Did you know that there are actually quite a few places in Dubai where you can take the kids to see animals? There’s a handful of farms where you can feed goats and donkeys, animal parks of different sizes, and there are also indoor animal enclosures which will be perfect for the summer months, or just when you don’t feel like being outdoors.

We have reached out to handful of amazing mums, to put this piece together. As a lot of these places are outdoors – go check them out before summer hits! Just to mention… some of these are a little outside of Dubai, in Al Ain and Fujairah. And do let us know if you go!

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Farms

Emirates Bio Farm

• In a nutshell : A wholesome little green haven in the deep of the desert in Al Ain with organic farming to roam, a children’s playground, animal feeding, a delicious farm to table restaurant, tractor train rides and a lovely farm shop. 
• Tips :
  • Come on a weekday when it’s quiet and you might get the entire place to yourself!
  • It’s a bit of a drive so I’d recommend trying to time the journey around nap times so you get a sleep on the way (and back if you’re extra lucky!). 
  • Go on the tractor train first if it’s quiet as you’re likely to have to take a few trips. 
  • Bring sunscreen and a hat, the area where you can feed the goats is in full sun, and your kids will want to be there for a while.
  • No need to bring feed, there’s plenty from the farm – nothing gets wasted here.
  • Don’t forget to stock up in the farm shop on your way out. The prices for their organic veggies are unbelievably reasonable.  
  • Order the beetroot hummus. It comes with piles of beautiful freshly baked Arabic bread and crudités straight from the farm. If that doesn’t get the littles tasting some veggies I don’t know what will!
• Parking : Free and plentiful
• Cost : 50AED + VAT (Ages 3+)
• Timing : 9am – 5pm Daily | See @emiratesbiofarm for updates
• Call Emirates Bio Farm on +971 3 783 8422 | emiratesbiofarm.com
• Location : See map

Shared by : Hannah from The Mum Folk – a Postnatal Support & Mum Group | See Hannah’s Emirates Bio Farm’s experience

Animal Sanctuary @ Sustainability City

• In a nutshell : If you haven’t been yet, a visit to the Animal Sanctuary in Sustainable City is a great idea. Tucked away in this community, is a kids play area, a duck pond, with peacocks & cockerels wondering around you can also fee the goats and donkeys. A great place to visit with family.
• Tip :
  • Take some vegetables with you to feed the goats & donkeys, like leafy greens or carrots
  • In the Plaza Square, there are a few restaurants to grab a bite to eat while the kids can scoot or play.
• Parking : Free
• Cost : Free Entrance
• Timing : 8am – 6pm Daily | All Year
• Location : See map

Shared by : Adele Goddard, owner of Ready Set Travel | Personalised Accessories

UAE Flower Farm

• In a nutshell : The Flower Farm in Fujairah is such a lovely few hours escape from reality and the hustle and bustle of Dubai and city life. It is very good value for money at only 15 aed entrance and well worth a visit. To wander through the paths in between all the colour is so uplifting, the views around are beautiful and to be so close to nature is a wonderful way to unwind.
• Tips :
  • There is an opportunity for children to have a led horse ride around an enclosure at an extra charge & there is also horse food available to buy.
  • There are a couple of aviaries and its lovely to see the birds & also some Oryx.
  • There is the opportunity to buy a bouquet of flowers, different sizes are available & you can go and cut the flowers yourself.
  • There is a small cafe but its limited so better to take your own snacks and drinks especially if you are with children.
• Parking : Free – Just outside the entrance
• Cost : 15 AED
• Timing : 4:30 pm – 6pm Daily | Opens in the Winter – see @uae_flower_farm for updates
• Call UAE Flower Farm on +971 55 992 3601
• Location : See map

