Dubai Safari Park is an open-air animal park that opens roughly from October to May and closes for the summer, with entry from about AED 50 for adults and AED 20 for children aged 3-12. It has six themed zones, a shuttle train and a guided safari ride of about 35 minutes, and it needs three to four hours. This guide covers the zones, the ticket options, the best hour to arrive, the heat, how to get there and what to see in the wild instead.
By SB Excursions · Published 28 October 2026 · Updated 28 October 2026
Tour on this route: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
How much is Dubai Safari Park?
General entry has been from about AED 50 for adults and AED 20 for children aged 3-12, with children under 3 free. Bundles that include the guided safari ride cost more, and prices change each season, so check the official site.
This guide also answers:
- When is Dubai Safari Park open?
- How long does Dubai Safari Park take?
- Is Dubai Safari Park good for toddlers?
Five ways to see animals and outdoors in the UAE
#1
The Arabian Desert Safari zone: oryx
The zone for species of the Arabian Peninsula, with the Arabian oryx as the animal to look for. The photo shows an oryx in the open desert reserve, not in the park, but it gives you the picture of what the zone represents: a white antelope with long straight horns that survives the dunes. It is a quick, easy stop and good for children.
#2
Close contact: the Kids Farm and camels at a camp
The park's Kids Farm is the zone for the youngest visitors, with animals they can get close to. If a camel is the target, a desert camp is the better place: our full-day safari includes a short camel ride and falcon photos as the desert turns gold. The safari is not recommended for infants under 3.
#3
The guided safari ride, and the 4x4 kind
Inside the park the safari ride is a guided trip of about 35 minutes through the animal enclosures, and it costs more than entry alone. In the open desert a safari means a 4x4 convoy over the dunes, which is what the picture shows and what our desert tour runs. They are two different things under one word, so check which one a listing means.
#4
A balloon over the desert reserve
For gazelles, oryx and camels in open country, a sunrise balloon flight over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is the grown-up version, from $275 per person with breakfast at a Bedouin camp. It is not for children under 7, and wildlife is never on a timetable. If you want guaranteed animals for a family, the park is the safer bet.
#5
Dubai Miracle Garden: the other seasonal day
The flower park with the Emirates A380 covered in blooms runs on much the same season as the safari park, so the two fit one winter trip. They are on opposite sides of the city, so do them on separate days, each in the cool morning hours. Our Miracle Garden guide covers prices, timing and the Butterfly Garden next door.
Dubai Safari Park: the short answer
Dubai Safari Park is an open-air animal park that opens roughly from October to May and closes for the summer. General entry is from about AED 50 for adults and AED 20 for children aged 3-12, with children under 3 free; add-ons such as the guided safari ride cost more, so check the official site for this season's prices. Allow 3-4 hours, and arrive at opening, usually around 9 AM.
It is a good family day for children from toddlers to about 10, a better value than most big-name attractions in Dubai, and best between November and March. It is not a place for May to September, because the season is over, and it is not a zoo on the scale of Singapore or London, so set expectations accordingly: this is a relaxed, mostly open-air day with a mix of walk-through zones and a ride.
The zones: what you see where
The park has six themed zones around a central entrance, the Safari Village, and a shuttle train links them, so you do not have to walk everything. The zones are named after the regions or the type of animal, and some of the larger enclosures are best seen from the guided safari ride rather than on foot.
| Zone | What it is | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Safari Village | The entrance area with the main buildings and the shuttle train stop | Starting point and rest stops |
| African Village | African species in open enclosures along walking paths | A first walk with children |
| Asian Village | Asian species, another walkable zone | Older children who like big animals |
| Arabian Desert Safari | Species of the Arabian Peninsula, including the Arabian oryx | The local animal story; quick to cover |
| Explorer Village | A larger zone mainly seen from the guided safari ride | Seeing the big enclosures in comfort |
| Kids Farm | A zone for small children with animals they can get close to | Under-6s and toddlers |
Zone names and layout as the park describes them; animals change over time, so we list no species counts.
Walking is part of the day, so wear comfortable shoes and take a pushchair for toddlers. If you want a similar family outing with more shade and a cooler feel, the indoor rainforest in The Green Planet or the Dubai Aquarium are better in the heat.
Tickets and the guided safari ride
General entry is the cheapest way in, from about AED 50 for adults and AED 20 for children aged 3-12, with children under 3 and some people of determination free. It covers the walkable zones; the guided safari ride and the shuttle train have been sold in bundles that cost more than entry alone, so check what each ticket includes. Prices and bundles change each season, so check the official site before you go.
