Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo: Shark Tunnel & Glass Bottom Boat

30,000 Marine Animals in One Tank, Plus a Walk Through the Sharks

You walk through galleries of 30,000+ marine animals, enter a tunnel surrounded by sharks, take a glass bottom boat over the main tank, and tour the behind-the-scenes systems that keep it running. Entry, the boat ride, back-of-house access, and all taxes are included. If you add the transfer option, you get hotel pickup and drop-off too. Plan for two to three hours inside.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

• Visit Dubai Aquarium in Dubai Mall
• See over 30,000 aquatic animals
• View the 40-year-old giant crocodile
• Marvel at the 10-million-liter water tank
• Walk through the Shark Encounter tunnel
• Explore the Underwater Zoo exhibits
• Learn about marine conservation efforts

The experience

You're standing inside Dubai Mall, and suddenly there's a 10-million-liter aquarium above your head. That's the first thing that hits you about the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo: the sheer scale of it. The tank holds over 30,000 aquatic creatures, from pelagic fish and rays to a 40-year-old giant crocodile that weighs 750 kg and has become the place's unofficial mascot. It's the world's largest suspended aquarium, which means the engineering alone is worth paying attention to, but what you actually remember is the moment you step into the Shark Encounter tunnel and realize there's nothing between you and the predators except glass.

Your ticket gets you into the main aquarium galleries, the Underwater Zoo section with its exotic animals in habitat displays, and the Underwater Observatory where you can see the tank from a different angle. Then there's the glass bottom boat tour. You're literally floating over the main tank, watching sharks and rays move beneath you. The back-of-house tour is the part most people don't expect. It takes you behind the scenes to see how they manage a system this size, which changes how you think about the whole operation. Everything's included: entry, the boat, the back-of-house access, all fees and taxes. If you book the transfer option, pickup and drop-off to your location in Dubai is part of it too.

The place works for families with small kids (infants sit on a lap), solo travelers, and anyone curious about marine life without needing to be an experienced diver or particularly fit. Public transport stops nearby if you're already in Dubai Mall or want to get there independently. You move through it at your own pace. There's no guide narrating, no group timing, just you and the tanks and the occasional crowd around the crocodile enclosure.

What’s included

• Entry ticket to Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.
• access to the Underwater Zoo galleries.
• Underwater Observatory.
• the Shark Encounter tunnel.
• glass bottom boat tour over the main tank.
• back-of-house tour of the aquarium systems.
• all fees and taxes.
• optional hotel pickup and drop-off if the transfer option is selected.

Options for this experience

3 options

Transfer-inclusive basic ticketUp to 11 people · 10:00Pickup is included

Basic Ticket OnlyUp to 15 people · 10:00

Ultimate Experience TicketUp to 15 people · 10:00Ultimate Experience Ticket

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Senior (71 to 93 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sougat Travel & Tourism LLC

Is this one for you?Right for families, solo travelers, and anyone wanting to see a massive marine collection without arranging separate transport or worrying about timing: the ticket covers everything, and you move through the exhibits whenever you want.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

Where exactly is the Dubai Aquarium located?

Inside Dubai Mall, in the heart of Dubai. Public transportation options are available nearby.

What's the Shark Encounter?

A walk-through tunnel where you're surrounded by sharks and other predators on all sides, with only glass between you and them.

Is the glass bottom boat tour included in the ticket?

Yes. The glass bottom boat tour is part of your entry ticket.

What's the back-of-house tour?

A behind-the-scenes look at how the aquarium operates and maintains its 10-million-liter tank system.

Can I bring a baby?

Yes. Infants are required to sit on an adult's lap. The aquarium is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

How long does it take to go through?

Most visitors spend two to three hours exploring the galleries, the Underwater Zoo, the Observatory, and taking the boat tour.

Is there a guide, or do I go through on my own?

You move through at your own pace. There's no guided group tour. You explore the exhibits independently.

What animals will I see?

Over 30,000 creatures including pelagic fish, piranhas, penguins, lizards, snakes, rays, sharks, and a 40-year-old giant crocodile weighing 750 kg.