Arabian Wildlife Center
Located within Sharjah Desert Park, the Arabian Wildlife Center houses a large collection of Arabian wildlife. All of its animals—more than 100 species, including fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals—are native to the Arabian Peninsula and live in natural surroundings.
The Basics
The indoor center is divided by species and includes separates houses for reptiles, insects, and fish. The bird aviary mimics a wadi and desert environment, and it's home to birds such as weavers, partridges, and flamingos. Find smaller cats near the aviary and animals such as porcupines, mongoose, and rodents in the nocturnal house. You can also glimpse large animals including wolves, antelopes, and baboons in their natural habitats from air-conditioned comfort.
Things to Know Before You Go
The Arabian Wildlife Center is ideal for families with kids and animal lovers.
The admission fee also includes entrance to the Children’s Farm and Botanical Gardens next door.
Photos are not permitted inside the center.
The center is air-conditioned.
How to Get There
The Arabian Wildlife Center is located in Sharjah Desert Park, approximately 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) east of the city of Sharjah. Take Highway E88 towards Al Dhaid. There’s plenty of parking.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The center is open from Wednesday to Monday, with shorter hours on Thursday and Friday. Since the center is indoors and offers air conditioning, it’s a great option in summer when desert temperatures soar.
Highlights of the Arabian Wildlife Center
Of the more than 100 species in the center, some are quite rare. Don’t miss the walk-through cave in the aviary to see blind fish from Oman. And look out for the rock hyrax. These tail-less creatures, about the size of a rabbit, have three toes on each foot; perhaps surprisingly, the animal's closest living relative is the elephant. The center is also home to rare Arabian leopards.
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