The ride is the one thing worth paying for if you only do one add-on. It takes about 35 minutes and goes into the larger enclosures, so you see the big animals from a vehicle rather than behind a fence. Book the time slot online if the park offers one, and expect a queue at weekends. Premium behind-the-scenes tours have also been offered to small groups at much higher prices, but they are not needed for a normal visit.
Season, heat and the best hour
The season runs roughly from October to May, with the exact opening and closing dates announced each year, so check them before you plan a day around it. In the first weeks of October and from April, afternoons are already warm; November to March is the comfortable core of the season.
Arrive at opening, around 9 AM. The animals are more active in the cooler morning, the paths are quiet, and you can do the guided ride and the main walking zones before the sun is high. Hours are usually from about 9 AM to the late afternoon, with the last entry earlier than closing, so do not turn up at 4 PM and expect a full visit.
Shade is limited in the open zones, so bring a hat, sunscreen and a water bottle even in winter, and use the shuttle train when children tire. In the warm months the better plan is an indoor option or a water park; our summer guide has the full list.
How to get there
Dubai Safari Park is in Al Warqa on the eastern side of the city, inland and away from the Metro, so a taxi or a ride-hailing car is the easy way. Allow about 30 minutes in light traffic from Downtown and longer from the Marina or from the old city at rush hour. Our taxi and Careem guide explains the fares and the apps.
On the way back, book the ride in the app as you leave, because the park is a long way from the busiest taxi areas. For more on moving around, see how to get around Dubai.
Is it worth it, and who should skip it
Go if you have children aged 2-10, a free winter weekday and a taste for a slow, outdoor day. It is good value, it is not crowded on weekdays, and it gives children a close look at animals they will not see otherwise.
Skip it if you are visiting from May to September, if you have a short trip with only one family day, or if you expect a polished attraction on the scale of the big-name parks. A tighter choice for a short trip is a desert safari or the best things to do in Dubai with kids, which ranks the other options. Our Miracle Garden guide covers the other seasonal outdoor attraction that runs on the same October to May calendar.
A simple plan for the day
Arrive at opening and start with the guided safari ride if you are buying it, because the animals are most active early and the vehicle is cool before the sun climbs. Walk the nearest zones next, keep the Kids Farm for children who need a change of pace, and eat at midday in the shade before a last short walk.
A realistic day is three to four hours inside, then a taxi home for a rest. Pack water, a hat, sunscreen, wipes and snacks for small children, check the closing time on arrival, and keep the last hour free in case a toddler needs a nap on the shuttle train. In cooler weather a light jacket helps in the evening, when winter temperatures drop.
Wildlife in the wild: camels, falcons and oryx on our tours
The full-day desert safari is from $45 per person with hotel pickup in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman in an air-conditioned 4x4. It includes a camel ride, falcon photos as the desert turns gold, dune bashing and sandboarding, then a BBQ buffet and shows at the camp, and you pay on the day with no prepayment. It is not recommended for infants under 3, pregnant women or people with back or heart problems.
For wild oryx and gazelles at first light, the sunrise hot air balloon is from $275 per person, with a 30% deposit, and the baskets sell out one to two weeks ahead. Children under 7 cannot fly. Our desert safari with kids guide and balloon age limits guide explain who can join which.
FAQ
How much is Dubai Safari Park?
General entry has been from about AED 50 for adults and AED 20 for children aged 3-12, with children under 3 free. Bundles that include the guided safari ride cost more, and prices change each season, so check the official site.
When is Dubai Safari Park open?
Roughly October to May, and closed for the summer. The exact reopening day is announced each year. In season it opens around 9 AM and closes in the late afternoon, with the last entry earlier.
How long does Dubai Safari Park take?
Allow 3-4 hours. The guided safari ride is about 35 minutes, and the zones are linked by a shuttle train, so the time depends on how often small children need a rest.
Is Dubai Safari Park good for toddlers?
Yes. The Kids Farm and the walkable African and Asian zones suit children from toddler age, and children under 3 enter free. Take a pushchair, a hat and water, and go at opening when the animals are active.
Is Dubai Safari Park worth it?
For families with children aged 2-10 between November and March, yes: it is good value and relaxed. It is not worth it on a short trip, in summer or if you expect a major-attraction experience.
How do I get to Dubai Safari Park?
By taxi or ride-hailing car, about 30 minutes from Downtown in light traffic. It is in Al Warqa, inland, and not on the Metro.
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Photos: The angular blue-glass Safari Village buildings at the entrance of Dubai Safari Park behind bougainvillea beds and lawns on a sunny afternoon — Ahmad3027, CC BY-SA 4.0, The Arabian Desert Safari zone: oryx — Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 3.0, Dubai Miracle Garden: the other seasonal day — Balou46, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).