Dubai Safari Park will reopen on Monday, 12 October 2026, for its eighth season. More than 3,000 animals and six themed zones in Al Warqa return after the summer break. The park confirmed the Dubai Safari Park Season 8 opening date together with a new brand platform, “Live More Wild Life”, and a private VIP tour called the Royal Safari Experience.
Visitors cannot buy Dubai Safari Park tickets yet. The park’s official website says Season 8 tickets, packages and experiences will become available in October 2026. As of 20 September, no on-sale date or new prices had been published.
The reopening matters for UAE families because the park is one of Dubai’s largest outdoor attractions. It returns during a busy October, with Global Village set to open its 31st season two days later, on 14 October.
When Does Dubai Safari Park Season 8 Open?
The Dubai Safari Park Season 8 opening date is 12 October 2026. The park closes every year during the hottest months, usually June to September, because of the extreme heat. This is why it rarely appears in guides to Dubai’s top summer destinations. Its season runs through the cooler months instead. The website still shows the park as “closed for the season” while the team prepares for the new season.
Season 8 follows a strong Season 7. During that season, the park became an official member of both the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). It also recorded 144 newborn animals. These included Salam, a southern white rhino calf, and Zuri, a southern giraffe calf.
According to the park’s press release, business-to-business revenue rose 26 per cent last season, and B2B ticket sales rose 16 per cent year on year. The park’s director, Muna Al Hajeri, said the growth from travel trade partners gave the park confidence heading into Season 8. The park has also appointed Buzz Marketing as its sales and marketing representative in India and Action Global as its representative for Russia and the CIS markets.
Some details are still unknown. These include Season 8 ticket prices, confirmed opening hours, the updated show schedule and the date the season will end.
What is the new Royal Safari Experience?
The Royal Safari Experience is the main new addition for Season 8. It is a private, four-hour guided tour for groups of up to 10 people. It includes VIP treatment, reserved seating at presentations and private guided tours across the park.
The park announced the experience with travel-trade partners in mind, but it has not published a price. For reference, last season’s closest premium product was the King of Safari VIP Experience. That package cost AED 2,500 for up to 10 people over four hours. The park has not said whether the Royal Safari Experience replaces it.
Dubai Safari Park Zones and Animals
The park covers 119 hectares. It is home to more than 3,000 animals from over 300 species, including 42 endangered species, and has a veterinary hospital that runs 24 hours a day. The animals are spread across six zones, and each zone is designed around a different region or habitat.
| Zone | Animals You Can See | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|
| African Village | Elephants, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, meerkats | Open savannah habitats; lemur feeding on Lemur Island |
| Asian Village | Tigers, orangutans, Komodo dragons, sun bears | Hosts the Birds of Prey show |
| Explorer Village | Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, crocodiles | Home to the 35-minute guided bus safari |
| Arabian Desert Safari | Arabian oryx, sand gazelles, Arabian wolves, camels | 15-minute electric vehicle tour |
| Kids Farm | Goats, sheep, ponies, donkeys, ducks | Petting and hands-on feeding for children |
| Al Wadi | Fish ponds and green spaces | The park’s main area for cafes and restaurants |
>Last season’s daily programme included free shows: Birds Kingdom at Explorer Village, Echoes of the Wild with otters, coatis and raccoons, and a closing Birds of Prey display. It also offered feeding sessions, some free and some paid. The Season 8 schedule has not been released yet.
Dubai Safari Park ticket prices and how to book
Season 8 prices will appear on the official Dubai Safari Park tickets page once sales open in October. Until then, last season’s prices are the best guide to what a visit costs. The park lists them for the 2025–2026 season:
| Ticket or Package | Price (2025–26 Season) | What It Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Safari Park Pass | AED 50 | Entry to all six zones, unlimited train rides, 15-minute Arabian Desert Safari, live shows, free parking |
| Safari Bundle (Online only) | AED 117 | Everything in the pass plus the 35-minute Explorer Safari Tour |
| Jungle Capture Photography Tour | AED 1,275 | Up to 3 people, 3 hours |
| Behind the Scenes Tour | AED 1,450 | Up to 10 people, 90 minutes |
| Dine in the Wild | AED 2,150 | Breakfast with giraffes or lions, up to 6 people |
| King of Safari VIP Experience | AED 2,500 | Up to 10 people, 4 hours |
Children under three and People of Determination, with one companion, entered free last season. Some animal encounters cost extra. For example, giraffe feeding was AED 20 and lemur feeding was AED 75.
When Dubai Safari Park tickets go on sale, the park advises booking online to skip the queues. Standard admission is single-entry only, so you cannot re-enter on the same ticket after leaving.
Dubai Safari Park Location and Opening Hours
Dubai Safari Park is in Al Warqa 5. Drivers usually reach it from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311) via Exit 52. The park also describes its location as on Hatta Road (E44), opposite Dragon Mart. Parking is free across three car parks, and EV charging is available at P1.
Last season, the park opened from 9 am to 6 pm, with last entry at 5 pm, according to its Plan Your Visit guide. The park’s FAQ also mentions extended winter hours, from 9 am to 8 pm between November and March. The park has not confirmed Season 8 hours, so check them before you go.
There are three main ways to get there without a car:
- Bus: RTA bus F10 runs from Centrepoint Metro Station to the park gates about every 20 minutes. The journey takes 25 to 30 minutes.
- Metro: Centrepoint Station on the Red Line is the nearest stop.
- Taxi: The ride from Dubai Mall takes about 45 minutes and costs an estimated AED 60 to 80.
Plan for four to five hours if you want to see the villages, the safari journey, the shows and the feeding sessions. Modest dress is expected, with shoulders and knees covered. Outside food, pets and drones are not allowed, and camera flash must be switched off near the animals. The park closes in the early evening, so families who want to keep the day going can look at our guide to late-night things to do in Dubai. If you are planning a sit-down dinner afterwards, see our guide to the best restaurants in Dubai.
The next milestone is the ticket release in October. With the Dubai Safari Park Season 8 opening date now fixed, the main things to watch are when Dubai Safari Park tickets go on sale, what they cost and how the Royal Safari Experience is priced.
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