Dubai is well known for its tall buildings, shopping malls, and luxury cars, but very few people know it is also home to some of the best parks in the world. These parks are great for escaping the busy city life and offer a peaceful environment for families and individuals. If you want to enjoy quality time, relax with nature or entertain your children with outdoor activities, here are the top new parks you must explore in Dubai.
Location: Al Khawaneej
Timings: 9 am – 9 pm daily
Entrance Fee: Free
The Quranic Park offers beautiful views of nature, education on Islamic events, and entertainment options. The park spans over 64 hectares and is divided into four sections: The Glasshouse, the Cave of Miracles, The Orchards, and The Lake. Here is what to expect in these four sections:
The entry fee for the glasshouse is AED 5. Here, you can explore 29 plants mentioned In the Holy Quran. The complete list of plants and trees is provided at the signpost at the entrance. It is a must-visit for botany enthusiasts interested in learning about various trees and plants. There is also an observation deck that offers beautiful views of the park, perfect for memorable photos.
The entry fee to the Cave of Miracles is also AED 5. This major attraction of the Quranic Park shows video clips of the seven miracles of Islam mentioned in the Holy Quran.
The Orchards is a series of 12 orchards in Quranic Park with 12 different plant species. You can find orchards of pomegranate, basil, fig, lentil, citrus, cucumber, black seed, palms, ginger, grapes, and olive.
The Lake symbolises the miracle of Prophet Musa (Moses), who made a passage in the Red Sea and threw his staff at God's command to escape Pharaoh's army.
Travellers can easily access Quranic Park via Al Khawaneej Road (D89). Take the Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street (D54) exit to the park.
Centrepoint Metro Station is a 10-minute drive from the park, and buses 11A and 11B stop nearby.
Location: Mushrif
Timings: 10 am – 8 pm daily
Entrance Fee: AED 95 for adults and AED 75 for kids aged 3 to 12
Dubai Crocodile Park is the largest crocodile park in the Middle East, over 20,000 square metres. It has over 250 types of crocodiles, along with other reptiles and animals. The park's main attraction is the 5.2 metre-long crocodile called King Croc. Other attractions of the park are:
At the Museum, guests can explore the history and evolution of crocodiles and watch crocodile skeletons.
The Aquarium allows you to come face-to-face with the crocodiles behind the glass.
Visitors can come close to baby crocodiles from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm and from 4 pm to 4:30 pm.
Visitors can feed the crocodiles four times weekly from Thursday to Sunday at 6 pm.
Take Sheikh Zayed Road, exit on Al Ain Road, and then follow the signs to the park.
If you use public transport, take Bus F10 from Centerpoint Metro Station to the School of Research Science bus stop. Metro does not go directly to the park.
Location: Dubai Hills Estate
Timings: Open 24 hours
Entrance Fee: AED 55 for residents and AED 85 for visitors
Dubai Hills Park spans over 180,000 square metres and is ideal for entertaining family time. Visitors can engage in sporty games, picnicking, and skating at the park, as there are other theme parks within Dubai Hills Park. They are:
Yes, that's right. Dubai Hills Park has a skate park open to all ages, including a separate area for kids to try their moves and tricks.
The Glice Rink is an ice rink where people of all ages can skate on the ice.
Splash Park is a kids' water park with slides, a puddle pool, and a big water bucket.
The park also features an urban beach, dog park, Dragon Adventure Playground, Bounce Park, picnic area, seating terrace, a 2.5 km running track, trampoline playground, and a hammock park.
The park is about 20 minutes drive from the city centre. The nearest metro stations are Dubai Internet City and Mall of the Emirates. From there, you can take a taxi to the park.
Location: Nad al Sheba, Muscat St
Timings: Open 24 hours
Entrance Fee: Free
Nad Al Sheba Cycle Park, originally a camel racecourse, is ideal for cyclists. The cycling tracks at the park are 4km, 6km and 8km long. If you don't own a cycle, you can still rent one at a reasonable price, starting from AED 50. The park has facilities like showers, parking, restrooms, and lockers. All the tracks have road signs, speed bumps, and roundabouts to ensure a safe experience. Besides that, the park also has jogging tracks. Benches are placed at regular spots for resting, and the turns and arches are designed to prevent slipping.
Bus numbers 66 and 61D stop at Nad Al Sheba, and Business Bay is the nearest metro station.
Location: Jaddaf Waterfront
Timings: Open 24 hours
Entrance Fee: Free
Developed in partnership with Dubai Holding, Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture Park is the UAE's first open-air art and sculpture park. The park has no fences, so people can come together and interact through art and share their thoughts. Since Dubai has a hot desert climate, the park is mostly paved with regional plants that need little water. The other notable features of the park are:
Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture Park is a 12-minute walk from Al Jadaf metro station. The bus stations in Jaddaf Waterfront are Garhoud bus stop, Jaddaf 1 and 2 bus stops, and Al Jaddaf Metro Station A2.
Parks provide a quiet place to relax away from the busy city. They offer space for fun activities, exercise, recreation, and spending time with family. These parks in Dubai have unique attractions that let people enjoy nature, play outdoor games, and experience art and culture. They enrich the urban landscape and strengthen the community by bringing people together in serene and beautiful surroundings.