School mid-term week has a habit of filling Dubai diaries with pool days and mall circuits. This year there is a clearer wildlife option: Dubai Safari Park Season 8 opened its gates this morning, 12 October 2026, with a seven-day “Wildest Opening Week” aimed squarely at families.
Khaleej Times reported the reopening at lunchtime today, confirming daily hours of 9am to 6pm and last entry at 5pm. Gulf News published a detailed Season 8 preview yesterday, covering tickets, zones and the animals to look out for. Arabian Business has not carried a Season 8 story in its recent news run. Official details also sit on the Dubai Media Office countdown release and on dubaisafari.ae.
Dubai Safari Park Season 8 at a Glance
The essentials, drawn from Khaleej Times, Gulf News, the Dubai Media Office and the park’s own site:
- What: Dubai Safari Park Season 8 under the theme “Live More Wild Life”, with more than 3,000 animals from about 300 species across 119 hectares in Al Warqa.
- When: open from Monday 12 October 2026; Wildest Opening Week runs 12–18 October, timed with the school mid-term break.
- Hours: 9am–6pm daily during the season; last entry 5pm.
- Tickets: Safari Park Pass from Dh50 (ages three and above); Safari Bundle Dh117, which adds the Explorer Safari and unlimited shuttle trains. Book via the official tickets page.
- Free entry: children under three and People of Determination.
- Included with the Pass: all six zones, the Arabian Desert Safari, live presentations, workshops, one complimentary animal encounter and free parking.
Dubai Safari Park Season 8 Wildest Opening Week
For the first time, Dubai Safari Park is running a dedicated opening-week programme. According to Khaleej Times and the Media Office, Little Explorers’ Base Camp is the hub for younger visitors, typically open from about 10am to 6pm during the week. Expect:
- Wild Creations Clay Station, where children decorate animal figures such as lions, monkeys and hippos;
- Wild Ink temporary tattoos with safari and jungle designs;
- safari-themed inflatables and giant lawn games, including Connect 4, Jenga and Tic Tac Toe;
- face painting, arts and crafts; and
- “The Wild Welcome”, a 25-minute stage show marking the new season.
That makes opening week a natural fit if you are already planning October reopenings such as Dubai Miracle Garden or lining up Global Village Season 31, which follows later in the week.
Dubai Safari Park Season 8 Tickets and Bundles
The standard day out starts with the Safari Park Pass. Gulf News and the park list the Pass at Dh50 for anyone aged three and above. The Safari Bundle at Dh117 adds the 35-minute Explorer Safari Tour and unlimited park-train rides. Outside food and drinks are not allowed, aside from baby food and water; plan to eat inside the park.
If you want something more private, Dubai Safari Park Season 8 keeps several premium packages, booked per group rather than per person:
- King of Safari — about four hours for up to 10 guests, from Dh2,500, with a private Explorer Safari, animal feedings, reserved show seating and VIP parking;
- Behind the Scenes — about 90 minutes for up to 10 guests, from Dh1,450, with five backstage experiences;
- Dine in the Wild — breakfast or dinner for up to six guests beside giraffes or lions, from Dh2,150; and
- Jungle Capture — an early-morning photography tour for small groups, from Dh1,275.
Gulf News also notes a new Royal Safari Experience created for travel-trade partners: a four-hour private tour for groups of up to 10. Confirm live prices and slots on dubaisafari.ae/tickets before you travel, because premium inventory moves quickly in mid-term week.
Dubai Safari Park Season 8 Zones and Safari Tours
The park is organised into six themed areas: African Village, Asian Village, Explorer Village, Arabian Desert, Kids Farm and Al Wadi. Zones are spread out, so allow four to five hours and use the air-conditioned trains or shuttle buses between hubs.
Arabian Desert Safari
Every Pass includes the 15-minute Arabian Desert Safari, a drive through dunes modelled on the region’s own desert. Gulf News highlights Arabian oryx (Al Maha), ostrich, scimitar-horned oryx and addax — species with genuine conservation stories, not just photo stops.
