8 National Park In UAE – Overview

Thinking about UAE, the Burj Khalifa, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace, and other architectural marvels that the country is proud of pops in our head. However, many people have yet to see UAE’s wild side. No..no..no, I am just not talking about sand dunes and deserts. The United Arab Emirates has many national parks with beautiful and unique wildlife too. Some of the most interesting national parks may be found in Dubai. Each national park in UAE is built in a unique fashion, and you must visit all of them while on vacation in UAE!

The different versions of “national parks” that the UAE has will astound you.

1. Sharjah National Park

Sharjah National Park is a vacation park in the United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah city. The Park is the largest in the city, covering 630 thousand square feet. With many little play spaces, as well as a large jungle gym with slides and rope ladders, this has become a popular gathering spot for the neighborhood. Rides, sports courts, benches, and green areas are also available. Sharjah National Park is a gem in Sharjah’s ‘Park City,’ which now has over 50 parks.

Location: Sharjah, UAE

Entry fee: INR 120

Operating Hours: 8 am – 10 pm

Suggested Read: 12 Best Affordable Restaurants and Cafes in Sharjah.

2. Mushrif National Park

Mushrif Park is a family-friendly park in Dubai that the Dubai Municipality opened to the public in 1982. The Park is 5.25 square kilometers in size and is located in Deira, Dubai’s eastern district. Mushrif Park’s international village features 13 different kinds of English as well as Arabic dwellings.

Electronic games, barbeque and picnic places, and pool services round out the Park’s entertainment offerings. There are children’s play areas as well as an adult sports playground where games such as basketball, volleyball, and handball can be played. There are also strolling paths and bike paths, prayer rooms, green areas, restaurants, canteens, train rides, camel and horseback riding, a park theater, and f

Location: Al Khawaneej St, Mushrif, Dubai, UAE

Entry fee: INR 60

Operating Hours: 8 am – 10 pm

3. Dubai National Park

The Dubai National Park has a fascinating backstory. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum owns around 87 square miles of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve in 1997, taking inspiration from the South African Game Reserves. The reserve was once used to tame camels, but it has since evolved into a guarded sanctuary for native species. Surprisingly, the park includes 6000 different trees, shrubs, and grasses species, making it a beautiful place to visit.

The Dubai National Park concept aims to conserve the environment. The Statuesque Arabian Gazelle, Sand Gazelle, and the Plethora are among the creatures found. The Rueppell’s Fox, Side-Winding Vipers, Curious Sand Cats, and Ethiopian Hedgehog are among the other species.

Many more animals have been brought to the park to make it more appealing. They take extra precautions to protect the species.

Location: Dubai, UAE

Entry fee: INR 60

Operating Hours: 6 am – 6 pm

Suggested Read:  Travelling to Dubai – Important Things You Need to Know

4. Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a wetland reserve with the unique ability to attract a huge number of migratory birds each year. The sanctuary is home to a diverse range of crustaceans, small animals, and fish, in addition to birds. The area is dominated by a large flock of Flamingos that congregate here throughout the winter months. Aside from flamingos, you can see grey herons, cormorants, great egrets, black-winged stilts, osprey, sandpipers, and reef herons.

Ras Al Khor, often known as the “Cape of the Creek,” is actively watched and protected by the Dubai Municipality. The 6km Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a good habitat for birds since it has a variety of intertidal mudflats, salt flats, lagoons, and mangroves for the birds to use as nesting grounds and separate habitats.

Location: Baniyas Road, Deira, Dubai, UAE

Entry fee: INR 60

Operating Hours: 6 am – 6 pm

5. Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve

The Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve is the United Arab Emirates’ first unfenced conservation reserve. The Al Qudra Lakes, which are located in the desert area of Seih Al Salam in Dubai, make up about 10% of the total land area of the emirate and include the enormous man-made desert wetlands known as the Al Qudra Lakes.

The Reserve, which is run by the Dubai Municipality, contains a number of animal and bird observation platforms, as well as star and sunset observation locations as well as one of the world’s largest bicycle tracks (84km). The desert’s vast area and clear sky make it an excellent location for stargazing. Camel races are also a sport in this city.

Location: Dubai, UAE

Entry fee: INR 60

Operating Hours: 8 am – 8 pm (Sat – Thu)

6. Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) is a 225-kilometer-long stretch of sand dunes in the desert. It’s a project that aims to protect and preserve desert animals. Only a few handpicked operators are allowed to offer desert safaris on four-wheel vehicles, according to the DDCR. You may also go on a camel journey, watch the speed and agility of falcons, and experience horseback riding on the “ship of the desert.”

Archery, sandboarding, and fat biking are among the other activities available. There are also other fun activities such as hot air ballooning, night safaris, desert camping, and animal drives. Don’t miss out on a dune supper or a private desert dinner to sample the delicious dessert cuisine.

Location: E-66, Murqqab, UAE

Entry fee: Starting from INR 3,722 (Depends upon the actives)

Operating Hours: 7 am – 5 pm (safari timings)

7. BU Tinah

BU Tinah is a small archipelago in the middle of coral reefs and seagrass beds, around 25 kilometers south of Zirku and 35 kilometers north of Marawah, near Dubai. The national park is located in the sea near Abu Dhabi, has diverse biodiversity, as well as has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The area is rich in marine life and includes huge coral reefs. Flamingos, dolphins, hawksbill turtles, and many other animals, fishes, and birds can be living here.

Location: Zirku, Marawah, Dubai, UAE

Entry fee: Prohibited to the visitors

Operating Hours: No tourists allowed

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8. Mangrove National Park

The enormous Mangrove National Park, located just outside of Abu Dhabi’s city center, is a gem in the UAE capital’s crown. This lovely and surprise park continues to be one of the emirate’s most important biological treasures, protected by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi. It is a perfect destination for families, bird watchers, as well as photographers wishing to escape the buzz of the city for a few hours (EAD). Mangrove National Park is a biodiversity hotspot that comprises mangrove forests, salt marshes, mudflats, and algal communities, as well as accounts for around 75% of the UAE’s total mangrove forest area.

The mangrove trees, which are most commonly present growing in the sea waters of tropical and subtropical coastal areas, operate as natural windbreakers, safeguarding the region from tidal surges and cleaning the surrounding water. Mangroves are also excellent at absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, holding it for millennia in waterlogged soils. Kayaking is one of the greatest ways to enjoy this tranquil, gorgeous terrain, with the park offering a variety of channels to explore. Remember to bring your camera.

Location: Eastern Ring Road, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Entry fee: INR 300

Operating hours: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm