Middle East
United Arab Emirates
Emirate of Dubai
Dubai
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Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
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Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

See all things to do
See all things to do
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
4
15,530 reviews
#27 of 564 things to do in Dubai
Aquariums
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10:00 - 00:00
Monday
10:00 - 00:00
Tuesday
10:00 - 00:00
Wednesday
10:00 - 00:00
Thursday
10:00 - 00:00
Friday
10:00 - 00:00
Saturday
10:00 - 00:00
Sunday
10:00 - 00:00
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About
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is one of the most captivating attractions in Dubai. Located at The Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world, offering a memorable journey into ocean life. With capacity to hold 10 million litres of water, Dubai Aquarium is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world and it illuminates the marvels of the ocean floor, showcasing one of the most diverse collections of aquatic life. Located just above the aquarium, Underwater Zoo brings visitors up close with penguins, piranhas, crabs, water rats, sea horses, jellyfish and plenty more. A fascinating new addition at Underwater Zoo is King Croc, regarded as nature's rare phenomenon and one of the world's largest reptiles - at over 5 meters long and weighing an imposing 750 kg plus. Underwater Zoo regularly hosts innovative exhibits. One such exhibit, 'UAE's Night Creatures' presents the experience of nightfall in the desert as creatures of the dark.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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The area
Neighbourhood: Downtown Dubai
You can’t fail to miss Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. It towers over the city and resides in the prestigious Downtown development. Once an old army base, Downtown is now the jewel in Dubai’s crown, a beautiful residential and leisure area housing not only the world’s tallest building, but the world’s largest fountains and mall. Wide marble sidewalks are perfect for strolling, with restaurants, art galleries and children’s play areas. Specially commissioned sculptures line the roads and Downtown is often used as a canvas for modern art displays and community events such as Classic Car Shows and National Day parades. In the cooler months, cross one of the many bridges to the Burj Khalifa park and enjoy a picnic alongside residents and visitors, or enjoy a lunch or dinner watch the dancing fountains. Because of its mixed use, Downtown is a fantastic place to mix with Dubai residents and locals and watch real life unfold in a cosmopolitan environment.
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
2,678 within 5 kms
The Tap House
480
0.4 kmEuropean • Asian • Pub • Gastropub
Candylicious
757
71 m€€ - €€€ • Dessert • Vegetarian Friendly • Halal
Tribes Carnivore
2,111
0.2 km€€ - €€€ • Steakhouse • African • International
The Grill Shack
1,920
80 m€€ - €€€ • American • Steakhouse • Barbecue
Hafiz Mustafa 1864 Dubai Mall
586
0.2 km€€ - €€€ • Dessert • Cafe • Turkish
The Meat Co
1,613
0.4 km€€€€ • Steakhouse • Grill • Halal
3BK Restaurant
833
0.4 km€€€€ • International • Pub
Hurricane's Grill Dubai Mall
2,793
0.3 km€€ - €€€ • American • Steakhouse • Barbecue
Nando's Dubai Mall
348
0.2 km
Cabana
475
0.3 km€€ - €€€ • Bar • Mediterranean • European
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Attractions
275 within 10 kms
The Dubai Mall
31,254
67 mShopping Malls
Dubai Ice Rink
432
0.2 kmSports Complexes
DubaiDino
47
63 mPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
The Dubai Fountain
75,717
0.4 kmFountains
Dubai mall
2
100 mShopping Malls
Gallery One Dubai Mall
7
0.2 kmArt Galleries
The Dubai Mall Waterfalls
44
0.2 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Fountains
Burj Khalifa
76,814
0.4 kmArchitectural Buildings • Observation Decks & Towers
At the Top
2,425
0.5 kmArchitectural Buildings • Observation Decks & Towers
Gallery One
2
0.3 kmArt Galleries
See all
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
15,530 reviews
Excellent
7,372
Very good
4,802
Average
2,393
Poor
639
Terrible
324
THOMAS D
London, UK1,104 contributions
My daughter loved it
May 2023 • Friends
This is not a cheap experience but my daughter loved it from start to finish.

The aquarium is huge and we spent a deal of time watching all the fish.

The underwater zoo is very good for young children, my daughter is 2 and really loved seeing all the animals.

Would say the penguins were great to see but the enclosure is far to small for them. This really lets the experience down as this needs to be at least double the size.
Written 30 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shawn Z
9 contributions
Overpriced and very underwhelming
May 2023 • Friends
We paid 309AED each for “6 experiences” at the aquarium and zoo. This included a 20AED voucher for the overpriced gift shop and a 20AED voucher for the ‘cafe’ (a drinks desk with no chairs).

