Fantastic Beasts: Horses, Camels, Flamingos

Would you believe that there is a wild place occupied by flocks of flamingos just a 20 minute drive away from Downtown Dubai? Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary located in the wetlands at the mouth of Dubai Creek is a home to more than 20,000 birds of 67 different species.

The sanctuary is fenced off to protect the birds but there are 3 observation areas equipped with binoculars located around the perimeter of the sanctuary.

Highly recommended for all nature lovers or for anybody seeking some peace and solitude.

The sanctuary is almost inaccessible by public transport — take a taxi. The observation areas are open from 9am to 4pm Saturday to Thursday. To see flamingos, choose the viewing area next to road E66.

Free entrance.

Meydan’s main event — Dubai World Cup night at the end of March — is often referred to as “the world’s richest race day” — because of the 35 million $ prize pot, so the race attracts the greatest jockeys from all over the world (this is the prizes for the actual winners — gambling is prohibited in Dubai).

The racecourse occupies 620 hectares and can accommodate over 60,000 spectators. It was used as a filming location for Star Trek Beyond — as the docking bay for U.S.S. Enterprise.

You can watch a race from a free admittance area or buy tickets to stay in a more comfortable and luxurious zone with catering.

Meydan also offers stable tours (325 AED for adults, 235 AED for kids). A tour starts with a buffet-style breakfast at Farriers Restaurant and includes watching horses during morning track work and in stables, visiting the jockeys room, etc.

Dubai Safari Park opened in 2017 as a replacement for the old Dubai Zoo, which was criticized a lot for poor conditions for animals. In the new Safari Park about 2,500  animals (including elephants, lions and white rhinos) have an open habitat spread across 120 hectares of land. The safari is divided into African, Asian and Arabian villages, with each village accommodating animals from those respective regions. You move through the territory in an air-conditioned bus.

Tickets: from 20 AED for kids, from 50 AED for adults.

An odd mix of ancient traditions and modern technology, camel races look like something taking place in a galaxy far, far away. The jockeys are tiny robots sitting on a camel’s back. The camels are racing through the desert for 10 km, while being followed by a flotilla of luxury SUVs, carrying the owners who remotely control the robot jockeys. Viewers watch most of the race on big TV-screens. Traditionally child jockeys rode the camels, but in 2001 the UAE banned it.

The track is about a half an hour drive from the city, in the desert. For the schedule and other info check the site of Dubai Camel Racing Club.

Tips: bring your binoculars, snacks and water. You can get there by taxi for about 80 AED, but keep in mind that Careem App might not work in this area so you’d better have Uber installed in advance.

Free entrance.

Learn more about the bedouin heritage and the tradition of falconry at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. It is the largest national park in the UAE, and it occupies almost 5% of the emirate. The national park can only be visited through one of the specially approved tour companies (there are around 10 of them, and you can find their contact information on the national park’s website). The tour companies offer hikes, safaris, different falconry experiences, horse or camel rides, sandboarding and traditional bedouin dinners.

A 4-hour safari — an exciting adventure for the entire family — starts at 1470 AED per person.

Home to 65,000 fish and other sea inhabitants, including sharks is a huge aquarium at the Atlantis Hotel. Underwater world is stylized to look like sunken Atlantis. We recommend you to come during feeding — it is a fascinating show.

Entrance fee: from 90 AED.

Located next to Dubai Miracle Garden but in contrast to it, Butterfly garden is open all year round. More than 15,000 butterflies live in 9 domes. Great photos are guaranteed. Comfortable temperature is maintained, so being inside is pleasant not only for butterflies but also for visitors.

We recommend visiting the park on weekdays (to avoid crowds) and in the morning (after 5 p.m. the butterflies fall asleep).

Entrance fee: from 55 AED, children under 3 years old: for free.

Simulated rainforest where birds and animals move around freely. Watch sloths and parrots, see bats’ feeding, take vivid pictures. Green Planet's friendly staff has a lot to tell about the creatures.

The ticket price at the box office is 120 AED, online is cheaper.

The waters of Madinat Jumeirah, a luxurious resort, styled as a mix of Venice and traditional Arab town, also serve as a turtle sanctuary. The Madinat Jumeirah turtle rehabilitation unit rescues and cures injured turtles. Here the turtles go through the final stage of rehabilitation before being returned back to the sea. The turtle pen is located near the Mina A’Salam hotel. At 11am on Wednesdays visitors can participate in turtles feeding.