidays are busier, and Explorer Safari places are limited.
• Dress for the sun. Bring a hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes. The park asks guests to wear modest clothing covering shoulders and knees.
• Leave some things at home. Pets, drones, large luggage and recreational devices aren't permitted. Cameras are welcome, but switch the flash off.
• Book encounters early. Giraffe and lemur feeding sessions have limited places.
• Check the board on arrival. Ride, encounter and presentation times can change on the day.

How to pair the park with a real desert safari

The park closes at 6pm, so it's best to treat it and a desert safari as two separate days. A popular plan is a morning at the park, a relaxed afternoon at the hotel, then an evening safari on another day. On that evening, you'll swap the park's recreated dunes for the real red sands, with dune bashing, a camel ride, sunset photos and dinner at camp. Our evening desert safari guide explains how a typical evening runs.

Recommended tours

For the park, the Dubai Safari Park Entry Pass is the simplest booking, and the private-transfer version suits families who want door-to-door transport. For the dunes, the Desert Safari, Camel Ride, BBQ Dinner & Live Show covers the classic evening highlights in one trip. Check current prices, availability, reviews and cancellation terms for all three in the GetYourGuide section below.

Final thoughts

Dubai Safari Park is an easy, good-value day out, especially with children, and Season 8 runs through the cooler months when a visit is at its most comfortable. Choose the Safari Bundle if you want to see the big cats, arrive at opening and add a giraffe feeding. Then save another day for the real desert, where the dunes, the sunset and a night at camp give you a completely different side of the UAE.