Unfortunately the visit was disappointing. First, the aquarium was just one straight tunnel through the aquarium. The views from outside the aquarium (free to see just walking through the mall) were actually far better. It was hard to see anything in the tunnel due to reflections of bright lighting from directly above and the sides (from the mall).

The next ‘experience’ was a ‘submarine simulator’. Clearly for young children, but the quality of the screen was poor.

Next was an automated perspex-bottomed boat at the top of the main tank. Not really clear why hot life jackets were needed, and very difficult to see anything.

There was a short guided tour past a penguin enclosure which looked very small for the animals. Likewise all the tanks in the zoo seemed very small for the animals.

Seeing their two crocs was pretty cool.

They offer to take photos for you but they are in front of a green screen as there really isn’t much to see. Best just admire the free views from the mall.
Written 28 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A. Nyanjwa
Dubai, United Arab Emirates278 contributions
Aquirium@Dubai mall
Jan 2023 • Family
Nice place and vast in size worth going to… love the vegetation in the place HOWEVER I feel the glass boat experience needs review….. in my honest opinion I feel Lost chambers in Atlantis is way more organized
Written 22 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EKSKS21
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK1,414 contributions
Dubai Aquarium
May 2023 • Couples
Not the largest Aquarium we have visited but still a great experience
Crowded on day we were there and very noisy but still able to view what was on offer
Good place to visit
Written 15 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jordon-ak
8 contributions
Waste of money
May 2023 • Family
Better view from the outside!! The tunnel of the aquarium isn’t even clear and take around 1 minute to walk through! I was shocked that was the aquarium I thought I was walking through the entrance to the aquarium or something. Would not recommend this at all. Think my partner paid around £150 for us 2 and our 2 year old.
Written 14 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victoria
25 contributions
Waste of money and time
Apr 2023
The aquarium is over priced, a real disappointment. Honestly, book a table at The Cheesecake Factory, enjoy your meal and see the aquarium. Best part is free. Inside it is small, not much to see/do. You can waste more money and have penguin, otter, etc “experiences”. Penguin encounter is really a brief educational talk, reminder to be environmentally friendly. You can’t take your own pictures. Photograph takes pictures…wildly expensive, $70.00/photo. Ouch. Alligator area is very small. Such large creatures need more room, really upsetting to see the tiny enclosure. For a family this place would be costly. Dubai has other wonderful things to do, save your money and go elsewhere.
Written 4 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Razia
3 contributions
Great experience
Apr 2023 • Family
This aquarium is so beautiful. Definitely worth it. Very clean and o.pressed with the helpful staff.
Written 2 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy S
Yarm, UK3 contributions
Disappointing
Apr 2023
I would not recommend this place. I have been to much better aquariums at much less price. It looks cool from the outside but that is the best view you probably get of the fish.
We got the full package feeding fish seeing penguins ect and we were pushed through in groups, you could not take your time to watch the penguins.
Written 28 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TH
1 contribution
Poor value, average aquarium.
Apr 2023
Aquarium is average at best by western standards. Very poor value for the money, almost $70 for the cheapest ticket. 10 AED for drinks and 20 AED for gift shop are not optional in the ticket price. So one is forced to find ways to spend that money wether you like it or not. Save your money and time on attractions that are unique to Dubai.
Written 23 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I visited this place🇳🇱🇬🇧🇨🇭🇦🇪🇺🇸
Israel14,287 contributions
Pros/cons/advices on the aquarium in the mall
Jan 2023 • Couples
PROS
* Fantastic display of aquatic marine life
* Easy to see much of the action from the walkways of the Dubai Mall

CONS
* As most/many attractions here, the cost is an issue

"I VISITED THIS PLACE"....
... from the outside in the Dubai Mall public area, since we didn't have time to go inside on a Friday afternoon. We thoroughly enjoyed what we saw from the outside (see my "helpful" photos attached here) and we would have been happy to see more

IS IT WORTH THE COST?
I have no way of knowing because we were unable to enter.

ADVICES
If you can't (or choose) not to enter, at least find your way there while in the mall, and see it from the outside.
Written 13 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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DUBAI AQUARIUM & UNDERWATER ZOO - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 - 00:00
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost €49.44, while a popular guided tour starts around €17.73 per person. See all 69 Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo can be crowded, so we recommend booking e-tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. See all 69 Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo tickets and tours on Tripadvisor