Construction set to begin on Dubai Crocodile Park

The attraction, expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2016, will be home to a number of types of crocodile, including the second largest reptile in the world — the Nile crocodile.

Dubai Crocodile Park will be home to a number of types of crocodile, including the second-largest reptile in the world, the Nile crocodile. EPA

Dubai will soon be home to hundreds of crocodiles, as the municipality and White Oryx get set to begin construction of Dubai Crocodile Park.

The attraction, expected to be completed late next year, will be home to several types of crocodile, including the second-largest reptile in the world, the Nile crocodile.

Khalifa bin Hareb, head of the properties section at Dubai Municipality, said the park would be a tourist landmark for everyone visiting Dubai and an environmental reserve that provided the best means of transport, nutrition and health care for crocodiles.

It has been designed to encourage conservation and adhere to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), he said, and has been modelled on crocodile parks in France.

Mr bin Hareb said that the park, as well as being entertaining, would provide an opportunity for schools, universities and research centres to further their studies.

The municipality said that it would increase interest in natural sciences, biology and environmental studies.

The 20,000-square-metre park will be built 10 kilometres from Dubai International Airport near Mushrif Park, close to the Dubai Safari project and the pet market. It will be accessible from Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Road, Emirates Road, Tripoli Street and Al Khawaneej.