Shared by : Angela Marianne | @ayeshaandyasmin

Wadi Al Amradi Farm

• In a nutshell : A charming, family-friendly farm where kids can get up close with animals, explore lush greenhouses, and see seasonal fruits and vegetable plants. Enjoy a guided farm tour (approx. 2 hours), which includes animal feeding and vegetable picking—a hands-on experience perfect for little explorers! There’s also a playground, a cozy café, and a shop selling fresh, locally grown produce.
• Tips : A fantastic spot for birthday parties and outdoor family fun!
• Parking : Free – Conveniently available right in front of the farm.
• Cost :  40 AED per person | Free for children under 3 (includes guided tour, animal feeding & vegetable picking).
• Reservation : No prior booking needed for individuals—just walk in and enjoy!
• Timings : Opens from October to April, 8 AM – 6 PM (closed for Friday prayers from 12 PM – 2 PM).
• Call Wadi Al Amardi on +971 50 836 3750 | www.wadialamardi.com
• Location : See map

Shared by : @uaetravelmom |  uaetravelmom.com

Camel Farm

• In a nutshell : A wonderful family day out for all ages. Great place to take visitors or a group of friends if searching for a different activity.
• Tips :
  • Booking is mandatory, and Cash is preferred at the venue.
  • Recommend booking the guided tour rather than General Admission, my children loved been able to hold and feed the animals.
  • Take some water and snacks, but there is a small cafe on site if needed. 
  • Cafeteria has coffee, tea, beverages, pastry and ice cream
• Parking : Free -Right outside the venue on sand but fine for a Non 4×4
• Cost :
  • General Admission 30aed 
  • Guided tour with animal feeding 50aed
  • Children under 3 are free and 50% discount for 65 and over.
  • Additional’s
    • Short camel ride 15 aed and Camel hugging therapy 30aed
    • 1 hour camel ride in the desert 150 AED
  • You can pay in advance with Careem Pay or Bank Transfer, or pay cash or card at the venue.

• Timing : Tues-Thurs 9-6pm | Fri – 9-1pm (Prayer break, 3-6pm) | Sat & Sun 9-6pm
• Call Camel Farm on +971 50 104 8484 | thecamelfarm.me | @thecamelfarmdubai
• Location : See map

Shared by : Hannah from Mase & Me | Premium Kids’ Clothing and Custom Engravings

Parks

X Park Jr.

• In a nutshell : A cozy, green, nature-inspired park. The perfect spot if you want an easy outing with the children while also getting to see and interact with some animals.
• Tips :
  • It’s nestled in trees, so might not be an obvious find but look for the Skate Park on Kite Beach and it is right next to it. 
  • It gets busy after 10 am. Early mornings are quieter.
  • Animal lovers will be happy to see small animals just casually roaming about: ducks, a tortoise, cats. There are also feeding times for ponies and goats. Be sure to check with the staff before you go.
  • Use mosquito repellent and a hat.
  • Cute cafe within the park for snacks and a coffee. 
  • Bring a change of clothes (or two!) for the little ones as there is a small splash fountain area.

• Parking : Paid RTA street parking and a parking lot nearby
• Cost : 80 AED (Ages 1-12) for 2 Hours | Get X Park Jr. Tickets
  • Two adults free with each child ticket. Under 1 yo free
• Timing : 8 am to 6 pm Daily | All Year
• Call X Park Jr. on +971 54 582 5561 | xdubai.com
• Location : See map

Shared by : A Mama of park-hopping animal-lovers (as long as the parks are nearby) – who would like to be anonymous

Dubai Safari Park

• In a nutshell : Dubai’s largest wildlife safari park was an unforgettable experience for us and has now become one of our favourite family days out. From the diverse range of wildlife – over 3000 species to see, to the engaging exhibits, and the educational tours, it’s a full day of fun and learning for everyone.
• Tips :
  • Book the package with the Explorer Safari Tour. It’s a 35 minute bus ride taking you into all the wildlife habitats and a talk from a tour guide. The Arabian desert safari is also a good one too.
  • Allows a minimum of 4-5 hours to properly enjoy the different villages and the animal encounters with snack/lunch breaks in between. The well maintained facilities and the overall immersive experience made it pleasant adventure for all of us.
  • Don’t forget to pack sunscreen, hats & sunglasses as you’re predominantly outdoors.

