Umm Al Quwain Zoo: Tickets, Timings, Animals, Location and Visitor Information

Planning a wildlife outing in the northern emirates can be difficult when ticket prices, opening hours, and animal experiences vary between listings. Umm Al Quwain Zoo is a privately owned wildlife park in Kaber, Umm Al Quwain, with a variety of mammals, birds, and reptiles, and with opportunities to have up-close encounters with animals that are not found in a traditional, massive zoo. This article describes the facts to consider before you travel, where it’s located, tickets, hours, animals, experiences, and other important points for visitors.

What is Umm Al Quwain Zoo?

It is officially called The Zoo Wildlife Park and is situated in the Kaber area of Umm Al Quwain. The park’s own website describes its animal collection in terms of mammals, birds, and reptiles, and a recent listing in the region describes the park as a private animal attraction, not a government-operated metropolitan zoo. 

This is a relatively small zoo compared to other zoo attractions in the UAE like Dubai Safari Park or Al Ain Zoo. Visitor comments refer to a shorter walk, and the attraction is typically 1-3 hours, depending on the length of time spent in each animal section and paid encounter. 

It is especially connected to the close-up viewing of animals. The information available from the venue and from the visitors includes the presence of big cats, primates, birds, reptiles, giraffes, and other animals and animal encounters, as well as feeding the animals. 

This format distinguishes it from a big safari-style park. If you have restricted space, a smaller scale is easier to handle, and if you have set your expectations accordingly, you should expect to find the extensive habitats, rides, and large walking circuits of a major safari park. 

Umm Al Quwain Zoo location and how to reach it

The zoo is situated in The Zoo Street, Kaber, Umm Al Quwain, UAE. The published location is also linked to the E55 Al Shuwaib–Umm Al Quwain Road, which is known as the Falaj Al Mualla Road. 

Kaber is away from the main town of Umm Al Quwain, so it is wise to check the route before you depart. Based on mapping information, the attraction is located at 25.43088° N, 55.68802° E, and the map data indicates the site as a zoo and that there is limited wheelchair access. 

The most helpful thing drivers can do for themselves is to use a new navigation program to enter the exact name plus street address of the attraction versus an old saved route. Roads and directions may alter, especially when approaching less developed areas.

Address

The Zoo Wildlife Park
The Zoo Street, Kaber
Umm Al Quwain, United Arab Emirates

The venue also has a telephone number of +971 58 608 8888. 

Visitors are advised to double-check the destination and the current operating hours in the directory, as this information may be outdated and a long trip is an unnecessary expense.

Umm Al Quwain Zoo timings

One of the items that needs specific consideration is the opening hours, as different third-party platforms display different hours at present.

The latest available venue-linked schedule online has October to June as the normal season with Monday to Thursday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Friday to Sunday 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The published summer schedule, July-September, has opening times of 3:30 PM, and closing times are Monday-Thursday 8:00 PM and Friday-Sunday 10:00 PM. 

A recent Snapchat location listing, though, reveals a different schedule for the day, and another directory copies the summer hours. This disparity should not make people think that an opening hours panel from a search result is an accurate way of judging the opening hours of a business.

To be safe, it is best to double-check the schedule with the attraction itself during the day of the trip, particularly during public holidays, seasonal changes and special events.

Published seasonal schedule

The timetable above is based on the most up-to-date venue information available on the internet, but opening times may change. 

Umm Al Quwain Zoo ticket price

The admission price for the attraction is at present AED 25 for adults and children from 1 to 14 years old. The published ticket information also includes a list for children under 12 months and for People of Determination with valid identification who are eligible for free tickets.  

Extra activities are available and may incur an additional charge. Several optional experiences are currently published: animal feeding, encounters with lemurs, and horse and camel rides. Higher-priced animal experiences have also been listed individually. 

Higher prices are actual prices and are subject to change before any booking is made, as the venue reserves the right to alter prices, inclusions, and availability. 

Are animal encounters included in the entry ticket?

Not necessarily. Tickets for the available experiences are billed separately for the general admission and each animal. Access to the site is therefore allotted first, with extra day’s activities (which should be checked on the day of the visit) being added on if visitors wish. 

This is important to families because the low admission fee doesn’t guarantee that all interaction is covered.

Animals you can see

The park’s own wildlife page describes their collection very generally in terms of mammals, birds, and reptiles; however, there are a wider number of species and groups of animals that can currently be identified as visitors or as part of the local tourism.

Animals here include:

• Lions and tigers
• Cheetahs and leopards
• Giraffes
• Bears
• Primate species, including orangutans.
• Lemurs
• Arabian oryx
• Hyenas
• Tortoises
• Snakes
• Macaws and parrots
• Vultures and other birds
• Camels, horses, and other domestic animals

Collection on view may vary, as availability of animals, access to enclosures, animal maintenance, and individual animal routines are not constant. Therefore, a list of published species should be taken with a pinch of salt and should not be assumed to mean that all those species will be seen on a specific visit. 

Big cats

The animals most commonly mentioned in the visitor information materials in the park include big cats. Curiously, lions, tigers, cheetahs, and leopards are mentioned in the present documentation of the collection, being one of the biggest attractions that people look for. 

It is important to keep in mind that the actions of animals are unpredictable. It is normal to see an animal resting, hiding, or moving from a viewing point and should not be considered a miss of the visit.

