Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
25°11′51.2″N 55°16′42.3″E / 25.197556°N 55.278417°E / 25.197556; 55.278417
Date openedNovember 4, 2008
LocationDubai Mall, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Land area1,600,000 m2
No. of animals33,000
No. of species300
Volume of largest tank10,000,000 L (2,642,000 U.S. gal)
Total volume of tanks10,500,000 L (2,774,000 U.S. gal)
Websitewww.thedubaiaquarium.com

The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is a public aquarium located in the Dubai Mall. It is the biggest aquarium in Dubai and one of the largest in the world.[1] It has the largest glass tank viewing panel at 107 feet wide and 27 feet tall.

History

The aquarium officially opened on November 4, 2008, along with the rest of the mall. It was developed by Emaar Properties, the same developer of the mall. At its time of opening, it was one of the largest aquariums in the world and received the Guinness World Record for largest shopping mall aquarium.[2] Annually, the aquarium has about 5 million visitors.[3]

On February 25, 2010, the tank had a leak and the whole aquarium was evacuated.[4] Six divers accessed the damage and it was said to be caused by a "small crack".[5]

Exhibits

The Dubai Aquarium features over 300 species of 33,000 different animals including 400 sharks and rays.[6][7] There is also a 48-meter long, 270 degree glass shark tunnel that goes through the tank and is similar to one in the Georgia Aquarium.[8] There are three zones of the aquarium: rainforest, rocky shore, and ocean.[9] The underwater zoo is on the top floor and features crocodiles, the largest one is named "King Croc".[10]

The tank holds 10 million liters of water and spans 107 feet wide.[11] It can be viewed on three different floors of the mall. It holds the world record for largest tank viewing panel in the world.

See also

References

  1. ^ "City SightSeeing". city-sightseeing.com. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  2. ^ "Largest shopping mall aquarium". Guinness World Records. 2008.
  3. ^ "Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo and Global Village".
  4. ^ Press, Associated (2010-02-25). "Shark-filled aquarium in Dubai shopping centre cracks open". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  5. ^ "Shark-filled aquarium springs leak". NBC News. 2010-02-25. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  6. ^ "Dubai Aquarium animals and marine species | Visit Dubai". www.visitdubai.com. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  7. ^ "10 Largest Aquariums in the World". Touropia. 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  8. ^ LIPU, SABBIR (2025-03-08). "Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo - Dive Into the Depths of Ocean". Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  9. ^ "Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo".
  10. ^ Dhal, Sharmila (2018-09-15). "How a 750kg croc landed in Dubai from down under". Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, travel news, Dubai Gold rate, prayer time, cinema. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  11. ^ LIPU, SABBIR (2025-03-08). "Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo - Dive Into the Depths of Ocean". Retrieved 2025-06-21.

25°11′51.2″N 55°16′42.3″E / 25.197556°N 55.278417°E / 25.197556; 55.278417