Al Ain Zoo

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Al Ain's remarkable zoo is the region's largest and most acclaimed; its spacious enclosures, inhabited by indigenous and exotic species, are impressively authentic. Observe grazing Arabian oryx, big-horned Barbary sheep, rhinos, hippos, tigers and lions and more. Some were born at the zoo, which has a well-respected conservation and breeding programme. Highlights include giraffe feedings, a fascinating walk-through lemur experience and the world's largest human-made safari, a 217-hectare landscape housing more than 250 African and Arabian animals.

Other additions include the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, a sustainably built multimedia exhibition housing five interactive galleries: Sheikh Zayed Tribute Hall, Abu Dhabi's Desert Over Time, Abu Dhabi's Living World, People of the Desert and Looking to the Future; a variety of cafes and restaurants and a Children's Discovery Garden, among others, with planned expansion projects including a gorilla sanctuary.


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Nearby attractions

1. Al Jahili Fort

2.71 MILES

Surrounded by a lush park, this squat fort was constructed in the 1890s as the summer residence of Sheikh Zayed I (1836–1909) and expanded by the British…

2. Al Ain Palace Museum

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This nicely restored, rambling palace was the residence of Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's founding father, from 1937 to 1966. There's frankly little to see…

3. Al Ain Oasis

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This tranquil world of wide paths meandering past walled date-palm gardens, right in the centre of Al Ain, is a welcome respite from the city hubbub. The…

4. Qasr Al Muwaiji

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This carefully restored fort was the birthplace of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, current president of the UAE. A stylised falaj marks the entrance…

5. Al Ain National Museum

3.3 MILES

Al Ain's main museum was closed to undergo a major restoration in late 2018 with reopening stated for 2020 at the earliest. Before its closure, this…

6. Al Ain Camel Market

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Dusty, noisy, pungent and chaotic: Al Ain's famous camel market is a full immersion in traditional Arab culture. All sorts of camels are holed up in pens,…

7. Al Khandaq Fort

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8. Hela Castle

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