The Dubai Mall Aquarium has one of the largest indoor collections of aquatic life in the world, showcasing thousands of animals from over 300 species.
How Long Does It Take?
You’re free to spend as much time as you like in Dubai Aquarium. Opening times are between 10 am and 10 pm on weekdays, lengthening to between 10 am and 12 am on weekends.
On average, it takes between an hour and an hour and a half to experience the areas of the Dubai aquarium included in a standard ticket. Most visitors spend around 20 minutes at the main aquarium tank and 45 minutes in the Underwater Zoo area.
This time can increase if you stop to view any feeding presentations, and will be longer still if you choose to purchase additional experiences.
Is The Dubai Aquarium Worth Visiting?
A visit to Dubai Aquarium is definitely worth it and a rewarding experience. You get the chance to enjoy some of the most incredible aquatic creatures in the natural world. The variety of exhibits within the aquarium means there is something to interest everyone
Additionally, the opportunity to walk beneath the largest suspended aquarium tank in the world is a unique experience in itself.
There are hundreds of species to see and thousands of animals in total, with a standard ticket providing you with a chance to interact with some of the smaller creatures in the Underwater Zoo. Set within Dubai Mall, the aquarium can make for a fun day out for all the family. Many visitors find that it is especially enjoyable for children, who love viewing the animals but can also benefit from the educational aspect.
You save money and time if booking the tickets in advance (use the banner above) together with the must-visit of Burj Khalifa!
If you’re thinking of visiting Dubai Aquarium but are not fully convinced, consider booking a trip to the world-famous Burj Khalifa. Ascending this skyscraper can provide some incredible views of the surrounding city, with free access to Dubai Aquarium being included in the price.
Dubai Aquarium Exhibits | Animals
There are a variety of themed exhibits in the aquarium, with each one offering a different way to experience the fascinating creatures that live within the planet’s aquatic ecosystems. Find our tips for the attractions below, their animals, and must-know tips for each exhibit.
Aquarium Tank
Located on the ground floor of the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium main tank is an impressive structure, with the capacity to hold 10 million liters of water. Home to 140 species, it contains a significant portion of the aquarium’s aquatic diversity.
The main tank is one of the largest suspended aquarium tanks anywhere in the world, measuring more than 50 meters in length and 11 meters in height. The main attractions are the sharks and rays, with more than 300 of these majestic animals gracing the exhibit’s waters.
The sand tiger sharks are one of the highlights, with Dubai Aquarium priding itself on having the largest collection of these ferocious-looking creatures in the world. Aesthetically, the tank is stunning to look at and it’s easy to lose track of time as you watch the various fish drift past.
Aquarium Tunnel
Within Dubai Aquarium’s main tank, a large tunnel runs from one end to the other, offering visitors unique views from 11 meters underwater. This provides the opportunity to experience the animals within the tank from an entirely new perspective.
The aquarium tunnel is a great place for photos and it’s the closest you can get to the aquatic life without getting your feet wet. It’s best to visit this part of the exhibit early in the day if possible, as it tends to get crowded later on. Despite this, certain times of day can be particularly good to visit, as the aquarium staff dive down into the tank to feed the sharks and rays. The aquarium tunnel is the ideal place to view these events.
Sharks
The sharks of Dubai Aquarium are the most popular attractions and there are hundreds of these primitive creatures to see, with the majority residing in the main tank. There are many large examples – such as the sand tiger sharks and tawny nurse sharks – along with much smaller species such as leopard sharks and bamboo sharks.
The latter two species are the sharks that feature in Dubai Aquarium’s shark trainer encounters. These family-friendly events are designed to educate guests about shark ecology, while also providing a chance to interact with them up close. During the behind the scenes tour, you can assist with the training of the leopard sharks and bamboo sharks, while wading in the shallow tank where they are kept.
To view the shark feeding presentations, be sure to visit the aquarium’s main tank at 2 pm. If you’re feeling brave, there is also the chance to dive alongside the sharks here. This is a unique opportunity to see them up close and the experience is available for both experienced divers and beginners.
