Interesting facts

This Dubai landmark is a huge tank that holds over 10 million liters of water. It is home to 150 species of fish and animals—about 33,000 creatures. The aquarium tunnel is located in the water and is almost 50 meters long. You can see all the inhabitants through the transparent walls.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Dubai Aquarium is considered the largest indoor aquarium on the planet.

How much does a ticket cost and how can you save money on your purchase?

An adult combo ticket costs 200 AED. The ticket price includes a visit to the giant aquarium tunnel and the underwater zoo. Children’s tickets are available for children aged three to 12.

Here’s a cool tip for saving a little cash and getting some extra comfort. The thing is, when you buy a ticket, you have to wait in a really long line. But you can go up to the third floor and walk straight into the aquarium and zoo.

How to get there

The easiest way is to call a taxi and tell the driver, “Dubai Mall.” They will take you where you need to go.

If you choose to take the metro, get off at the Dubai Mall station. It is also called Burj Khalifa. After that, go up to the surface and wait for the bus. It will take you to your destination for free. You can also walk. The distance to the shopping center is less than a kilometer.

Bus route 27 runs from the Gold Souk and will take you directly to the shopping center. Buses run every 15 minutes.

Underwater Zoo

The territory is divided into three themed areas: aquatic, tropical, and rocky. The name Underwater Zoo does not quite correspond to what visitors see. Only some of the inhabitants of this section live in the water: otters, crocodiles, and snakes. There are more than 40 enclosures and ponds in this area.

The underwater zoo is home to a crocodile. It is over five meters long and weighs about 750 kilograms. Cuttlefish and octopuses live in a specially equipped pool.

There are always many happy children near the otter enclosure; they love these friendly aquatic animals. There is a section dedicated to nocturnal animals. Here you can see owls, bats, and hedgehogs. There is a huge aquarium with jellyfish, many of which glow.

It is interesting to get acquainted with the African protopterus. This fish, in addition to gills, has lungs and survives dry periods by burrowing into the sand on the shore.

There are many exotic fish of different colors and sizes. Among them are striped wingfish, piranhas, and moray eels. The blowfish knocks flies off with a jet of water and then eats them. Near each aquarium and enclosure, there is a sign with information about the inhabitants.

Penguins also live here. When people approach the glass, the birds jump into the water and start posing for the camera. The animals are nimble and funny.

Aquarium inhabitants

When visitors enter the tunnel, they see fish everywhere: above their heads, under their feet, to the right and left. The fish do not pay any attention to people, but swim about minding their own business.

There are sharks, huge stingrays, and small seahorses. There is also a hammerhead shark, which is also interesting to look at. Fish of this species do not like to live in captivity, so they are rarely seen in aquariums.

The variety of sharks is also noteworthy: sand sharks, tiger sharks, reef sharks, and others. There are more than 300 stingrays of different species here — their flat bodies with whip-like tails and smiling mouths are memorable.

Visitors can not only see the underwater world, but also dive into the water (diving, snorkeling) to observe marine life up close.

Aquarium Dubai is professionally maintained by divers, who can often be seen at work.

Entertainment and excursions

At the aquarium in Dubai Mall, you can choose between extreme or relaxing activities.

Snorkeling in a cage

This is swimming with fins, a mask, and a snorkel (provided) in a cage. Four people can dive at the same time, and the session lasts 20 minutes.

Cage diving

Extreme sports enthusiasts can observe rows of shark teeth half a meter from their faces. The cage, designed for two people, is lowered into the water for 25 minutes.

Shark diving

Special instruction is provided. Training sessions are organized for those with no experience, and a PADI certificate is issued. Before diving, divers are provided with equipment for underwater photography and video recording.

Transparent-bottom boat

An unusual experience: fish swim right under your feet, touching the bottom of the boat. The boat can accommodate up to 10 people.

Feeding the inhabitants

The animals are fed at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. You can also watch the feeding process from the shopping center.

You can visit the aquarium in the Dubai Mall on your own or with a guide. It will be more interesting with a guide: you can learn interesting facts about the aquarium’s inhabitants.

Various excursion options are available: a tour of the aquarium and zoo, a walk with fish feeding, and much more.

Schoolchildren can take part in educational programs. This allows them to learn more about the life of animals and fish from textbooks.

Conclusion

In the world’s largest indoor aquarium, Aquarium Dubai, you can witness the life of thousands of inhabitants of the ocean depths.

The walk leaves an indelible impression. It is difficult to find a place where such a large number of marine flora and fauna are represented as in the Dubai Aquarium.