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Dubai: Thinking of what to do with the kids for the weekend? How about traveling to a neighboring emirate (or staying in your city) and visiting the zoo?
According to a 2011 study by the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, trips to the zoo not only leave children with lasting memories of interacting with animals, but also significantly increase their scientific knowledge about animals and their habitats.
The study surveyed 3,000 children and asked them what they knew about animals, habitats and conservation before and after trips to zoos.
The results showed that 53% of the children experienced positive changes in areas of education or conservation-related knowledge, while 39% of children who had not previously expressed concern about species extinction turned directly after visiting the zoo to travel .
The UAE offers families a variety of experiences to interact with animals and gain a better understanding of the need for conservation, while the zoo is a more affordable educational experience that can have a lasting impact on the way your children interact with nature.
Here’s a list of zoos in the UAE for planning your weekend trip.
1. Al Ain – Al Ain Zoo
timing
9am to 8pm daily
ticket price
Adult Dh31.50
Dh10.50 – 3 to 12 years old.
10% discount when booking online at alainzoo.ae
Place
The zoo is located near Al Ain Women’s College, Higher College of Technology (HCT), Al Nahyan the First Street.
Founded by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1968, Al Ain Zoo is the largest zoo in the Middle East and currently houses more than 4,000 animals of more than 200 species.
Check out African lions and Rothschild giraffes, or take photos while feeding penguins. Also visit the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, which provides information on Abu Dhabi’s environment and animal species, making it a great educational experience for children.
2. Dubai – Dubai Safari Park
Dubai Safari
Image Credit: Supplied
Cheetahs at Dubai Safari Park.
Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
Image Source:
Image credit: Dubai Media Office
Pictures are for illustrative purposes only.
Image credit: Shutterstock
Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
timing
9am to 5pm daily
ticket price
There are a variety of ticket categories for Dubai Safari, depending on which experience you wish to choose. Starting prices (one-day pass) are as follows:
Dh50 for adults
AED 20 for children from 3 to 12 years old.
Children under three years old enter free. One person of determination and two companions can enter for free by presenting an original person of determination card.
Place
Dubai Safari is located at Al Warqa 5, along Ras Al Khor Road E44. When driving along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), you can reach the park by taking exit 53.
Dubai Safari Park covers 119 hectares and is home to around 3,000 animals. The park covers more than 119 hectares (approx. 166 football fields) and has a tram service that takes visitors from one paddock to another.
The different enclosures of Dubai Safari are Arabian Desert Safari, Asian Village, Explorer Village, African Village, Kids Farm and Al Wadi where visitors can relax and picnic.
3. Abu Dhabi – Emirates Park Zoo and Resort
Image credit: Shutterstock
Image source: Facebook
Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
timing
9am to 9pm daily
ticket price
50 dirhams
Children under the age of three are admitted for free.
Place
The zoo is located in the Al Shahama area. If you are coming from Dubai, follow the E11 (Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid), and after passing through the Al Rahba area, you will find the sign of the zoo.
The zoo offers visitors the chance to see wild cats such as lions, tigers, leopards, and leopards, as well as elephants, giraffes, zebras, and more. You can pick up grass or other animal treats at the entrance and enjoy interacting with the animals as you go.
4. Ajman – UAE Dwarf Zoo
timing
Weekdays 2pm to 11pm
Weekends 1pm to 12 midnight
ticket price
Dh15 for adults
Dh10 3-12 years old
Children under three years old enter free
Place
The Zoo is located in the Al Zorah development area and you will find it on your left as you pass the Ajman city center as you drive along the E11 (Al Ittihad Road).
The zoo is a family-friendly destination, offering activities like horseback riding, feeding the animals, interacting with puppies and cats or taking photos with parrots. There’s also a children’s play area and outdoor cinema, as well as several food vendors.
5. Umm Al Quwain – Zoo Safari
timing
8:00 am to 7:00 pm daily
ticket price
Dh25 is suitable for all ages. Admission is free for children under one year old.
Place
The Zoo is located along E55 (Al Shuwaib-Umm Al Quwain Road). The easiest way to get to the location is to enter the following plus sign – CMJP+GJ Umm Al Quawain into your smartphone’s navigation app.
The zoo safari gives visitors the chance to see animals such as lions, tigers, bears and crocodiles, as well as a local celebrity, Habuba the orangutan, who happily joins visitors on walks around the park. You can also feed the animals and ride horses.
6. Ras Al Khaimah – Ras Al Khaimah Safari Park
Image Credit: Supplied
Image Credit: Supplied
Image Credit: Supplied
Image Credit: Supplied
Image Credit: Supplied
timing
9am to 9pm daily
ticket price
AED 40 per person. Children under 4 enter free.
The Zoo is located along E55 (Al Manama Ras Al Khaimah Road/Airport Road), just opposite the Institute of Applied Technology.
The zoo gives visitors the chance to see animals such as white lions and Bengal tigers, and you can also take pictures with birds and parrots. You can also visit the Children’s Zoo, where kids can pose with and feed small animals such as fawns, rabbits and turtles.
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