Mac Rating: 5.00 | Votes: 1 | Date: 20/06/2026 20:52:00

Founded in 1968 by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, Al Ain Zoo is a 400-hectare wildlife park in the foothills of Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain, in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi. The zoo grew out of a concern to protect the region's native wildlife, and opened to the public in 1972 with a particular focus on Arabian species threatened in the wild. Today it is home to more than 4,000 animals, spanning dozens of species of mammals, birds and reptiles, and is a leading centre for conservation breeding in the region. Its collection emphasises ungulates and desert species, including the Arabian oryx, gazelles and the rare Arabian sand cat, alongside big cats, giraffes and a reptile house. Conservation is central to its work, with successful breeding programmes for endangered desert antelopes and gazelles and participation in international zoological record-sharing systems. The on-site Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, housed in a sustainably designed building, presents five interactive galleries exploring Abu Dhabi's natural history, heritage and future. The combination of spacious enclosures, native wildlife and a strong educational mission has made the zoo a popular destination for both families and visitors interested in regional ecology. More than five decades on, it remains one of the most established wildlife and conservation institutions in the Emirates. The zoo lies within the wider Al Ain area, whose oases and archaeological sites form part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing, reinforcing its role in the city's cultural and natural tourism. A dedicated desert safari experience takes visitors through larger enclosures to see free-ranging herds in conditions closer to the wild. The institution is especially noted for breeding the Arabian oryx, a species once extinct in the wild that has been reintroduced across the region with the help of programmes like its own.