• A white lion is viewed by zoo visitors. Victor Besa for The National
    A white lion is viewed by zoo visitors. Victor Besa for The National
  • The Dubai Safari aviary. Victor Besa for The National
    The Dubai Safari aviary. Victor Besa for The National
  • Dubai Safari picnic area. Victor Besa for The National
    Dubai Safari picnic area. Victor Besa for The National
  • The African stop entrance. Victor Besa for The National
    The African stop entrance. Victor Besa for The National
  • The park on Al Awir Road on the outskirts of Dubai. Victor Besa for The National
    The park on Al Awir Road on the outskirts of Dubai. Victor Besa for The National
  • The aviary. Victor Besa for The National
    The aviary. Victor Besa for The National
  • Mandarin ducks at the aviary. Victor Besa for The National
    Mandarin ducks at the aviary. Victor Besa for The National
  • A hyena roving around its area. Victor Besa for The National
    A hyena roving around its area. Victor Besa for The National
  • Screw horned antelope. Victor Besa for The National
    Screw horned antelope. Victor Besa for The National
  • Mandarin ducks at the aviary. Victor Besa for The National
    Mandarin ducks at the aviary. Victor Besa for The National
  • Screw horned antelope. Victor Besa for The National
    Screw horned antelope. Victor Besa for The National
  • Dubai Safari features a wide range of open exhibits across four themed villages – African, Asian, Arabian and an open Safari Village. Victor Besa for The National
    Dubai Safari features a wide range of open exhibits across four themed villages – African, Asian, Arabian and an open Safari Village. Victor Besa for The National
  • The zoo shuttle. Victor Besa for The National
    The zoo shuttle. Victor Besa for The National
  • Dubai Safari features a wide range of open exhibits across four themed villages – African, Asian, Arabian and an open Safari Village. Victor Besa for The National
    Dubai Safari features a wide range of open exhibits across four themed villages – African, Asian, Arabian and an open Safari Village. Victor Besa for The National

Dubai Safari Park reopens to visitors after two-year closure


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

A new and improved Dubai Safari reopened its doors on Monday to welcome visitors to learn about rare and endangered species from around the world.

The park closed in May 2018, only five months after a grand opening, following a change in management and to allow extensive work to be completed to animal enclosures.

Home to about 3,000 animals including giraffes, lions and rhinoceros, the park in Al Warqa 4 now features African elephants.

Guests can also spend a day with an animal keeper.

A bus transports visitors around each of the three zones within the park, each themed with animals from Asia, Africa and Arabia.

"In addition to the customer experience, the physiological and psychological well-being of the animals at Dubai Safari Park is of the upmost importance," a Dubai Municipality spokesman said.

“The park is committed to creating an environment where the animals in its care can thrive.

“Staff will also be involved in a range of welfare, behaviour, and veterinary research programmes.”

The park stretches across 119 hectares and is open daily from 9am until 5pm.

To book a visit go online at www.dubaisafari.ae.

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Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

UAE’s revised Cricket World Cup League Two schedule

August, 2021: Host - United States; Teams - UAE, United States and Scotland

Between September and November, 2021 (dates TBC): Host - Namibia; Teams - Namibia, Oman, UAE

December, 2021: Host - UAE; Teams - UAE, Namibia, Oman

February, 2022: Hosts - Nepal; Teams - UAE, Nepal, PNG

June, 2022: Hosts - Scotland; Teams - UAE, United States, Scotland

September, 2022: Hosts - PNG; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal

February, 2023: Hosts - UAE; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

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The Bio

Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.

Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.

Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.

Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.

Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”

if you go

Getting there

Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.

Staying there

On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.

More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr

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Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request