Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Discover the marvels of underwater and tropical life at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo in The Dubai Mall, one of the most iconic attractions in the city.

It's one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world, housing over 33,000 aquatic animals, comprising over 140 species. Over 300 sharks and rays live in this tank, including the largest collection of sand tiger sharks in the world.

Located just above the aquarium, Underwater Zoo brings its visitors up close with penguins, piranhas, crabs, water rats, seahorses, jellyfish and plenty more.

The Underwater Zoo is also home to one of the world’s largest reptiles. King Croc and his female companion of 20 years reside here in a special enclosure that replicates their natural habitat. At over five metres long and weighing an imposing 750kg+, the 40-year-old King Croc weighs the equivalent of over 15 fully-grown men!

‘UAE’s Night Creatures’ in Underwater Zoo takes visitors through an educational journey to discover the amazing diversity of Arabian wildlife with a variety of animal species that thrive in the desert environment. From Arabian toads, fruit bats, giant camel spiders, scorpions and hedgehogs, to veiled chameleons, frog eye geckos, ornate spiny tail lizards and cheesmans gerbils, these animals also present a vivid sketch of the Arabian desert environment and how these species thrive on wadis, rocky mountains and sand dunes.

Discovery Channel’s Shark Week Exhibit brings the popular “Shark Week’ franchise to life and offers guests access to the underwater world of the species through a truly innovative and interactive experience. Located at Underwater Zoo, guests enter the new exhibit through the world’s first interactive digital shark cage, before moving towards the main feature, a beautiful hybrid of digital technology and a living aquarium. The exhibit is formed of a 20m aquarium demi-tunnel, and the back wall of the display is made up of LED screens. Guests can choose their favourite shark species to swim on the LED background, bringing the heroes of Discovery Channel’s ‘Shark Week’ to life.

Take a tour of the back-of-house facilities with a guide, and view up close the various projects the scientists are working on. Study the Sea Jelly Lab where aquarium scientists simulate environmental changes to encourage breeding, or take a close look at a baby shark developing from an egg. Then continue your journey to the ‘Underwater Observatory’ which puts guests at eye level with the inhabitants of Dubai Aquarium with the chance of feeding stingrays and sharks.

Step inside ‘Dubai Aquarium Explorer’, a submersible simulator which takes guests on a virtual adventure among dugongs, whale sharks and many other sea creatures. Head down to water level and step onboard the glass-bottom boats, drift out over the surface of the aquarium and watch thousands of animals swim below, and learn interesting facts from your guides while having the chance to feed fish.

Be sure to bring your camera to take some pictures of this unforgettable experience, but be cautious as some exhibits do not allow flash photography. These exhibits will be clearly marked.
A visit to Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo could take about two hours depending on long you take at each attraction.

The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is located in The Dubai Mall in the centre of Downtown Dubai. If your accommodation is in Downtown Dubai, it will only be a short walk to reach the mall.
Please note modest clothing is required.