In a world where people are digital-first, how can Dubai Safari Park claim a place and entice people to visit?
Dubai Safari Park offers a unique, real-world experience unlike anything else in the city. It’s a place where people of all ages can step away from the digital world and reconnect with nature in a way that’s fun, educational, and respectful. From safari rides, close encounters with animals to exploring diverse habitats, every element of the park has immersive elements that awe in the wonders of the natural world (with plenty of photo-worthy moments to capture along the way too).
As part of our launch strategy, we focused on understanding what resonates with families, particularly how parents choose experiences that both entertain and educate their children. We introduced an original song titled ‘Friends of the Wild” to support our messaging in a joyful, memorable way. The musical and movement-based approach was designed to spark family’s curiosity and make the experience more engaging. At the core of our creative concept is the theme of ‘Junior Rangers’, encouraging children to immerse themselves in fun, hands-on activities that promote learning about wildlife and conservation—offering parents a meaningful and enriching outing for their kids.
We know that the best way to learn is through action, and our edutainment approach means that every activity is rooted in purpose, helping guests understand the importance of animal welfare and environmental conservation in an engaging, hands-on way. Our hope is that every visitor leaves not just entertained, but with a renewed appreciation for the natural world and a desire to help protect it. We’re very grateful for the families, individuals, residents and tourists that continue to visit!
Can you walk us more with the successful launch of the 6th edition in numbers and what events it included?
This season was an exciting one and marked the park's most significant opening yet. We launched with the 6th season theme of ‘Conservation for the planet’, which put the spotlight on animal and environmental conservation, focusing on important issues such as habitat destruction, climate change, poaching and more.
To bring this theme to life, we have launched a range of experiences, including our Wildlife Talks, which offers guests the chance to learn from our experts on the importance of our planet, delving into the incredible lives of animals and their habitats. Additionally, we conducted a ‘Name the Rhino’ community engagement initiative as a key awareness effort for endangered species, spotlighting our proud achievement within our breeding program, where we successfully bred the threatened white rhino. we executed a naming competition on the radio and digitally, inviting the public to help name our new baby rhino. The initiative received overwhelming public participation, with over 13,000 people across the UAE submitting name suggestions, making our visitors a part of our success.
We also introduced our novel and region only Night Safari experience, which takes guests on a Safari Tour by night, offering a glimpse into the night-time routines of over 90 nocturnal species. We kicked off the launch in December, hosting several exclusive visits pre-launch. As a result of these efforts, the Night Safari alone reached attendance of over 17,000 visits and a daily sold-out of Explorer Night Safari tours throughout the 4 weeks.
Overall, it’s been a triumphant and exciting season, where we’ve seen great enthusiasm from visitors in engaging with nature and the animal world, and we’re looking forward to continuing to teach the public about the importance of animal conservation.
The park apparently hosts around 3000 species, what work is required to blend all of them and keep them cohabitating together?
Yes, we do have over 3000! The park is split into 6 themed zones, including the Arabian Desert, Asian Village, African Village, Kids Farm, Alwadi and Explorer Village, to ensure that every animal lives in environments that represent their natural habitat and the region that they originate from. With 84 species of mammals, 61 types of reptiles, 112 kinds of birds alongside amphibians and invertebrates, Dubai Safari Park prides itself on putting animal welfare at the forefront of everything we do.
Additionally, our skilled team of zoologists, vets and animal care specialists from around the world provide optimal care for our animals. With their expertise and animal care advanced facilities , we’re able to uphold the safety of both the animals and their keepers, fostering a harmonious coexistence within the park.
Apparently, there are many activities targeted towards children, can you detail more the rationale behind those?
With education as one of our main focuses here at Dubai Safari Park, we are dedicated to educating not only adults, but to inspire the younger generation to become passionate advocates for animal welfare. To aid this, we offer a variety of in-depth programs for children, including offering school programs for students to visit and learn about animal conservation. Through our engaging school programs, we welcomed more than 40,000 YTD, improving animal education across our region and inspiring the animal advocates of the future.For example, this season, we have launched the Junior Ranger Program, which provides an exclusive opportunity for children to officially start their journey as Dubai Safari Park Junior Rangers. This introduced several new ways for children to engage with wildlife, such as the Young Explorer Workshop, held every Saturday, allowing children to tackle hands-on conservation challenged guided by animal specialists.
Keen to offer a space for curiosity to thrive, we also host informative wildlife talks and live presentations such as our Echoes in the Wild series, which highlights our 6th season theme of ‘Conservation for the planet’, shining a spotlight on important issues such as habitat destruction, climate change and poaching.
Dubai is known for its many experiences, and its mostly urban skyscrapers and mall-life, yet Dubai Safari Park provides a total antidote for this. Who is your target audience and how do they get to know about the park?
We aim to have Dubai Safari Park as a standout experience in Dubai, showcasing the natural beauty of wildlife and nature and beyond. We welcome everyone at Dubai Safari Park, from young children to adults, visitors or residents, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy and learn. We are constantly innovating our offerings and working together with media to educate children and entertain families, while offering a go-to destination for visitors. There is the opportunity to immerse in the wonders of nature and wildlife conservation, whether simply by walking around the park or engaging in our many experiences.
As a key pillar in Dubai’s growing ecotourism landscape, Dubai Safari Park also plays a vital role in educating international visitors about the UAE’s rich biodiversity. Through curated experiences like the guided Arabian Desert Safari tour, tourists are offered a rare glimpse into native species and the country’s ongoing conservation work. This dual focus on entertainment and awareness strengthens Dubai’s tourism offering, positioning the Park as a must-visit destination that combines environmental education with unforgettable encounters. For those interested in getting to know more about Dubai Safari Park and heading over to visit us, our website has a wealth of information on our exciting experiences, ticket prices, zones and more. Additionally, we encourage visitors to check out our Instagram, which gives a fantastic preview of a day at Dubai Safari Park, and keeps our guests up-to-date with our latest experiences and news.
