Dubai Dolphinarium is one of the city’s most popular family attractions, offering live marine shows, close-up dolphin encounters, bird performances, and a range of indoor activities for children. Located within Creek Park, the venue welcomes thousands of visitors each month, combining entertainment with educational opportunities about marine life and conservation.
- Overview of Dubai Dolphinarium
- Dolphin and Seal Show
- Dolphin encounter experiences
- Creek Park Exotic Bird Show
- Other fun activities
- Dining at Dubai Dolphinarium
- Location & how to reach
- Facilities & amenities
- Visitor tips
- Showtimes & ticketing
- Contact Information
- Key takeaways
- FAQs
Overview of Dubai Dolphinarium
Dubai Dolphinarium is the Middle East’s first fully air-conditioned indoor dolphin and seal facility, opened in 2008. It covers 54,000 sq. ft. and draws more than 40,000 visitors every month to its live marine shows, interactive sessions, and family-friendly attractions.
Located in Creek Park, near Oud Metha and Bur Dubai, the venue is designed to educate visitors about marine mammals while offering exciting performances and encounters. With a seating capacity of 1,250, the Dolphinarium is a popular stop for families exploring nearby places like Children’s City or Dubai Creek Park.
Dolphin and Seal Show
This is the Dolphinarium’s main attraction and one of Dubai’s most iconic family shows. The performance features bottlenose dolphins and playful seals showcasing their intelligence through acrobatics, synchronised tricks, ball games, music interactions, and audience participation.
The show runs for about 45 minutes and is suitable for all ages, making it one of the most popular indoor entertainment options in Dubai, especially during summer.
Dolphin encounter experiences
Dubai Dolphinarium offers two up-close dolphin experiences:
1. Meet & Greet Pool Interaction
A shallow pool session where guests can hug, kiss, and interact with dolphins under trainer supervision. It’s designed for younger children and first-time visitors and includes educational insights about dolphin behaviour and habitats.
2. Majestic Swim with the Dolphins
A full in-water swim experience suitable for visitors aged eight and above. Participants can glide alongside the dolphins, enjoy dorsal fin tows, and learn more about these intelligent marine animals in a safe, supervised environment.
Creek Park Exotic Bird Show
The Dolphinarium hosts one of Dubai’s most colourful bird presentations, featuring more than 20 exotic species such as macaws, hornbills, toucans, Amazon parrots, and cockatoos. Birds fly freely across the arena and perform engaging tricks, giving children an educational introduction to avian habitats and behaviours.
A highlight of the show is meeting Andre, one of the world’s most impressive birds of prey. Guests can also interact with parrots and other species after the show and take photos with them.
Other fun activities at Dubai Dolphinarium
Once the marine and bird shows conclude, families can explore several additional indoor attractions located within the main facility.
Mirror Maze
A mind-bending labyrinth of floor-to-ceiling mirrors that challenges visitors to navigate reflections, twists, and dead ends. It’s a fun sensory experience for both kids and adults.
Trampoline Room
A safe indoor jumping zone where children can burn energy between shows. The activity is supervised and available for a small additional fee.
5D & 7D Cinemas
Multi-sensory short film experiences combining 3D visuals with motion, vibration, lighting, and sound effects. The 7D cinema adds interactive shooting games, allowing visitors to compete and become part of the action.
Dining at Dubai Dolphinarium
Happy Valley Restaurant serves as the Dolphinarium’s onsite dining spot, offering quick meals, snacks, and refreshments before or after shows. With seating for up to 150 guests, it provides a convenient option for families spending the day inside Creek Park.
Location and how to reach
Dubai Dolphinarium is located at on Riyadh Street, inside Creek Park Gate 1, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai.
How to get there:
- By car/taxi:
Entry to Creek Park requires a small fee (AED 5 per person). Parking is available inside the park on a first-come, first-served basis. - By metro:
The nearest station is Dubai Healthcare City on the Green Line, about a 10–15 minute walk from the venue. Oud Metha station is also accessible, though slightly farther. - By bus:
Several RTA bus routes stop near Creek Park and the Healthcare City area. Travellers can use the RTA Wojhati journey planner to confirm the best route.
Its central position inside Creek Park makes it easy to combine your visit with nearby attractions such as Children’s City, Dubai Creek Park, and other educational and recreational spots in the area.
Facilities and amenities
Dubai Dolphinarium is designed to offer a comfortable, family-friendly experience with facilities that support both visitors and the well-being of the marine animals. The venue includes:
- Fully air-conditioned indoor seating
- A 1,250-seat arena
- Medical and resting pools for marine mammals
- Wheelchair accessibility
- Family-friendly infrastructure throughout the venue
- Supervised dolphin interaction zones
- Educational exhibits for children and school groups
- On-site dining options
All marine mammals are cared for by trained specialists and veterinarians, operating under the standards and oversight of Dubai Municipality and other government agencies.
Visitor tips
- Arrive 20–30 minutes early to secure ideal seating, especially during weekends or busy periods.
- Book tickets online in advance, as shows and swimming sessions often sell out.
- Photography is allowed, but flash is discouraged to protect the animals.
- A separate Creek Park entry fee of AED 5 per person applies at the gate.
- Dolphin encounters and swimming experiences require booking due to limited availability.
- Dubai Dolphinarium does not operate shows on Tuesdays.
- Carry minimal belongings; outside food and beverages are not permitted.
- The venue is not pet-friendly.
Showtimes and ticketing
Show schedules may change, but Dubai Dolphinarium typically runs several performances and interaction sessions throughout the day. Usual timings include:
- Dolphin & Seal Show: around 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 6:00 pm.
- Exotic Bird Show: usually 12:15 pm, 3:15 pm, and 7:15 pm.
- Dolphin Meet & Greet and Swim Sessions: multiple time slots available daily, supervised by professional trainers.
Ticket prices vary depending on the show, seating category, and date. Standard dolphin show tickets generally start from around AED 89–110 for adults, with lower rates for children.
Premium seating and dolphin-encounter experiences are priced higher. Also note that Creek Park entry requires a separate AED 5 fee at the gate.
For the most up-to-date timings and prices, visitors should check the official Dubai Dolphinarium website or authorised ticketing platforms before booking.
Contact Information
If you have any inquiries or complaints, you can contact Dubai Dolphinarium through:
- Phone: 050 523 0949
- Instagram: @dolphinariumdubai
Key takeaways
Dubai Dolphinarium is Dubai’s only indoor dolphin and seal attraction, offering marine shows, animal encounters and child-friendly activities inside Creek Park. It combines educational entertainment with interactive experiences such as the bird show, mirror maze and multi-sensory cinemas. It’s a popular family destination, especially on weekends and holidays.
FAQs
Ticket prices vary by show and experience. Standard dolphin show rates start at the amounts listed by Dubai Dolphinarium, with discounts available for children and UAE residents.
The dolphin and seal show lasts approximately 45 minutes.
No, outside food and beverages are not permitted inside Dubai Dolphinarium.
The venue is fully indoor and air-conditioned, covering roughly 54,000 sq. ft.
Yes, you need. A separate AED 5 entry fee per person is required at the Creek Park gate before entering the Dolphinarium.
