Dubai Safari Park Season 8: Opening Date, Tickets, Hours
Dubai Safari Park opens its eighth season on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, at 9 a.m., the park says on its website. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last entry at 5 p.m. The Safari Park Pass starts at AED 50 (about $13.60) a person, and children under 3 go free.
Dubai Safari Park at a glance
- Opens: Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, at 9 a.m. (Dubai time, UTC+4).
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; last entry 5 p.m. The park suggests allowing 4 to 5 hours.
- Tickets: Safari Park Pass from AED 50; Safari Bundle AED 117.
- Free: entry for children under 3 and People of Determination, five daily animal shows and parking.
- Where: Al Warqa 5, on the E44 (Hatta Road) opposite Dragon Mart.
When does Dubai Safari Park open in 2026?
Season 8 opens on Oct. 12 at 9 a.m. Once open, the park runs daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the last entry is at 5 p.m., its visitor page says. The park's website lists Season 8 dates running to May 31, 2027. The park normally closes in the peak summer months, and it advises arriving at opening to leave time for your favourite activities.
Dubai Safari Park ticket prices
| Ticket | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Safari Park Pass | From AED 50 ($13.60) | Six zones, desert safari, live shows |
| Safari Bundle | AED 117 ($31.90) | Pass plus 35-minute safari tour and park train |
| Under 3s, People of Determination | Free | Entry |
The Safari Park Pass covers all six zones, the 15-minute Arabian Desert Safari, the live shows, kids' workshops and free parking. The Safari Bundle adds the 35-minute Explorer Safari Tour, unlimited park train rides, and souvenir and photo vouchers. Prices are per person, from the park's ticket page. Dollar figures use the dirham's fixed rate of 3.6725 to the US dollar. The park says booking online ahead of your visit gives the best price and skips the ticket queue. Animal encounters can be added at checkout or bought at the ticket counter, subject to availability.
The park also lists a 50% discount on the Safari Park Pass on a visitor's own country's national day. Show your passport or another official ID at the ticket counter.
Private tours
These are priced per group on top of the park experience, and the park says to confirm prices and available dates when booking.
- King of Safari: a private, chauffeured four-hour tour for up to 10 people, AED 2,500 per group.
- Behind the Scenes: a 90-minute guided tour with five backstage experiences, including rhino and elephant feeding, for up to 10 people, AED 1,450 per group.
- Jungle Capture: a three-hour early-morning photography tour for up to three people, AED 1,275 per group.
Free animal shows
| Time | Show | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 11am | Birds Kingdom | Explorer Theater |
| 1pm | Echoes of the Wild | Asian Theater |
| 2pm | Birds Kingdom | Explorer Theater |
| 3pm | Echoes of the Wild | Asian Theater |
| 4pm | Birds of Prey | Birds of Prey Square |
Birds Kingdom features macaws, hornbills and other birds. Echoes of the Wild has otters, coatis and raccoons. Birds of Prey shows eagles and other raptors in flight. All five shows are included with a park ticket and last about 30 minutes. The park suggests taking your seat 10 minutes early and checking the board at the entrance, because times can change on the day (park website).
Animal feeding and encounter times
| Encounter | Price | Times |
|---|---|---|
| Giraffe feeding | AED 20 | 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm |
| Lemur feeding | AED 75 | 12pm, 4pm |
| Goat feeding | AED 20 | 11:30am, 4:15pm |
| Tortoise feeding | AED 20 | 2pm |
| Pony walk | Free | 10am, 5pm |
The giraffe sessions are in Explorer Village, the lemurs live on Lemur Island, the goats and tortoises are at Kids Farm and the pony walk is in Al Wadi. The park lists 13 encounters in all, with limited spots, on its ticket page.
The six zones
The park covers 119 hectares and, by its own count, holds more than 3,000 animals from over 300 species, 42 of them endangered (park website).
- African Village: the savannah and Dubai's largest walk-through aviary, with elephants, white lions and gorillas.
- Asian Village: pagoda paths through tropical forest, with moon bears, Komodo dragons and gibbons.
- Explorer Village: the base camp for the drive-through safari, with cheetahs, tigers and hippos.
- Arabian Desert Safari: the UAE's native wildlife, such as the Arabian oryx, Arabian wolf and sand gazelle, seen from a 15-minute drive. It is included in every ticket.
- Kids Farm: a hands-on area where children meet, pet and feed friendly animals such as pygmy goats and ponies.
- Al Wadi: a green area for picnics, water birds and lunch, with swans and ducks.
The 35-minute Explorer Safari Tour, which is an upgrade, drives through open habitats with lions, giraffes, rhinos and hippos. The park's safari page lists departures hourly between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Free Saturday workshops in October
Children aged 6 to 12 can join free workshops every Saturday at 12 and 3 p.m., included with a park ticket. The three in October are:
- Oct. 17: a habitat workshop where children make a habitat diorama, at the Education Centre in African Village.
- Oct. 24: a gibbon enrichment workshop for International Gibbon Day, at Komodo Cave in Asian Village.
- Oct. 31: a lemur enrichment workshop for Lemur Day, at the Education Centre in African Village.
How to get to Dubai Safari Park
- By car: the park is on the E44 (Hatta Road) in Al Warqa 5, opposite Dragon Mart. Parking is free, in lots P1 to P3, with electric-vehicle charging at P1.
- By Metro and bus: take the Red Line to Centrepoint station, then RTA bus F10. Check current departures with the RTA before you travel.
- By taxi: ask for the park's main entrance in Al Warqa 5.
Directions are from the park's visit page. The park's support line is +971 800 900.
Facilities and accessibility
- Restaurants and kiosks across the park, mostly in African Village and Al Wadi, and air-conditioned shuttles between the zones.
- Prayer rooms for men and women at several points, first aid and baby-changing stations.
- Wheelchairs, strollers and lockers. Wheelchair and stroller rentals carry a fee, and mobility scooters are for designated zones only.
- Some areas have limited accessibility. The park suggests calling 800 900 to discuss access needs.
The park advises bringing a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes, and keeping your e-ticket ready.
What is new for Season 8
The park is launching a new brand, "Live More Wild Life", which invites visitors to build a deeper connection with wildlife, nature and conservation. At the end of last season it also joined both the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, tbreak reported, citing Gulf News. The park's own site features Zuri, a southern giraffe calf born there.
Times, prices and programmes are as published by the park on Oct. 6, 2026. They can change, so check dubaisafari.ae before you go.
