Umm Al Quwain Zoo, officially The Zoo Wildlife Park, costs AED 25 per person for adults and children aged 1 and over, and babies under 12 months go free. From October to June it opens from 8am to 8pm Monday to Thursday and from 8am to 10pm Friday to Sunday. Feeding costs AED 5, and encounters with lemurs, lions and cheetahs are extra.
At a glance
- Ticket
- AED 25, ages 1 and over
- Free
- Babies under 12 months, People of Determination with ID
- Hours (Oct to Jun)
- Mon to Thu 8am to 8pm, Fri to Sun 8am to 10pm
- Hours (Jul to Sep)
- Opens 3:30pm, to 8pm Mon to Thu and 10pm Fri to Sun
- Extras
- Feeding AED 5, camel or horse ride AED 10, lemur encounter AED 20, lion or cheetah encounter AED 200
- Best time
- Weekday mornings, or from about 4:30pm when the animals are more active
- Allow
- 2 to 3 hours
Last verified: 9 October 2026 against the zoo’s published prices and seasonal hours.
On this page
Before you go: what to know
- Pay at the gate. No booking is needed: tickets are sold at the counter, by card or cash.
- Bring some cash anyway. Older guides say the zoo is cash only; that is no longer the case at the gate, but small kiosks selling feed can be quicker with cash.
- Check the season. In summer the zoo only opens in the afternoon, from 3:30pm. The longer daytime hours run from October to June.
- Book encounters on arrival. Lion and cheetah encounters have limited slots, so ask at the counter first thing.
- Leave pets at home. Pets are not allowed, and a parked car becomes dangerously hot within minutes, even in October.
Listings online disagree on the opening hours: some still show 10am to 6pm or 9am to 9pm from earlier seasons. The times on this page follow the zoo’s current published schedule, but call or check the zoo’s social channels before a long drive on a public holiday.
Umm Al Quwain Zoo ticket price and extras
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| General admission | AED 25 | Adults and children aged 1 and over |
| Babies under 12 months | Free | |
| People of Determination | Free | With valid ID |
| Animal feeding | AED 5 | Feed bought at the zoo only |
| Camel ride | AED 10 | Short ride |
| Horse ride | AED 10 | Short ride |
| Lemur encounter | AED 20 | Limited slots |
| Lion encounter | AED 200 | Limited slots |
| Cheetah encounter | AED 200 | Limited slots |
| Orangutan, tortoise and bird encounters | Listed as free | Confirm at the counter on the day |
A family of four paying entry plus a round of feeding and two rides spends about AED 140, which makes this one of the cheapest animal days out in the UAE. Compare that with the bigger parks in our UAE theme parks and zoos guide.
Umm Al Quwain Zoo timings by season
| Season | Monday to Thursday | Friday to Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| October to June | 8am to 8pm | 8am to 10pm |
| July to September | 3:30pm to 8pm | 3:30pm to 10pm |
| Public holidays | Usually open, hours subject to change | |
What you will see
The zoo is privately run and smaller than the big safari parks, which is exactly why it works for young children: short walks between enclosures, close views and plenty of hands-on feeding.
| Group | Animals reported at the park | Hands-on? |
|---|---|---|
| Big cats | Lions, tigers including a golden tabby, cheetahs and leopards | Paid encounters, AED 200 |
| African animals | Giraffes and striped hyenas | Giraffe feeding with grass sold at the park |
| Arabian wildlife | Arabian oryx and gazelles | Viewing only |
| Primates | Orangutans, lemurs and monkeys | Lemur encounter AED 20 |
| Birds | Macaws, parrots, peacocks, flamingos and emus | Viewing only |
| Reptiles | Tortoises, iguanas and snakes; snakes are often shown only at weekends | Tortoise encounter listed as free |
| Farm and small animals | Goats, rabbits, chinchillas, camels and horses | Feeding AED 5, rides AED 10 |
The collection changes over time, so not every animal is on show on every visit. Giraffe feeding is the highlight for most families: you buy grass at the park and hand it to the giraffes yourself.
Honest expectations: visitor reviews are mixed. Many families love how close you get to the animals and how cheap the day is; others feel some enclosures are small compared with Dubai Safari Park or Sharjah Safari. If animal welfare and large habitats matter most to you, the bigger government-run parks are the better choice.
Best time to visit
November to March is the most comfortable time for a walk around the enclosures. On any day, go early in the morning or from about 4:30pm, when it is cooler and the animals become more active around their evening feed. Weekdays are quieter than weekends and public holidays, and the Friday to Sunday late opening until 10pm suits families who want to avoid the afternoon heat.
