The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is a large attraction at the centre of the Dubai Mall.

It comprises a large aquarium tank measuring 51 metres long, 20 metres deep and 11 metres high plus an underwater zoo with a variety of marine species in various habitats.

The aquarium is home over 30,000 aquatic animals including over 400 sharks and rays. They can be viewed for free from the mall through the world’s largest acrylic panel.

View of the Dubai Aquarium from Dubai Mall
View from Dubai Mall

Visitors purchasing a ticket enjoy a 270 degree view through the 48 metre long aquarium tunnel. It’s possible to get right up to the glass for a closer look at the fish (visitors looking from the mall have to stand a few metres away behind a barrier).

Tickets also allow entry to the Underwater Zoo on Level 2. There are around 40 displays here housing creatures such as piranha, penguins, crocodiles, lizards, snakes, otters, and giant eels.

One fascinating species here is the archerfish. These small fish feed by shooting jets of water at insects to knock them into the water. Visitors to the zoo can witness how remarkably accurate they are at hitting their prey.

King Croc is one of the main attractions. The 40 year old saltwater crocodile arrived here from Australia in 2014. Weighing over 750 kg and over 5 metres long, he is one of the largest reptiles in captivity. Feeding time is a sight worth watching.

Visitors can stay at the attraction for as long as they want, but the average person spends around 20 minutes in the aquarium and 1 hour in the zoo.

Frequent visitors can purchase an annual membership card and enjoy exclusive privileges. Benefits include unlimited entry to the aquarium and zoo, unlimited glass-bottom boat rides, 15% discount on admission charges for accompanying family members and friends, 15% discount on items for sale in the gift shop, plus discounts on shark dives, cage snorkelling, and PADI courses and dive trips with Al Boom Diving.

The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is open 7 days a week. Opening times are 10 am to midnight. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing time.

The entrance to the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is located on the Ground Level of the Dubai Mall.

Entrance to Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Dubai Mall
Entrance

The Rainforest Café is next to the mall and is a great place to take kids for a meal. The themed café features life-sized models of animals such as giraffe, gorilla, crocodile, and snake hidden amongst a recreation of a rainforest. Patrons also enjoy great views of the aquarium tank. Items on the menu include soups and salads, sandwiches and burgers, pasta, plus fish, beef, and chicken dishes.

Nearby Attractions

Tourist attractions and things to do near The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo include:

Nearby Cinemas

Cinemas near The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo include:

Nearby Shopping

Places to shop near The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo include:

Nearby Restaurants

Restaurants and places to eat and drink near The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo include:

  • The Grilll Shack (0.1 miles) - Open kitchen. Good view of the Dubai Ice Rink.
  • Tribes Carnivore (0.1 miles) - African-inspired restaurant at the Dubai Mall. Terrace offers good views of the Dubai Fountain. Unlicensed.
  • Texas Roadhouse (0.2 miles) - American restaurant at the Dubai Mall. Offers steaks, ribs, chicken, and burgers. Large portions. Reasonably priced. Indoor and outdoor dining areas. Outdoor terrace offers view of the Dubai Fountain.
  • Entrecote Café de Paris (0.2 miles) - French restaurant at the Dubai Mall. Offers excellent view of the Dubai Mall Waterfall.
  • Claw (0.2 miles) - Lively American bar and grill at Souk Al Bahar. Menu includes bucket of crabs and shellfish, burgers, seafood, steaks, and BBQ dishes. Licensed bar. Ladies’ nights, live sports, and Friday brunch.
  • At.mosphere (0.3 miles) - Restaurant and lounge on Level 122 of the Burj Khalifa. Booking essential for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
  • Thiptara (0.3 miles) - Thai restaurant at the Palace Downtown. Indoor and outdoor dining areas. Terrace overlooks the Burj Lake and offers good views of the Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa.
  • 24th St. World Street Food (0.7 miles) - Licensed restaurant on the 24th floor of the Dusit Thani. Street food concept offering dishes from around the world (Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Arabic etc.). Vibrant and colourful interior.
  • Mint Leaf of London (0.7 miles) - Contemporary Indian restaurant on the 15th floor of the South Tower of Emirates Financial Towers, DIFC. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer great views of the Burj Khalifa.
  • Al Grissino (0.8 miles) - Italian restaurant on the 16th floor of the South Tower of Emirates Financial Towers, DIFC. Unique bar offers spectacular views of the Dubai skyline.
  • Miss Tess (0.8 miles) - Asian street food restaurant at the Taj Dubai in Business Bay. Offers a terrace with great view of the Burj Khalifa. Licensed. Great signature cocktails. Live entertainment. DJs.
  • Bombay Brasserie (0.8 miles) - High-end Indian restaurant at the Taj Dubai in Business Bay. Features an open kitchen and luxurious interior. Offers good views of Burj Khalifa.

Nearby Hotels

Hotels near The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo include:

  • Address Dubai Mall (0.2 miles)
  • Address Downtown (0.3 miles)
  • Armani Hotel Dubai (0.3 miles)
  • Address Boulevard (0.3 miles)
  • Swissôtel Al Murooj Dubai (0.3 miles)
  • Rove Downtown (0.4 miles)
  • Manzil Downtown (0.5 miles)
  • Address Sky View (0.6 miles)
  • Sofitel Dubai Downtown (0.6 miles)
  • Dusit Thani Dubai (0.7 miles)
  • DAMAC Maison Distinction (0.7 miles)
  • Millennium Central Downtown (0.7 miles)
  • Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Canal View (0.8 miles)
  • Taj Dubai (0.8 miles)
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai - Business Bay (0.8 miles)
  • Carlton Downtown Hotel (0.8 miles)
  • Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai (0.8 miles)
  • Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai (0.9 miles)
  • Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre (1 miles)
  • ME Dubai by Meliá (1 miles)
  • Rose Rayhaan by Rotana - Dubai (1 miles)

Nearby Metro Stations

Metro Stations near The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo include:

Map

Map showing location of The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo.

Click here for a detailed map showing all points of interest.

Map showing location of The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Details

The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Address
Dubai Mall
Downtown Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Visit The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo Website

Photo Credit: trabantos/Shutterstock

Reviews and Additional Information

  1. The aquarium was good but I felt the zoo part could have been a little bit bigger and better.

    Reply
  2. The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo unveiled its latest additions today. King Croc and his female companion now reside in a special enclosure that’s been designed to replicate their natural habitat. The 5m long crocodile was brought to Dubai from a crocodile farm in Australia.

    Reply
  3. I think the entrance price was too given the fact that you can see most of aquarium from the shopping mall outside.

    Reply
  4. Finding an aquarium and zoo in a shopping mall was quite a surprise. But then again, this is Dubai. It takes about an hour to see everything. The price adds up if you’re with your family. The view from the mall is pretty good and FREE.

    Reply

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