Dubai Safari Park: Tickets, Timings, Zones & Complete Visitor Guide
Dubai Safari Park in Al Warqa is the city's modern replacement for the old Dubai Zoo — a 119-hectare conservation-focused park that is home to roughly 3,000 animals across five themed zones, including one of the region's few drive-through safari experiences. It's consistently one of the best-value family tickets in Dubai, and this guide covers everything first-time visitors ask: prices, season dates, how the zones work and how to plan your day.
- Location
- Hessa Street, Al Warqa 5, Dubai
- Tickets
- ~AED 50 adult / ~AED 20 child (standard entry); premium safari packages extra
- Season
- Roughly October – June (closed over peak summer)
- Hours
- Typically 9:00 am – 5:00 pm during the season
- Time needed
- 4–6 hours minimum
- Parking
- Free at the main gates
Top photo: Alena Belova for Exhibo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (see credits).
Ticket prices and which one to buy
The park keeps pricing simple: a standard entry ticket covering all walking zones, and upgrade packages that add the Safari Journey — the guided vehicle ride through the open savannah where giraffes, rhinos and antelope roam unfenced around the truck. Children under three usually enter free, and People of Determination receive discounted or free entry with a valid card.
| Ticket | What you get | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard entry | All walk-through zones, shows, kids' farm | AED 50 adult / AED 20 child |
| Safari Journey package | Entry + guided drive-through safari | AED 85–120 |
| Premium / VIP experiences | Behind-the-scenes, feedings, private guide | Varies |
The five zones explained
1. African Village
The biggest crowd-pleaser: lions, African elephants, giraffes and the gorilla habitat. Come here first in the morning when the big cats are most active.
2. Asian Village
Home to Komodo dragons, gibbons and moon bears, plus the park's popular bird show amphitheatre. Show times are posted at the entrance — plan your loop around them.
3. Explorer Village
This is where the Safari Journey departs. The open-sided vehicle loops through savannah-style enclosures where hoofstock and rhino graze metres from you. It's the single best experience in the park — if your budget allows one upgrade, make it this.
4. Arabian Desert Safari
A often-overlooked gem showcasing native wildlife — Arabian oryx, sand gazelles, wolves and caracals — in a landscape that looks like the Dubai outskirts did a century ago.
5. Wadi & Kids' Farm
Petting area, pony rides and shaded playgrounds. If you have children under eight, save ninety minutes for this at the end of the day.
Opening season and timings
Dubai Safari Park runs a seasonal calendar: gates typically open in early October and close for summer around June, because the animal welfare programme limits visitor operations in extreme heat. During the season, hours are roughly 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with last entry an hour before closing. The park is busiest on winter weekends and UAE public holidays; a weekday morning visit can feel like you have the savannah to yourself.
How to get there
By car
The park sits on Hessa Street (D61) in Al Warqa 5 — about 20–25 minutes from Downtown, 15 from Dubai International Airport. Parking at the gates is free and plentiful.
By public transport
Take the metro to Rashidiya / Centrepoint station, then a taxi (10–12 minutes). RTA buses also serve Al Warqa; check the S'hail app for the route from your area. A taxi from Downtown costs roughly AED 45–60.
Food, prayer rooms and facilities
Food courts and kiosks are spread across the villages, serving the usual family staples at theme-park prices; you cannot bring your own cooked food inside, though water and baby food are fine. Prayer rooms, nursing rooms and wheelchair/stroller rentals are available near the main entrance. Most walkways are shaded, but the park is genuinely big — comfortable shoes matter more than anything else you pack.
Insider tips
Arrive at opening time: animals are active and queues for the Safari Journey are short. Book the Safari Journey slot immediately on entry, then plan the walking zones around it. The bird show fills up ten minutes early on weekends. And in October or May, go late afternoon instead — golden light over the savannah zone is the best photography window in the park.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Dubai Safari Park tickets?
Standard entry is around AED 50 for adults and AED 20 for children; packages with the drive-through Safari Journey cost more.
Is the park open in summer?
No — it closes roughly June to September and reopens in October each year.
How long does a visit take?
Four to six hours covers the zones and safari ride; a full day if you add shows and the kids' farm.
Is Dubai Safari Park worth it?
For families, yes — it's one of the cheapest major attractions in Dubai relative to what you get, and far more spacious than the old zoo it replaced.
More days out: pair this with a calm beach day at Al Mamzar Beach Park, or plan an inter-city trip with our Abu Dhabi to Dubai bus guide.