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Situated on the Ground Level of the Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world, is the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. The 10-million litre Dubai Aquarium tank is the largest suspended aquarium in the world and the main tank measures 51 metres in length, 20 metres in width and 11 metres in height.
The aquarium was awarded the ‘Certificate of Excellence’ award by TripAdvisor in 2012. Among its other accolades, the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo won the ‘Images Most Admired Retailer of the Year – Leisure & Entertainment’ at Images RetailME Awards 2012 and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums for its contribution towards environmental education, wildlife conservation & environmental research.
Table of Contents
Dubai Aquarium Quick Facts
- The Dubai Mall is designed by Peddle Thorp and managed by Emaar Entertainment.
- In the first five days since the opening of the Dubai Mall, 61,000 tickets were sold for the Dubai Aquarium.
- The Dubai Aquarium is situated in the Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world by surface area.
- The Aquarium is home to over 300 shark and rays. Species wise, there are animals belonging to over 150 species.
- The Dubai Aquarium has the largest sand tiger shark collection in the world.
- The Aquarium houses the world’s largest acrylic panel. It measures 32.88 m wide × 8.3 m high × 750 mm thick and weighs 245 tons.
Animals at the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo population consists of animals from 140 species, with over a thousand aquatic animals in it. There are close to 300 sharks and rays in the aquarium, a population of otters and crocodile as well. The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo also has the largest population of the sand tiger shark in the world.
Located on Level Two, above the aquarium is the Underwater Zoo which has been divided into three ecological Zones – Rainforest, Rocky Shore and Living Ocean. Spread within these zones are wonderful animal species such as Humbolt Penguins, Otters, Archerfish, Lionfish, Piranha, African Dwarf Crocodiles, Seahorses, the Arapaima, Giant Spider Crabs, Garden Eels, Water Rats, Nautilus and many more amazing animals.
Dubai Aquarium Timings
Sunday to Wednesday – 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Last admission: 10:30 pm
Thursday to Saturday – 10:00 am to 12:00 am
Last admission: 11:30 pm
Getting Dubai Aquarium Tickets
There are several ticketing booths at Dubai Mall where you can get tickets for Dubai Aquarium. These dedicated booths also sell tickets for experiences that can’t be bought online. Hence, one should definitely check these booths out to discover other experiences.
There are also online options to get discounted park tickets. Headout, a trusted online marketplace for buying tickets at exclusive prices, regularly offers Dubai Aquariu tickets at 10% -15% off their regular price. You can also purchase discounted tickets to Dubai’s other top attractions and theme parks via Headout.
Deciding Which Ticket to Purchase
With so man things happening at the Aquarium, it may become difficult selecting the perfect package for yourself. The Meet and Greet Area and Underwater Tunnel Access common for all ticket types. The additional benefits for each ticket type has been mentioned below for your convenience.
Dubai Aquarium Ticket Prices
Researcher Experience
Park price
AED 100 / $27.23
Headout price
AED 89 / $24.23
Features:
– New Meet & Greet Area
– Aquarium Tunnel
– Underwater Zoo
– Behind the Scenes tour
– Underwater Observatory
Children below 3 years of age are free of charge
Explorer Experience
Park price
AED 120 / $32.67
Headout price
AED 109 / $29.68
Features:
– New Meet & Greet Area
– Aquarium Tunnel
– Underwater Zoo
– Submersible Simulator
– Big Screen Theatre
– Aquarium Glass Bottom Boat
Not available for children below 3 years of age and pregnant women.
Otter Encounter
Price: AED 200 / $54.45
Features:
– Aquarium Tunnel
– Underwater Zoo
– Otter Meet & Greet Experience
Guests should arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled time.
Ray Encounter
Price: AED 200 / $54.45
Features:
– Aquarium Tunnel
– Underwater Zoo
– Ray Feeding
Not available for children under the height of 100 cm and pregnant women. Also, guests should arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled time.
King Croc Encounter
Price: AED 200 / $54.45
Features:
– Aquarium Tunnel
– Underwater Zoo
– Crocs Tour & Bird Feeding
Not available for children under the height of 120 cm and pregnant women. Also, guests should arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled time.
VIP Line Buster Experiences
Price: AED 300 / $81.68
Features: Skip the line access to
– Aquarium Tunnel
– Shark Week Exhibit
– Underwater Zoo
– Back of house tour
– Underwater Observatory
– Submersible Simulator
– Glass Bottom Boat
– VRZoo 360
Annual Membership Card
Price: AED 250 / $68.06
Features:
– 12 months unlimited entry to the Aquarium Tunnel, Underwater Zoo and unlimited Glass-Bottom boat rides
– 15% discount on entry for all accompanying family and friends
– 10% discount on Shark Dives
– 25% discount on Cage Snorkeling Experiences
– 20% discount on PADI Courses, dive trips and Al Boom Diving
Save AED 25 on your first booking with Headout when you use promo code GODUBAI! Choose from dozens of Dubai’s top attractions.