Birds and smaller animals

There are also a number of birds and small animals in the park. A few instances of parrots, macaws, vultures, tortoises, lemurs, and other species were published. Some visitors experience tortoises, lemurs, interaction, or feeding. 

The smaller animal spaces can be very interesting for children, as they will experience something that is different from just watching animals behind a far-distance-away barrier.

Animal encounters and activities

The park’s unique offering is additional animal experiences. Published ticket data include a lemur encounter, animal feeding, and horse and camel rides, and animal interactions and encounters are reported by visitors. 

The provision of these activities is far away. There may be safety risks, hours of operation and/or capacity limits on some encounters, and some experiences may not be offered daily.

If an animal interaction is primary to your visit, please check with staff first before buying or scheduling for this experience.

How long does a visit take?

No set length of visit, as the attraction has a relatively small size and differing types of visitors and activities.

Tripadvisor estimates that visitors spend 1-2 hours at the site on average, and visitors have reported spending anywhere from about 30 minutes to multiple hours depending on activities and how much time they spend in the animal areas. 

Allow for about 2-3 hours for a family visit (photographs and animal encounters and breaks). The duration shown is a planning estimate only.

Is it suitable for children?

Visitors often refer to it as a family-friendly park, and children will have the opportunity to see a variety of animals in a relatively small area. The visit can include an interactive element in some activities, for example, animal feeding and some encounters. 

Parents, however, should pay close attention around all animal enclosures. Children should stay out of the way of any barriers and not shout at any animal or touch an animal unless they are in an activity that is specifically approved and supervised by staff.

Visitor reports also suggest the environment can be hot, dusty, or sandy, so comfortable shoes and weather protection are wise. 

Best time to visit

Timing is very much dependent on the season.

In the warmer months, the published summer program begins at 3:30 PM and naturally encourages visits in the late afternoon and evening. During cooler months (October to June), mornings are now open thanks to the adjusted published opening time, so it’s now 8:00 AM. 

A late afternoon visit might be an opportunity for families to arrive in time for dusk and then stay for the evening. Reported to occur in the evening, but not always, and animals may not be present at specific times in the evening. 

Weekends and public holidays can be more hectic. One recent visitor source specifically mentions ‘crowded during Eid,’ and another visitor report advises considering ‘less busy weekday times.’ 

Visitor considerations before going

The first step to a useful visit is setting realistic expectations. It is a relatively small private wildlife attraction rather than a large safari destination and so should be planned around its limited size.

Tripadvisor reviews also are mixed recent. Some visitors say the attraction is great for families, and they love the up-close-and-personal encounters with the animals; other recent reviews raise serious concerns about animal welfare and enclosure conditions. These are allegations and opinions by visitors and not formal findings made by this article, or an official regulatory investigation. 

This is a distinction to make. While reviews can be helpful for first-hand impressions, they do not constitute a fact-finding as such and should not be presented without independent proof.

It is appropriate to check what the situation is like before coming and to follow staff advice to avoid activities that look unsafe and that are not clearly supervised.

Practical tips for a smoother visit

The outing is made easier by a few simple preparations:

1. Look at the time before you go. Schedules are provided online but vary from one to another, especially during the summer season.
2. Bring water and sun protection. It can be uncomfortable to walk outdoors in Umm Al Quwain during hot weather.
3. Wear comfortable shoes. Sandy places and walking paths are referred to in visitor reports, which may not be suitable for all walkers or wheelchairs. 
4. Verify paid experiences beforehand. Subject to change in price and availability.
5. Ensure children are near animal enclosures. Never let them pass through barriers.
6. Do not feed wild animals. Only eat food provided or approved by the attraction.
7. Extend dates on the weekend. Describes busy periods during half-term. 
8. Use navigation carefully. The main attraction is Kaber and not in the heart of Umm Al Quwain.

Conclusion

Umm Al Quwain Zoo provides a miniature experience of wildlife in Kaber, including mammals, birds, and reptiles; animal encounters and family activities are priced separately. While the general admission ticket for the AED 25 is issued as a published fare, it is a good general guide to begin with, and extra experiences may be charged on top. It is also advisable to check on the operating hours before traveling, as current online listings are not always exactly accurate. Visitors’ comments have recently been mixed on the web and should be considered an individual experience and not as a fact independently verified. The park can be a good short wildlife visit for families interested in seeing a variety of animals and for those who wish to experience the optional activities of the park.

Read Also: Al Mahatta Park

Frequently asked questions

Where is Umm Al Quwain Zoo located?

The location of The Zoo Wildlife Park is situated on The Zoo Street, Kaber, Umm Al Quwain. It is located near Road No. E55 Al Shuwaib, Umm Al Quwain.

How much is the entrance ticket?

The general admission fee currently published on the website is AED 25 for children and adults. As per details published on the website, children under 12 months are listed as free.

What animals can visitors see?

The zoo contains lions and tigers, as well as cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, and bears. There are many primates, including lemurs, and other animals like reptiles and different types of fowl.

Are animal encounters available?

Yes. Activities include animal feeding, lemur encounters, camel rides, and horse rides. Extra charges may apply.

How long does a visit take?

All of the main sights can be appreciated within an hour or two by most visitors but may take longer to spot additional sights.

What are the zoo opening hours?

Published timings. Also given season. October-June should be from 8 am, and summer hours start later in the afternoon.

Is the zoo suitable for families?

Yes, the zoo; it has a wide variety of animals and lots of interesting activities,