• Parking : Free – and is literally on the doorstep
• Cost : Adults – From 50 to 125 AED, Kids (3-11 YO) – From 20 to 95 AED | Get Dubai Safari Tickets
• Timing : 9am – 6pm Daily
• Call Dubai Safari Park on 800 900 | dubaisafari.ae
• Location : See map

Shared by : Annissa Hady | @mama.annissa

Crocodile Park

• In a nutshell : An outdoor option that isn’t overly touristy, extrenuous or busy. Chilled place, the crocs are so relaxed. All have been raised in captivity and have organised schedules, according to the knowledgeable staff (over 250 now!). Spot the females with pointed ‘snouts’ while the males have rounder ones. Wide pathways allow you to walk around comfortably (even with a stroller) and you get a great view of the crocodiles without having glass sheen or glare in between. Feels close, without being too close, meaning you can get clear shots and photos of these magnificent ancient creatures.

• Tips :
  • Time your visit carefully as the place opens at 10am, but if you wanted to see the feeding or the baby crocs, it may be a lot of hanging around and waiting, depending on your arrival time.
  • 2 – 2.5 hours is enough, including the feeding and baby crocodile encounters session.
  • Four feeding stations ( but we preferred the feeding station by the entrance where you can see them up close, as everyone tends to go for the bridge )
  • Baby crocodile encounters are at 11:30am and 4:30pm.
  • If you don’t want to miss the feeding, check when the feeding days are – they tend to change depending on the season.
  • Fab cafe – clean and tasty
• Parking : Lots of parking outside the building – Free
• Cost : 95 AED per person, 75 AED for kids ( Buy 1 get 1 free with Entertainer ) | Or, Get Discounted Crocodile Farm Tickets
• Timing : 10am to 8pm Daily | All Year
  • Feeding currently happens 4pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
  • Baby crocodile encounters at 11:30am and 4:30pm, Daily
• Call Crocodile Farm on +971 4 266 3700 | dubaicrocodilepark.com
• Location : See map

Shared by : Layla | @everydaywilderness | See Layla’s reel taken at the Crocodile Farm

Petting Zoo @ The Ripe Market _{Academy Park}

Check back soon!

Discovery Play Area @ Aventura Park _{Mushrif Park}

• In a nutshell: An enclosed area within the Discovery Play Area with rabbits.
• Tips :
  • Bring your own water bottle as there are water stations in the Discovery Zone, as well as throughout Aventura Park for you to fill up,
  • Bring spare clothes for the kids if you are spending time in the water feature area, plus they will get quite sweaty as well !
• Parking : Entry to Mushrif Park is 10 AED per car, and then free parking outside Aventura Parks
• Cost :
  • Rabbit Encounter is a 15 AED add-on to the entry to Discovery Zone | Get Discovery Play Area tickets
  • Included in the General Admission or Aventura Unlimited Package
• Timing : 3-9pm Wed-Fri | 10am – 8pm Sat-Sun | All Year
• Call Aventura Park on +971 52 178 7616 | aventuraparks.com
• Location : See map

Shared by : Cindy, Editor of Dubai Family Leisure Guide

Lakes

Al Qudra Lakes

• In a nutshell: Al Qudra Lakes, located in the desert of Dubai, is a popular spot for birdwatching, especially due to its lakes that attract a variety of wildlife. It’s a great place to observe ducks and other bird species. The area is part of the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve and serves as a stopover for migratory birds.
• Tips :
  • The best times to view birds are early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the temperatures are cooler and the birds are more active.
  • The lakes are accessible via a scenic drive, and there are several spots along the way where you can stop to take in the natural beauty and observe the birds.
  • Don’t forget to bring binoculars and a camera if you’re looking to capture the experience!
• Parking : Free, around the lakes
• Cost : Free
• Timing : From sunrise to sunset | All Year
• Location : See map