Dubai Aquarium and Burj Khalifa Offers
Get the best of Dubai with this combo offer that allows you to visit the Dubai Aquarium as well as the neighboring Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
Situated within the same compound, Burj Khalifa, the Fountain Lake and Dubai Mall are all part of the Dubai Downtown complex. These combo experiences allow you to visit all these landmarks of Dubai together. You will not only be able to see the Aquarium, but also visit At The Top, Burj Khalifa’s observatory situated on the 124th and 125th floor.
Benefits of Purchasing a Combo Pass
The perks of purchasing a Dubai Aquarium + Burj KhalifaTicket:
– Save up to 15% when you purchase a combo pass.
– Get up to 5% cashback when you purchase with Headout (Cashback is applicable to any other experiences on Headout.)
Dubai Aquarium + Burj Khalifa Combo
Price: AED 180 / $49.01
Features:
– Access to the Dubai Aquarium, the tunnel and the underwater zoo.
– Access to At The Top, Burj Khalifa’s observatory situated on the 124th and 125th floor of the Burj Khalifa.
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo Reviews
- THE GOOD
- THE BAD
The aquarium is located in Dubai Mall and hence, the crowds during the weekend are a bit on the higher side. This makes the queue lines longer than one would desire. However, you may not face this issue if you visit the Aquarium during the weekdays.
I have been to many aquariums but this is without a doubt one of the best. The wildlife is beautiful and this is a great experience for the young and old. Very enjoyable!
The aquarium is in the mall which in itself is pretty impressive – shopping with sharks! The tank is mesmerising – all kinds of fish, including sharks, just swimming around. We treated ourselves to an experience feeding the rays. First we went through the tunnel through the enormous tank and then we visited the zoo. It was really well done and the animals seemed healthy and happy. Lots of accessible information. It wasn’t busy when we visited so there was lots of time and space to stare. Hand feeding the rays was brilliant – only two us were doing it – and I will never forget how gentle and graceful they were, even though they made the most peculiar slurping noises! We also had a trip through the tank on a glass bottomed boat. The whole experience was terrific.
Read more Dubai Aquarium reviews on TripAdvisor.
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo Experiences
Apart from the experiences that are part of the tickets mentioned above, there are numerous experiences that Dubai Aquarium offers. These include anywhere from shark cage dives, shark feeding experiences to scuba diving courses. Check the list out below to discover fascinating aquatic experiences that are held at Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.
The Dubai Aquarium Tunnel
The Dubai Aquarium Tunnel is a 48 metre walk-through tunnel situated within the base of the aquarium. It provides a 270-degree view of the aquarium from 11 metres below the surface of the tank.
Price:
Aquarium Tunnel access is part of every ticket purchased to the Aquarium and hence no additional fees is required.
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VRZOO
This fully immersive VR experience will allow you to feel the thrill of getting up close and personal with the world’s most amazing animals. The experience includes hanging out with a family of gorillas in Uganda’s Great Impenetrable Forest, swimming with whale sharks in the Maldives and elephant tracking in the South African savanna.
Price:
– AED 30 Standard Experience
– AED 50 Interactive Experience
Note: Tickets are available at the physical ticket booth. Please do check at the ticket counter.
Mermaid Experience
1. Meet the Mermaids
This is your chance to meet the mythical mermaids in their caves. Don’t miss the opportunity to take a photograph with the magical mermaids as well.
Price:
AED 40 per person, including a photo opportunity. (Available only when buying Researcher Experience)
Note: Tickets are available at the physical ticket booth. Please do check at the ticket counter.
Timings:
– Weekdays: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
– Weekend: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
2. Transform into a Mermaid
Complete with makeup, costumes and hairstyling, you will be transformed into a mermaid in the ultimate aquarium experience. You will also be able to take home a mermaid hair accessory as well as photographs of you as a mermaid.
Price:
AED100 per person, including makeover, souvenir hair accessory and photo opportunity. (Available only when buying Researcher Experience)
Note: Tickets are available at the physical ticket booth. Please do check at the ticket counter.
Timings:
– Weekdays: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
– Weekend: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Aquatic Experience
Shark Scooter
The Shark Scooter is an awesome experience for those willing to dive into the water tank. Similar to a personal miniature submarine, the scooter allows one to comfortably dive below the surface of the aquarium. The scooter experience allows you to come face to face with these amazing aquatic animals. The Shar Scooter is undoubtedly an experience unlike any other.
Price:
– AED 400 for the single scooter
– AED 600 for the double scooter
Including entry to the Aquarium and a back-of-house tour.
Timings:
– 5:00pm, 6:00pm, 7:00pm
Shark Encounter
Get face-to-face with the ocean’s most fascinating predators, the sharks in a safely enclosed diving cage. The professional Dubai Aquarium Shark Feed Divers will lure the sharks toward the enclosure with buckets of fish. Here, you will be inches away from the sharks and be able to witness the feeding frenzy in an interactive and educational experience.
