Sharjah Safari

Sharjah Safari is the largest safari park outside Africa, according to official coverage. It covers about 8 square kilometres in the Al Bardi reserve near Al Dhaid and opened on 17 February 2022. It is run by Sharjah's Environment and Protected Areas Authority.

What to see

All 12 habitats recreate Africa: Niger Valley, Sahel, Moremi, Savannah, Ngorongoro, Kalahari, Tswalu, Serengeti, Birds of Africa, East African Islands and Boma. Residents include giraffes, elephants, lions, oryx, wildebeest, impala, nyala and zebras; media report 186 births in spring 2026. In Zanzibar Village you can have lunch, buy souvenirs and watch a bird show.

What you see depends on your ticket. The basic, cheapest ticket is a walk through Birds of Africa, East African Islands, Boma and Zanzibar Village. A shared guided vehicle safari costs more, and the top ticket adds a private guide and a walk through the Serengeti habitat. Groups can book a six-seat private vehicle or a 15-seat minibus.

Getting there

The park is on the Sharjah–Khorfakkan Road (S142), about 5 km from Al Dhaid. It is about 50 km and 40–50 minutes from central Sharjah and 50–60 minutes' drive from Dubai. Parking at the main entrance is free but fills early. There is no public transport to the park.

Planning your visit

According to media reports, the park is open daily from 8:30 to 18:00 in the 2026–27 season; the fifth season opened on 21 September 2026. A walking-tour adult ticket costs about AED 40 and AED 15 for children aged 3–12, with under-3s free; the vehicle safari starts at AED 120 and a private guide is about AED 275. Check prices and conditions on the park's website before buying. Arrive at opening: vehicle safaris admit guests only in the first half of the day.

Before you go

Bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, comfortable shoes, water and binoculars. Don't feed or touch the animals except in designated, staff-supervised places, and keep hands and phones inside the vehicle. The park is closed in summer, so visit from October to April.