Dubai Safari Park reopens October 12: What to know before you visit

Dubai: Get ready for a fun wildlife adventure as Dubai Safari Park is set to open from October 12, kicking of Season 8 with its first ever ‘Wildest Opening Week’. Set to coincide with the mid-term school break, the opening week activities at Dubai Safari Park will be held from October 12 to 18. Here is all you can expect from this season of Dubai Safari Park. What is Dubai Safari Park? Dubai Safari Park will reopen for its eighth season on October 12, 2026, following its annual summer closure. Picture credit: Government of Dubai Media Office Located in the Al Warqa area in Dubai, Dubai Safari Park is spread across 119 hectares and is home to more than 3,000 animals across six wildlife zones. Last season, the park announced the arrival of 144 newborn animals, including vulnerable and endangered species, such as Salam, a southern white rhino calf, and Zuri, a baby giraffe. Wildest Opening Week The opening week celebrations will allow visitors – both children and adults – to engage in various activities designed to educate and entertain the community on conservation and wildlife. One of these experiences is the ‘Little Explorers’ Base Camp’, a dedicated space where children can learn, explore and play through activities like safari-themed face painting, clay model making, arts and crafts, lawn games and safari-themed inflatables. Different zones at the park When you enter the park, you can get on to a tour bus, which will take you around the park, along the following six zones: 1. Arabian Desert Safari The drive through experience introduces visitors to wildlife and landscapes associated with the Arabian Peninsula. Animals include native species such as the Arabian oryx and sand gazelle. 2. Asian Village Designed around the wildlife of Asia, this zone is home to species including moon bears, Komodo dragons and gibbons. 3. Explorer Village One of the park's main safari experiences, Explorer Village allows visitors to travel through animal habitats on a guided safari and see species from around the world. 4. African Village The African Village is home to some of the world's largest land mammals and includes species such as African elephants, white lions and gorillas. A cheetah at Dubai Safari Park, which is home to more than 3,000 animals across six wildlife zones. Picture credit: Visit Dubai 5. Kids' Farm Designed particularly for younger visitors, Kids' Farm gives children the opportunity to learn about and interact with farm animals. 6. Al Wadi Al Wadi – Arabic for ‘the valley’ – provides a space to take a break between the park's wildlife experiences, with food and refreshment options available. At each of the zones, you can participate in different animal encounters and experiences, like walking and grooming ponies or feeding giraffes, birds, goats and tortoises. Some of which are free, while others may be paid. The park also offers several education experiences for young visitors, to help them learn about the animal world and wildlife conservation. The new Royal Safari Experience The newly announced Royal Safari Experience will offer a four-hour private wildlife experience for groups of up to 10 people, including VIP treatment, reserved seating and private guided tours around the park. What will the tickets cost? While ticket prices for the next season have not yet been announced, the park offers a range of ticket prices based on the type of experience you are looking for. For example, a standard pass allows you to visit all the six zones at your own pace, and a train pass gives you unlimited access to the shuttle train, which can help move from one zone to the other. There are also ‘Behind the scenes’ packages, wildlife photography experiences and special safari tickets, which you can choose from. According to the Dubai Safari Park website, ticket details for the next season will be announced in October. How can I reach Dubai Safari Park? The Dubai Safari Park is located in the Al Warqa 4 district, off E44, Ras Al Khor Road. To reach the park, you would need to first take E311 – Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road – and take Exit 52. The exit will be number 52, regardless of whether you are coming from the direction of Sharjah or Abu Dhabi. The exit will take you towards Dragon Mart, which will fall on your right. Follow directions for Dubai Safari Park, which will fall on the left side of the road. Take a U-turn from the first roundabout to reach Dubai Safari Park, which will then be on your right.