This 30-minute underwater experience will be followed by a facilities tour where you will also be able to witness the feeding of baby sharks.
Note: Tickets are available at the physical ticket booth. Please do check at the ticket counter.
Shark Week
With Discovery Channel’s Shark Week exhibit,you will be getting up close and personal with Hammerheads, Devil Rays and other fascinating creatures of the Underwater Zoo. You can view them from the underwater tunnel, or on a panoramic screen.
Note: Tickets are available at the physical ticket booth. Please do check at the ticket counter.
Cage Snorkelling
Jump into a submerged cage and have a close encounter with sharks and thousands of other aquatic animals at Dubai Aquarium with the Cage Snorkelling Experience. Put on your diving gear and jump into the secure cage in the aquarium.
Minimum age: 8 years old.
Note: Tickets are available at the physical ticket booth. Please do check at the ticket counter.
Shark Dive
Come face to face with one of the ultimate predators on earth, the shark. Dubai Aquarium is home to one of the largest population of sand tiger sharks – 750 pounds of lean muscle and 300 razor sharp teeth. You are not required to be a certified diver to experience the Shark Dive at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo.
Three Shark Dives are held daily, allowing up to four divers in each group and divers must be at least 10 years of age.
Note: Tickets are available at the physical ticket booth. Please do check at the ticket counter.
Shark Walker
Put on your diving helmets and dive into the 10-million litre tank to enjoy an experience of a lifetime. The experience allows you to come close to sharks, rays and a wide array of fish species at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo.
Timings:
between 12.00pm and 3.00pm, 4.30pm and 7.00pm
Note: Tickets are available at the physical ticket booth. Please do check at the ticket counter. Suitable for guests who are 12 years old and above.
Discover Scuba Dive
Become a PADI certified Diver with this 2 day scuba course for beginners (suitable for those 10 years old and above). The diving session will be held at the Aquarium tank.
GoPro Camera
Record your Aquarium experience, be it a Shark Dive, Cage Snorkeling or Shark Walker experience and capture these amazing moments.
Speciality Dives
If you are a PADI certified diver, you can take part in this 3-dive underwater experience that allows you to swim with the sharks and other aquatic animals, learn about their conservation and feed these majestic creatures as well. On completion, you will receive a PADI Certificate Card as well.
Dive 1: Swim freely amongst the sharks, rays and other fishes in the Aquarium.
Dive 2: Learn about shark conservation, identification, underwater photography tips and take photos with a professional underwater camera.
Dive 3: The Shark Feeding dive allows you to interact with these amazing animals during feeding time.
Note: Divers must be at least 10 years of age and dives can be completed on different days or on the same day.
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Underwater Zoo Experiences
1. King Croc
King Croc has soon become the star attraction of the Underwater Zoo. Weighing in at 750 kgs (as much as 14 and a half fully-grown men) and measuring over 5m in length, King Croc is one of the largest reptiles in captivity today. A saltwater crocodile from Australia, King Croc is 40 years old and is expected to grow further as he ages.
2. UAE’s Night Creatures
Check out some of the most fascinating creatures that make up the amazing diversity of Arabian wildlife. The exhibition features animal species that thrive in the desert environment. These include Barn Owls, Giant Camel Spiders, Veiled Chameleons, Frog Eye Geckos, Arabian Toads, Fruit Bats, Scorpions, False Cobras and Hedgehogs.
Glass Boat Experience
If you wish to see the animals in the tank from above rather than below, you can go for a boat ride in a glass-bottomed boat. Floating on a glass boat above the 10-million liter tank is a unique experience and presents a wonderful opportunity to get a bird’s-eye view of the aquatic animals in the tank.
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Getting to the Dubai Aquarium
Address: Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, The Dubai Mall, Doha Street, Off 1st Interchange – Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, U.A.E
The Dubai Aquarium is situated in the Dubai Mall and this makes it easy to reach from every part of Dubai.
By car
Situated next to the Burj Khalifa in the Dubai Mall, driving to the Aquarium is fairly easy with ample parking space in the mall’s car park to accommodate your car. The Dubai Aquarium is a:
– 20 minute drive from Dubai Marina
– 15 minute drive from Jumeirah
– 20 minute drive from Mall of the Emirates
– 1 hour 25 minutes from Abu Dhabi
By Metro
The closest metro station to the Aquarium is the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station, a mere 5 minutes walk away.
By Flight
The Aquarium is 40 minutes away from the Al Maktoum International Airport-DWC and 15 minutes from the Dubai International Airport.
Ready for your Dubai Aquarium visit?
Purchase discounted tickets to Dubai Aquarium via Headout today! Or, browse discounted tickets to Dubai’s other top aquariums and attractions.
The post Everything You Need To Know About The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo appeared first on Headout Blog.
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