Dubai Mall Aquarium Guide: Tickets, Timings and What to Expect

The Dubai Mall Aquarium is basically this huge tank with 10 million litres of water. They’ve crammed like 33,000 animals in there. It’s split between ground level and level 2 at the Dubai Mall. You get to walk through this glass tunnel thing where sharks and rays just swim past you. Then there’s the Underwater Zoo upstairs with penguins, otters and this massive crocodile called King Croc. The thing weighs 750kg and is over 5 metres. Honestly it’s pretty wild.

If you’re planning to go check it out, it might be good to know what it costs, when it’s open, and what you’re actually getting into. That’s what this is about.

Times and Prices

Opens at 10am, closes at 10pm. Every day. You need a ticket to do anything beyond just looking at it from the mall. Summer deals bring tickets down to around 120 AED. The regular price is higher than that. If you book online you usually save money.

They’ve got a few different ticket options. Basic one gets you in the tunnel and upstairs. You want to do something special like hang out with penguins or dive with sharks, that’s extra. Weekday mornings tend to be quieter if you care about that. Last entry’s around 8:15pm.

What’s Actually In There

Lots of sharks. Sand Tiger Sharks mostly. Stingrays too. Giant grouper fish that are like 400kg. It’s weird seeing them just floating around like that.

Upstairs in the zoo part, different vibe. They’ve got otters which are cute. Penguins. There’s a giant Pacific octopus somewhere in there but you might not see it. They’ve also got these old primitive fish called paddlefish and giant spider crabs that are basically the size of a person. If you want marine life stuff but cheaper, Sharjah Aquarium is another option.

King Croc

This is an Australian saltwater crocodile. Over 5 metres long, weighs more than 750kg. He’s in the Underwater Zoo on level 2. They brought him from Queensland. He’s been here forever. Queen Croc is his mate. They’re in the same enclosure. When they feed him it’s actually intense to watch.

Diving and Shark Stuff

If you’ve got your scuba cert you can actually get in the water with the sharks. They do different levels depending on what you can do. Beginners do cage snorkeling. If you’re experienced you can do actual dives.

There’s also this cage thing where you wear an oxygen helmet and they lower you down. You see everything without needing to know how to dive. If you’re into extreme underwater experiences, Deep Dive Dubai is worth looking at too.

Taking Kids There

It’s alright for families. Kids generally enjoy it. You can bring strollers, it’s indoors so no heat, and there’s enough going on for a couple hours. They do boat rides with glass bottoms and feeding shows that kids like. Staff seem to know what they’re doing. Most people spend 2 to 3 hours there.

Avoiding Crowds

Go on a weekday morning when they open. Monday through Thursday, 10am to noon is usually pretty chill. Weekends are rammed. Late afternoons too. The tunnel gets packed and you can’t really move or take photos properly. Buy your ticket online beforehand so you don’t wait in line. If you lose something, Dubai Police have a lost and found delivery service now which is actually helpful.

Parking

Park at P2 Grand Parking. That’s closest to the aquarium. The Dubai Mall is massive and if you park wrong you’ll walk forever. Grand Parking is best for both ground floor and level 2 access. If you’re dealing with rental cars or vehicle registration stuff, check out the guide on reserving a vehicle plate number.

Common Questions

How long should I spend there?
2 to 3 hours is normal. Covers the tunnel, the boat, upstairs section.

Do I have to pay?
You can see the main tank from the mall for free. Anything else needs a ticket.

Can you actually swim with sharks?
Yeah if you book a diving experience. Cage snorkeling for beginners, proper dives if you’re certified.

Best time to go?
Weekday mornings right when they open. Avoids the crowds.

Strollers allowed?
Yeah, works everywhere. Elevators between levels.