Dubai Safari Park Ends Season with Record-Breaking Visits

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Dubai Safari Park has officially closed its gates for the summer. The park just finished its most successful season ever. It stayed open for eight months and saw a huge increase in visitors. There was a 16% rise in the number of people who came, compared to the previous year.

During this time, the park conducted more than 52,700 safari tours. On weekends and during holidays, the park was full of excited visitors. One of the busiest times was during the Eid Al Etihad holiday, when over 43,000 people visited in just four days — the highest number ever recorded in such a short time.

New Experiences for Visitors
This was the sixth season of Dubai Safari Park, and it introduced many new experiences. One of the most popular new features was the region’s only Night Safari, where 17,000 visitors came in just one month. Another big highlight was Echoes of the Wild, a live show featuring animals, which attracted over 80,000 people.

Some favorite events also returned this season, including Wild Fiesta, Wild in the Night, and Iftar in the Wild. These events helped keep the park lively and fun for everyone.

Community and Conservation
Dubai Safari Park focused a lot on getting the community involved and raising awareness about saving animals. One big success was the Baby Rhino Naming Campaign, where more than 13,000 people voted to name the park’s new baby rhino. The chosen name was Onyx. A park official said, “Onyx is not just a baby rhino; he represents hope and the shared duty of protecting nature.”

Education and Learning
The park also worked hard to teach kids and young people about the environment. With the theme Conservation of the Planet, nearly 45,000 students from UAE schools visited the park. Students took part in awareness days and contests focused on saving the planet. One competition saw 560 students from 22 schools sharing smart ideas on protecting nature.

These activities helped the park become a top place for learning and fun together — also known as edutainment. It inspired many students to care more about animals and the environment.

Helping Wildlife
This season was also a big success in protecting and caring for animals. There were 162 new animal births and hatchings, including 17 babies from animals that are in danger of going extinct, like white rhinos, moon bears, and Addax antelopes. All these births followed international safety and science rules set by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).

Dubai Safari Park also helped the scientific world by writing and sharing four research papers. These included studies on rabies vaccines for African wild dogs, ways to reduce stress in big cats, and disease checks in animals.

What’s Next for Dubai Safari Park?
Muna Alhajeri, the Director of Dubai Safari Park, said, “This season was more than just about numbers. We brought new animals into the world, inspired young minds, shared knowledge, and gave people experiences they will remember. And we’re just getting started.”

The park will reopen again for Season 7 on October 14, 2025. Visitors can look forward to new attractions, updated experiences, and continued efforts in wildlife care and education.