Dubai Safari shuts its gates until September

The 3,200 birds and animals at the Al Warqa park will be moved to cooler enclosures for the summer

Marching bands marked the seasonal closure of Dubai Safari in Al Warqa. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National.

Successful on-site breeding programmes resulted in the birth of some 290 new animals this year, including four lion cubs, zebra, hyenas, and giraffes.

Dubai Safari marked the end of the season with a carnival .

Exotic birds joined the procession to mark the end of the first season at Dubai Safari since reopening in October 2020.

Owls and Toucans were brought out from their enclosures to meet visitors as Dubai Safari closed for the summer.

Dubai Safari reopened in October 2020 after a two year closure to make on-site improvements.

African dancers marked the end of the first Dubai Safari winter season.

Animals at Dubai Safari have been moved to cooler areas of the park for the hot summer months.

A procession of marching bands and exotic inhabitants of the UAE’s largest zoo marked the end of the season as Dubai Safari Park closed its gates until September.

The 3,200 birds and animals on show at the 119-hectare Al Warqa park will be moved to cooler enclosures and shaded areas for the summer.

Dubai Safari reopened in October after a two-year hiatus, during which extensive improvements were made to the site.

Successful on-site breeding programmes resulted in the birth of about 290 animals this year, including four lion cubs, zebra, hyenas, and giraffes.

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The park has five different zones – Africa, Asia, Arabian Desert Safari, Explorer and Adventure Village. A troop of elephants was a popular new addition with visitors in 2021.

Further expansion is planned for next season, including an adventure area with a zip line and bungee jump, a splash water zone for children and a party area.

Owing to coronavirus restrictions, the park has operated at 30 per cent capacity since its reopening. It welcomed more than 300,000 visitors throughout the season.

Ahmad Al Zarouni, director of Public Parks and Recreational Facilities at Dubai Municipality, said it was hoped that the park would reopen fully later this year.

“Hopefully we will open in September with more attractions in place,” he said.