Dubai hosts myriad awe-inspiring and breathtaking artificial attractions, leaving every tourist marveling at what man can do. The Dubai Aquarium and underwater zoo, the largest man-made aquatic ecosystem in the world, is one that every tourist should experience at least once in their lifetime. Since its creation, it has received several accolades, including the Guinness Book of World Records title for Acrylic Panel. Travelers have every reason to fly to UAE’s capital and experience this stunning construction. Here is what to know about visiting the Dubai Aquarium.

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About Dubai Aquarium And Underwater Zoo

This stunning construction features three sections that occupy the ground up to the third level of the glitzy shopping hub. The sections comprise the main tank, about 51 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 11 meters high. The second section is curved into a tunnel, measuring 11 meters high to allow visitors to enjoy a 270-curve view of the aquarium, while the third section is an Underwater Zoo. It takes about 45 minutes to walk through the tunnel. The Mall where it is hosted was opened in 2008 as the second-largest Mall in the world in terms of area occupied. Peddle Thorp designed the aquarium, which is now managed by Emaar Entertainment.

The incredible underwater world holds about 10 million liters of water with innumerable aquatic species making it one of the largest suspended aquariums on the planet. This artificial ecosystem is home to thousands of creatures with about 140 different species comprising over 300 sharks and Rays, as well as the largest collection of Sand Tiger Sharks in the world.

  • Basic Ticket Cost: AED 120
  • Explorer Experience Cost: AED 175
  • Opening Time: 10:00 am daily

What To Experience In Dubai Aquarium?

The picturesque aquatic scene offers visitors limitless opportunities to explore and personally experience the marvelous aquatic world. Tourists can interact with the ecosystem and its inhabitants in a spree of adventurous activities. The level of fun and adventure is determined by an individual's courage, spirit, and thirst for mystery. Important to note for visitors is that the activities here are family and kids-friendly.

The Aquarium and underwater zoo host a unique combination of species, some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. It offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy watching creeping anthropods, slithering reptiles, amphibians, beautifully colored chameleons, blood-squirting lizards, over 30 snake species, and geckos, iguanas, scorpions, beetles, spiders, millipedes, and Madagascar hissing cockroaches. There is also a Burmese python enclosure, tree snake enclosure, penguins, giant crabs, piranhas, water rats, and giant catfish. What less would one expect of the largest suspended aquarium in the world?

Feeding The Sharks

The resident sharks in the aquarium are fed daily by divers who plunge into the aquarium tank and attract the predators with buckets of fish. The exercise is not just exhilaratingly dangerous but also a thrilling and exciting frenzy. Visitors here can join the divers for an up-and-close personal experience with the sharks as the feeding takes place centimeters away from the sharks. The visitors are, in this case, caged for safety.

Mysteries Of The Underwater Zoo

Any discerning tourist cannot miss the fantasies and realms of this aquatic resource. The zoo is located on the second level of the Dubai Mall, just above the Aquarium tank. It is another gem for adventure lovers with species and mysteries that leave visitors' mouths in a gap. For instance, King Croc, the most powerful reptile on earth, is found here. It weighs a whopping 750kg. The site of the King is just breathtaking and sensational.

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UAE Night Creatures

The tour here would never be satisfactory without a touch of Arabian life. Visitors here, for that matter, also behold the Arabian Desert's night experience with desert night creatures. This includes Arabian Toads, Giant Carmel Spiders, Fruit Bats, and veiled chameleons. They are hosted in a 200 meters space, allowing visitors to partake in an educational journey through the exotic and wonderful mysteries of the Arabian desert environment.

Diving

The most thrilling adventure is diving into the Aquarium tank for an adrenaline rush with the awe and fear of the sharks and other predators in the habitat. Visitors are allowed an opportunity to try out activities like scuba diving, shark diving, and cage snorkeling. All the opportunities are controlled and require closer supervision. For scuba diving and shark diving, visitors must provide a PADI certificate to ascertain their skills, while those with no swimming and diving skills try cage snookering.

Opportunities For Kids Marine Biologists

Being a kid-friendly attraction, Dubai Aquarium offers two levels of kids’ opportunities to learn about the marine environment and the fantasies of the aquatic world, namely the junior (5-15years old) and senior aquarist (8-15years old). The junior aquarist experience professional marine education from closer proximity as they witness the shark feeding, participate in feeding the other animals in the aquarium and also experience a glass-bottom boat ride through the aquarium tunnel. On the other hand, the senior aquarist experience all of the above, plus cage snorkeling. Both opportunities require booking in advance.

  • Junior Aquarist Cost: AED 157.50
  • Senior Aquarist Cost: AED 262.50

The aquarium should be at the top of every visitor's bucket list when touring the UAE. With the convenient location adjacent to the Burj Khalifa, the aquarium is quite easily accessible and guarantees an unforgettable experience.