Explorer Safari
The Explorer Safari, included with the Bundle, is a guided bus tour through open habitats. Look out for lions, giraffes, rhinos, hippos and the large Hamadryas baboon troop. Salam the baby white rhino and Dalia the giraffe have been part of recent visitor chatter; treat sightings as a bonus rather than a guarantee.
Dubai Safari Park Season 8 Presentations and Encounters
Three free presentations return with the Pass: Birds Kingdom, Echoes of the Wild and Birds of Prey. Each runs for roughly 30 minutes; arrive ten minutes early and check the entrance board, because times can change.
Optional paid encounters — giraffe, lemur, goat, tortoise and macaw feedings among them — sell out on busy family days. Add them when you book online, or ask at the counter on arrival. Prices on the park site recently ranged from about Dh20 for several Kids Farm feedings to Dh75 for lemur feeding.
How to Get to Dubai Safari Park Season 8
The park sits in Al Warqa 5 on Al Aweer Road (E44), diagonally opposite Dragon Mart, with free parking in P1–P3 and EV charging at P1. By Metro, take the Red Line to Centrepoint and continue on RTA bus F10; check live departures in the Dubai Metro and RTA apps before you set off. Taxis should be asked for the main entrance in Al Warqa 5.
Dubai Safari Park Season 8 Family Day Plan
If you are visiting during Wildest Opening Week, this order keeps walking down and heat manageable:
- Arrive for opening at 9am and head straight to Kids Farm or the Arabian Desert Safari while queues are short;
- Book any paid encounters for late morning so children have a clear highlight;
- Spend the heat of the day on presentations, Base Camp crafts and Al Wadi shade and lunch;
- Keep the Explorer Safari for mid-afternoon if you bought the Bundle; and
- Leave a buffer before the 5pm last-entry rule if friends are joining later.
That plan also slots neatly into a wider October staycation alongside Dubai Parks and Resorts, the Ripe Market at Academy Park, or a classic desert safari on a cooler evening.
Dubai Safari Park Season 8 Conservation Notes
Dubai Safari Park Season 8 now belongs to both the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, a point Gulf News underlined in its Season 8 preview. The Arabian oryx recovery story and the scimitar-horned oryx reintroduction work are useful talking points for older children, and they give the day more purpose than a simple tick-list of animals.
Conclusion
Dubai Safari Park Season 8 lands at the right moment: cooler mornings, a school break and a first-time opening week built for families. Book the Pass or Bundle online, arrive early, and treat Wildest Opening Week as a soft launch rather than a one-day rush. For the broader October calendar, start with our Dubai October 2026 guide and then decide whether wildlife, theme parks or evening festivals come first.
FAQ
When did Dubai Safari Park Season 8 open?
Monday 12 October 2026. Wildest Opening Week runs through Sunday 18 October.
What are the opening hours?
9am to 6pm daily during the season, with last entry at 5pm.
How much do tickets cost?
The Safari Park Pass starts at Dh50 for ages three and above. The Safari Bundle is Dh117. Children under three and People of Determination enter free.
Is the Arabian Desert Safari included?
Yes. It is included with every standard park ticket. The Explorer Safari is part of the Bundle upgrade.
Can I bring my own food?
Outside food and drinks are not permitted, except baby food and water. Cafés and restaurants are available across the villages.
Where is Dubai Safari Park?
Al Warqa 5, Al Aweer Road, diagonally opposite Dragon Mart. Free parking is available on site.
Key Takeaways
- Dubai Safari Park Season 8 opened on 12 October 2026 with Wildest Opening Week running to 18 October.
- Hours are 9am–6pm; last entry is 5pm.
- Pass tickets start at Dh50; the Bundle at Dh117 adds the Explorer Safari and unlimited trains.
- Little Explorers’ Base Camp is the main opening-week draw for younger children.
- Arrive early in mid-term week, book encounters ahead, and allow four to five hours.
Useful Links
- Khaleej Times — Dubai Safari Park reopens for Season 8
- Gulf News — First look inside Season 8
- Gulf News — October things to do, including opening week
- Dubai Media Office — Season 8 countdown
- Dubai Safari Park official site
- Official tickets and packages
- Plan your visit
- Dubai October 2026 guide
- Global Village ticket prices 2026
- Dubai Miracle Garden