Getting there by car and facilities
The Zoo Wildlife Park is inland in Umm Al Quwain, outside the town centre, and reached by car off the main Umm Al Quwain roads. It is under an hour’s drive from Dubai on a clear road. Search “The Zoo Wildlife Park Umm Al Quwain” in your maps app. There is on-site parking, which gets busier on weekends and holidays.
The official address is The Zoo Street, Kabir, Umm Al Quwain. Kabir is inland, east of Umm Al Quwain town, so you reach it from the Emirates Road side rather than through the old town. Call or WhatsApp +971 58 608 8888 to check hours before a holiday visit.
On site you will find the Giraffe Café, the Flamingo and Emu gift shops, lawns with a large elephant statue that children love for photos, a playground, restrooms, seating areas, first aid, stroller rental and wheelchair access, with free wheelchairs reported for eligible visitors with ID. For more on visiting the emirate, see Visit Umm Al Quwain.
Same zoo, different names: maps and older guides also list this area’s zoo as “Umm Al Quwain Zoo Park”, and some refer to the Al Buqaish Private Zoo in Kabir. Navigate using the address The Zoo Street, Kabir and the phone number above, not the name, to be sure you arrive at The Zoo Wildlife Park.
School trips and group visits
The zoo takes school and group bookings through its website, with enquiry options for groups from 10 people up to school parties of more than 120 students. Weekday mornings in the cooler months are the usual school-trip slots, so families looking for a quiet visit are better off arriving after lunch on those days.
Rules for visitors
- Feed animals only with food supplied by the zoo.
- Follow staff instructions during encounters.
- Keep children close to you near the enclosures and do not let them touch animals unless a keeper is supervising.
- No pets.
- No smoking or vaping anywhere on the site.
- No bicycles, scooters, skates or other wheeled toys; strollers and wheelchairs are fine.
- There are no lockers for picnic coolers, so check the food policy at the gate or plan to eat at the Giraffe Café.
What else to do in Umm Al Quwain
- Umm Al Quwain Fort and Museum: the emirate’s oldest building, dating from 1768, once the ruling family’s residence and now a museum in the old town.
- Falaj Al Mualla Fort: an inland fort turned museum with old weapons and archaeological finds, not far from Kabir.
- Al Sinniyah Island: a protected island of mangroves and bird colonies, seen on kayak and boat tours from the lagoon.
- Dreamland Aqua Park: the big water park on the E11 towards Ras Al Khaimah, a good afternoon pairing in the warmer months.
- Kite Beach Center: kitesurfing lessons, kayak tours and a beach café on the Umm Al Quwain coast.
- Mangrove Beach and the Umm Al Quwain beaches: calm water and kayaking nearby.
- Dreamland Aqua Park: the emirate’s big water park.
- Small zoos and petting farms in the UAE: more easy animal days for young children.
- Sharjah Safari: the big African safari, on the way home via Sharjah.
- Dubai Crocodile Park: another animal outing near Dubai.
Umm Al Quwain Zoo FAQs
How much is the Umm Al Quwain Zoo ticket?
General admission is AED 25 for adults and children aged 1 and over. Babies under 12 months and People of Determination with ID enter free.
What are Umm Al Quwain Zoo timings?
From October to June it opens 8am to 8pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 10pm Friday to Sunday. From July to September it opens at 3:30pm.
Can you feed the animals at Umm Al Quwain Zoo?
Yes. Feed costs AED 5 and must be bought at the zoo. Paid encounters include lemurs for AED 20 and lions or cheetahs for AED 200.
How long do you need at Umm Al Quwain Zoo?
About 2 to 3 hours for the main animal areas. Add time if you book encounters, feeding or rides.
Is Umm Al Quwain Zoo good for small children?
Yes. It is compact, cheap and hands-on, with feeding, short rides and close views, which suits toddlers and young children.
Can I book Umm Al Quwain Zoo tickets online?
No booking is needed. Tickets are sold at the counter on arrival, by card or cash. Ask for encounter slots when you buy your ticket, as they are limited.
Can you feed the giraffes at Umm Al Quwain Zoo?
Yes. Giraffe feeding is the zoo’s most popular activity: you buy grass at the park and feed the giraffes by hand.
Where is Umm Al Quwain Zoo?
The Zoo Wildlife Park is on The Zoo Street in Kabir, inland from Umm Al Quwain town, about 45 to 50 minutes’ drive from Dubai.
Does Umm Al Quwain Zoo accept cards?
Yes. The ticket counter takes card or cash, although some small kiosks inside are quicker with cash.