Abu Dhabi National Aquarium: photos from opening day

The attraction is home to 46,000 creatures and 300 species

The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi opened to the public in November. All photos by Ruel Pableo for The National

It is the first attraction to open in Al Qana, a new waterfront destination.

Inside The Sub, one of 10 zones in the aquarium.

The Red Sea Wreck zone.

The UAE's Natural Treasures zone.

The Ring of Fire zone where guests can learn about volcanic caves and how islands are formed.

Children outside of the National Aquarium on opening day.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online. Prices start at Dh105 ($28).

Visitors explore the Red Sea Wreck zone.

The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi is set to be joined by other attractions at Al Qana.

The aquarium is home to 46,000 creatures, representing 300 species.

Covering more than 9,000 square metres, it is the largest aquarium in the Middle East.

An underwater tunnel at the National Aquarium Abu Dhabi.

Visitors can book the aquarium tour or a behind-the-scenes tour.

The Flooded Forest zone is home to Super Snake – a female reticulated python, aged 14, that weighs 115 kilograms.

Inside the Red Sea Wreck zone visitors can can come face-to-fin with hundreds of fish.

At the Atlantic Cave zone visitors can discover what really lives beneath the ocean's surface.

The Frozen Ocean zone.

The Ocean Magic zone.

Inside Bu Tinah Island zone.

The Ocean Magic zone contains a car filled with fishes.

The Flooded Forest zone.

The UAE's Natural Treasures zone explores the country's rich pearl diving history.

The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi has opened its doors to the public. On Friday, the aquatic attraction welcomed its first guests into the 9,000-square-metre space.

The aquarium is the first attraction to open in Al Qana, a new waterfront destination, and is the largest aquarium in the Middle East. It’s also home to 46,000 creatures and 300 species.

"The National Aquarium has been years in the making and we are so excited to have launched this magnificent attraction not just for visitors to experience, but also as part of the initiative to contribute to the conservation in the emirate by providing education, rescue, and rehabilitation as the guiding priorities for this remarkable project," says Paul Hamilton, general manager at The National Aquarium.

The attraction has 10 zones that house the animals and each is specifically themed. The zones are: UAE’s Natural Treasures; Red Sea Wreck; Atlantic Cave; The Sub; Ring of Fire; Ocean Magic; Frozen Ocean; Flooded Forest; Bu Tinah Island and Back of House; and all of them tell a narrative.

Each zone contains creatures that tie in with the theme. For example, in the Red Sea Wreck zone you'll find sharks and great barracudas, while The Sub has a submarine-themed room with creatures such as lobsters on view. The Flooded Forest is home to a Super Snake, a female reticulated python aged 14 that weighs 115 kilograms.

However, it isn’t only about animals behind the glass or birds flying around. The aquarium offers a number of interactive experiences including scuba diving, animal feedings and glass-bottom dhow tours that also go on to explain more about the animals and their natural habitats.

Tickets for general admission start at Dh105 and there are four tiers of ticketing. More information is available at thenationalaquarium.ae