Amidst the chaotic glamour of the monumental attractions that are scattered across the captivating city, is a particular attraction that pre-dates all of the others by decades. Although it manages to attract a large amount of visitors even today, it was at one point, one of the biggest and notable places to visit in the entire city. The place in question is none other than the Dubai Zoo, which was built more than forty years ago at the behest of his highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Maktoum. Upon completion it was considered a Dubai landmark, despite only housing a handful of creatures. Of recent times however, plans have been put forth to re-create the Zoo into a modern-day state-of-the art spectacle.
The zoo is located in Jumeirah, amidst the glamour of places such as the PER AQUUM Desert Palm, a renowned Dubai Luxury Hotel that is one of the finest the city has to offer. Currently, the zoo houses more than two hundred and thirty different species of animals, ranging from wolves and big cats, to giraffes, bears and a wide range of primates. This makes it no surprise that the Dubai Zoo is the largest of its kind in the entire Arabian Peninsula.
As of 2013, the Dubai municipality has launched its plans to capitalize on the popularity of the zoo and further develop it into a massive man-made park titled “Dubai Safari”. The scale of the project is massive, with the proposed budget of more than six hundred million dirhams, and will include a zoo, safari, Butterfly Park, botanical garden, resort and a golf-course. Upon completion it will be one of the most unique nature-themed attractions in the world.
The Dubai Safari is expected to be completed sometime at the end of 2016, and the current Zoo is expected to be demolished once the animals are re-located, so next time you find yourself in Dubai, don’t miss out on a chance to experience one of the first major attractions the city had to offer.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.