Best Places For Indoor Animal Encounters In The UAE

One of the largest indoor aquariums of its kind in the world, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is located right in centre of The Dubai Mall and is an absolute must-visit for you and your kiddos. Showcasing one of the most diverse collections of aquatic life worldwide, Dubai Aquarium is where you can explore the marvels of the ocean floor as you feast your eyes on thousands of aquatic animals, representing several hundred-marine species.

Journey through the rainforest, Rock Pool Coastline and the UAE night as you encounter animals such as crocodiles, piranhas, otters, sea horses, jelly fish and so much more.

Want to level up your visit to Dubai Aquarium? Book the Ultimate Experience and get access to a whole range of cool activities and features such as the Aquarium Tunnel, Underwater Zoo, Guided Behind the Scenes Tour, Penguin Cove Interactive Platform, Glass Boat Tour, Fish Feeding, Ocean VR and vouchers for the Aquarium Cafe and retail shop.

Book with Kidzapp to get up to 30% off your Ultimate Experience tickets.

Treat the family to a day out at this butterfly garden with something new to discover around every corner. There are over 6000 butterflies from more than 26 different varieties, all flying, feeding, and flapping about among the flowers. It's the perfect spot for your little ones to run around and explore while staying comfortable in temperature-controlled domes of adventure.

Need a little cuddle with man's best friend? Join the “meet our PETME members” sessions where you can meet and play with awesome and friendly dogs. This is the perfect place to go if you or your kids would love to spend some fun time with a furry friend. 

Advance booking is required.

Take your family to spend the day making new friends in a tropical forest full of exotic flora and fauna. For the curious, adventurous, young, and old, The Green Planet offers a first-hand encounter with some of nature's wonders. To make your experience even more special, you can also go behind the scenes or face your biggest fears as you experience a range of close encounters with exotic birds, reptiles, bugs, sloths, or even sugar gliders. You can also go for the Meet & Greet experiences, which allows small groups (of very brave people) the chance to hold and take pictures with The Green Planet's slithery snakes or scaly lizards. 

Look out for their regular events and their incredible Zookeeper program. If your child loves his/her furry friends and dreams of being a zookeeper, here is the ticket to making his/her dreams come true. Young animal lovers aged between 9 and 16 years can become "Zookeepers" for a day and embark on an adventure of a lifetime.

Get up to 30% off + Cashback on your General Admission with Kidzapp!

For thousands of years, people have been searching for the lost city of Atlantis. Well, we'll let you in on a little secret: it's right here in Dubai! Take the family on an adventure to discover the mysteries of the deep blue sea across 10 chambers of wildlife and over 20 exhibits to explore, all modeled after the the Lost City of Atlantis. You and your little explorers will learn fascinating facts about marine life while you watch 65,000 marine animals swim in the Ambassador Lagoon. 

Want to immerse yourself with the sea creatures? Try out the VR experience and pet wildlife and marine life creatures like polar bears and penguins and more! Not afraid to get your feet wet? Then really get in there with an Aquarium Dive ad swim with the fishes! So if you and the kids are looking to learn, explore, and be amazed, then The Lost Chambers Aquarium is a must-do for you.

Book now to get up to 15% off your tickets!

If you appreciate falcons, you will be ecstatic to visit Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital where they run exciting falcon tours for you and your family. These tours are a rare opportunity to see falcons up close and a chance to gain a deep insight into the world of the majestic birds. You will learn the history of falconry and discover how falcons live today. You will come closer to falcons than you ever thought possible. 

Saturday tours are available from October 1 to April 30.

Abu Dhabi is now home to the region’s only owl café. Boomah Café is home to nine owls that you can learn about and hold when buying a ticket, under the supervision of trainers that care for the birds of prey. These birds aren't kept for entertainment; many of them wouldn't survive in the wild due to injury or disability, so the Café is the perfect place for kids and adults alike to learn about these magnificent birds. And a delicious meal on the side won't do any harm.

Discover the amazing diversity of indigenous wildlife found on the Arabian Peninsula at Sharjah Arabia's Wildlife Centre. The whole family will be amazed at the sight of wildcats, gazelles, Nubian ibex, flamingos, baboons, Arabian Leopards, and much more.

Timings may differ during public holidays and summer months.

Interact with over 500 species of exotic butterflies in their natural habitat, in this haven that resembles something straight out of fairytales. It has been ergonomically designed to let in natural light and retain humidity to be the perfect refuge for all kinds of butterfly species. Within the House, you'll also find a gift shop and a cafe where you can pop in for a break in the middle of all the exploring.

Timings may differ during public holidays and summer months.

Explore the fascinating hidden world of the deep sea with all of its amazing creatures at the Sharjah Aquarium. Your whole family can enjoy an up-close look at the local fish and learn about Sharjah’s historic coasts and ports.

Timings may differ during public holidays and summer months.