Dubai's stunning wildlife

Outdoor Adventures in Dubai

Dubai has many animal attractions, from camel trekking to flighty falcons and cheeky creatures in the Underwater Zoo. Both families and first-time visitors will be enchanted by the region’s unique wildlife. 

Camel trekking | Dubai desert safari

It’s the quintessential Arabic experience that visitors and expats alike find hard to resist: leisurely trekking across Dubai’s ever-changing sand dunes comfortably secured on the back of a camel. The camel tours at Al Sahra Desert Resortgo above and beyond, with the 40-minute camel trek proceeded by a fun educational session, a camel milk-tasting and plenty of photo opportunities. Can't make it out to the desert? Vendors located along Jumeirah Beach offer camel rides for both adults and children looking for a magical Middle Eastern experience.

A lesson in falconry | Dubai desert

Emiratis take their falcons - the national bird of the UAE - very seriously. Check out the history of falconry at the Falcon Museum and the mechanics of the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Project that sees hunting birds re-released into the wild yearly, then head into the desert to see falcons on the wing. Platinum Heritage's private falconry experience allows guests to these birds of prey up-close, handling and feeding them under the careful supervision of their trainers.

The life aquatic | Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Take a break from shopping up a storm in the world's largest mall, the Dubai Mall, to check out one of the world's largest aquarium tanks and the attached Underwater Zoo. Open to all ages, the zoo showcases a variety of marine life including otters and piranhas, and offers snorkelling with sharks, glass-bottomed boat-rides and, for the adventurous, scuba diving in the mall-facing tank. The aquarium's current headliner is King Croc, a 750-kilogram, five-metre long Australian saltwater crocodile that is said to be one of the largest of its kind.

Penguin encounter | Ski Dubai

Not content with being the largest indoor ski slope in the world, Ski Dubai is also home to a colony of both king and gentoo penguins. It’s free to watch the penguins waltz around the snowy slope, but those wanting a closer encounter can book one of three different “peng-friend” encounters, which include a personal penguin meet-up, or upgrade to the exclusive, once-a-week penguin swim session.

Lunch with peacocks | Emirates Towers

While not native to the region, peacocks abound in pockets of Dubai frequented by high-ranking members on the royal family. Centred in the heart of Downtown, the lawns opposite Emirates Towers provide a great opportunity to see the beautiful birds ­­- 238 of them - strut their stuff. While bird-watching, enjoy a bite to eat at one of the numerous nearby restaurants, or do as the expats do and spread out your own picnic blanket and basket. A word of warning: the peacocks are not afraid to wander over to you to see what's for lunch – and help themselves to whatever takes their fancy.

Meet local oryx | Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

The Arabian oryx has been brought back from the brink of extinction by a tireless government-funded breeding program - in 2011, the oryx’s status downgraded to the less drastic “vulnerable” status. Today, the white-haired relative of the antelope can be found grazing on native grasses and scrubs in Dubai's desert dunes. Viator's wildlife tour takes guests on a wild drive across Dubai's Desert Conservation Reserve in an open-roof 1950s vintage Land Rover, to track down and observe wild oryx and gazelle herds.