Dubai Aquarium Tickets & Penguin Cove Experience at Dubai Mall

4.76

(41 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Honestly, I didn’t expect to be so drawn in by an aquarium inside a shopping mall. But as soon as we stepped into the cool air of the Dubai Mall and caught that first glimpse of the massive tank—10 million liters, they say—I just stopped. There’s this faint salty tang in the air and a low hum from families crowding around the glass. You can stand right up close and watch sand tiger sharks glide past your nose. It’s wild how close you get. Our guide, Ahmed, pointed out a stingray that looked like it was smiling for photos—he said she’s kind of famous here.

The underwater tunnel is something else. It’s 48 meters long but feels longer when you’re surrounded by swirling schools of silver fish overhead. At one point, a group of kids squealed when a giant grouper drifted above them—honestly, I jumped too. We wandered up to the Underwater Zoo after (it’s upstairs), where you can meet penguins waddling around their chilly cove and see King Croc—he’s huge, almost prehistoric looking. There are little signs everywhere with facts about each animal; I learned there are over 150 species here. If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s even cage snorkeling or glass-bottom boat rides (we stuck to dry land this time). The whole place is wheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly—saw plenty of families making a day of it.