Shared by : Maria del Hoyo, Owner of @mysola.ae and @learnspanish.dxb

Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

• In a nutshell : Admire the flamingoes in their natural habitat. Even if it’s in the middle of the city now, the flamingo habitat from Ras Al Khor is still there and hopefully will remain in the same location. An oasis within Dubai.
• Tips : Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary was declared the first Ramsar site in the UAE on the 29th of August, 2007. Depending on how passionate one is about the flamingo, the visit can take anytime – from 20 minutes and above.
• Parking : Paid RTA Street Parking, in front of the sanctuary.
• Cost : Free
• Timing : Daylight | All Year
• Location : See map

Shared by : Clementina Kongslund, Admin of Dubai Mums @dubaimumssay ; dubaimums.com

Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project @ Jumeirah Al Naseem

Check back soon!

Indoor Zoos

The Green Planet Dubai

• In a nutshell: The Green Planet is an indoor rainforest offering an immersive, hands-on experience for families. It’s a great spot for kids to learn about ecosystems, wildlife, and conservation, all while enjoying the magic of the rainforest indoors.
• Tips :
  • The Green Planet is such a fun and interactive spot for kids. They’ll love the sloths and tropical birds, and don’t miss the indoor rainforest—it even rains inside every hour!
  • For a truly unique experience, look into their overnight rainforest camping—it’s an adventure like no other, where you can immerse yourself in the wonders of the tropical rainforest and nestle down amongst its inhabitants. Plus, they have numerous wildlife encounters that you can experience like the armadillo, anteater, echidna, porcupine, and sugar glider, just to name a few.
  • Usually, when we’ve done it all and reached the bottom, we go around again! We head back up to the top and take another stroll down through the rainforest—it’s always more fun the second time!
  • I recommend going in the morning to avoid the crowds.
• Parking : I always like to park in C2 City Walk Mall parking area – which is right across the road from Green Planet. We like to do lunch afterwards, so CityWalk Mall has amazing restaurants, and you get 4 hours of free parking. Just remember to validate your token before exiting.
• Cost : Adults (11YO and above) – 129 AED | Kids (2-10 YO) – 120 AED | Get Green Planet Tickets
• Timing : 10 AM to 7 PM Daily | All Year
• Call Green Planet on 800 7699 | thegreenplanetdubai.com
• Location : See map

Shared by : Ashlea Barber, Travel Counsellor – @goinglocaldxb, Email Ashlea here.

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

• In a nutshell : Super nice experience for the family! We opted for the package that included a boat ride and a penguin encounter. We were surprised by the size of the aquarium (it doesn’t show from outside) and the variety of sea creatures on display. The kids’ highlight was definitely the penguins, and the glass-bottom boat gave us an incredible view of the fish below. It was a fun, educational, and truly fun experience for the whole family.
• Tips:
  • Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking around a lot.
  • Buy your tickets online, it will save you the time waiting to purchase the ticket
  • If feasible for you go on weekdays, it is less crowded
  • Go at around 1PM, and you will be able to witness shark feeding at 2PM

• Parking : Free at Dubai Mall – Closest is Grand Parking.
• Cost : Varies depending on the package – from 150 AED to 400 AED | Get Dubai Aquarium Tickets
• Timing : 10am to 10pm Daily | All Year
• Call Dubai Aquarium on +971 4 448 5200 | thedubaiaquarium.com

Shared by : Joanna Karameh – Owner of Whatsinzbox – Kids Baking Boxes in Dubai

Editor’s Note : See our review of the ‘Ultimate Experience’ at Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Note : This listing is a contribution from Dubai mums, based on their personal experience. If you find any information here incorrect as things have changed – please let us know.