In the Dubai Aquarium you can spot the following shark species:
- Tawny Nurse Shark | Size: Up to 10.5 feet (3.2 m)
- Sand Tiger Shark | Size: Up to 10.5 feet (3.2 m)
- Scalloped Hammerhead Shark | Size: Up to 10 feet (3 m)
- Silvertip Shark | Size: Up to 10 feet (3 m)
- Oceanic Whitetip Shark | Size: Up to 10 feet (3 m)
- Blacktip Shark | Size: Up to 8 feet (2.5 m)
- Grey Reef Shark | Size: Up to 8 feet (2.5 m)
- Zebra Shark | Size: Up to 8 feet (2.5 m)
- Leopard Shark | Size: Up to 6 feet (1.8 m)
- Blacktip Reef Shark | Size: Up to 6 feet (1.8 m)
- Wobbegong Shark | Size: Up to 5 feet (1.5 m)
- Whitespotted Bamboo Shark | Size: Up to 3 feet (90 cm)
- Coral Catshark | Size: Up to 2.5 feet (70 cm)
- Grey Bamboo Shark | Size: Up to 2.5 feet (70 cm)
Underwater Zoo
The Underwater Zoo is an exhibit located one level up from the aquarium tank. It takes visitors on a journey through three different ecosystem experiences – the Rainforest, the Rocky Shore, and the Living Ocean. Each one features different creatures and environments, as well as the opportunity for interactive experiences.
In total, there are 40 individual aquatic displays in the Underwater Zoo. The Rocky Shore ecosystem houses many species that you might see in rock pools and intertidal areas, for example, spider crabs and starfish. You’re allowed to reach out and touch some of the creatures here, making it an interesting experience, especially for children.
The Rainforest ecosystem is a miniature representation of the tropical river systems you might find in the Amazon or in south-east Asia, complete with lush rainforest plants. Here, the species present include piranhas, giant catfish, and water rats, along with a small family of otters.
Tip: If you visit the Rainforest area at 2:45 pm, you’ll be just in time to catch the piranha feeding presentation – an ideal way to find out what gives these fish such a ferocious reputation.
The Living Ocean displays a range of interesting species that live in the open sea, such as sea dragons, jellyfish and the highly venomous stonefish. It’s an excellent educational experience and there are bound to be creatures you have not seen before.
Penguins
One section of the Underwater Zoo area is dedicated to Penguin Cove – an exhibit home to 16 gentoo penguins. This facility is designed to mimic the penguins’ natural habitat, providing many areas for them to explore and have fun.
Originating from the rocky ice fields of Antarctica, gentoo penguins are a cold-water species and are kept comfortable in the warm Dubai environment through the use of advanced temperature controls. Being very social animals, the penguins are often a hit among visitors due to their playful, charismatic nature. They can often be seen getting up to mischief and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of one of them using their pool slide.
Otters
The largest aquatic mammal species at Dubai Aquarium is the Asian small-clawed otter. The exhibit for this species is located within the Underwater Zoo and is home to a small family of individuals who are part of the Aquarium’s otter breeding program.
The otters are one of the most curious animals at Dubai Aquarium and they are often very intrigued about who has come to visit them. They spend lots of time playing in their enclosures and this can make them very entertaining to watch.
Tip: One of the best times to visit the otter exhibit is 2:30 pm when a feeding presentation occurs. This can be a great experience and is an excellent way to learn more about the animals from the knowledgeable aquarium staff.
King Croc
The King Croc exhibit is home to saltwater crocodiles – a species native to the seas around Australia. A male and female reside here and go by the nicknames ‘King Croc’ and ‘Queen Croc’, respectively.
These crocodiles are both an impressive size, with King Croc being one of the largest reptiles kept in captivity, weighing in at 750 kg and measuring over 5 meters in length. Queen Croc is slightly smaller but they’re both spectacular to see as they glide through their enclosure pool or rest out in the open.
Tip: The crocodiles are another species at the aquarium who feature in feeding presentations, which occur daily at 3 pm. With food on the menu, this is usually the time when the reptiles are most active. They will even leap right out of the water as they are being fed, making for a magnificent sight.
Rays
The rays at Dubai Aquarium can mostly be found swimming freely in the main tank, where they can be viewed at your leisure. There is an incredible diversity to see, with leopard rays and ribbon tail rays being two of the highlights, along with large stingrays.
The rays can be some of the most elegant creatures to see at the aquarium, as they use their wings to help them ‘fly’ through the water.
Tip: Daily ray feeding occurs at 10:30 in the main tank, where you can watch these aquatic creatures being fed by hand by the aquarium divers. This can be one of the easiest feeding presentations to see, as the aquarium is usually relatively quiet at this time in the morning.
