Dubai Crocodile Park

Dubai Crocodile Park, next to Mushrif Park in Dubai, is home to around 250 Nile crocodiles, some of them up to five metres long, set among lakes, waterfalls, islands and sandbanks designed to mirror their natural habitat. Opened in April 2023 on a site of about 20,000 square metres with both indoor and outdoor areas, it combines the open-air park with a natural history museum, an African lake-themed aquarium, daily encounters and weekend feeding shows, making it a half-day family outing with real wow moments.

Meeting the Nile Crocodiles

The heart of the visit is the main exhibit, a landscaped, savanna-style setting where the crocodiles bask on sandbanks, glide through the lakes and gather around the waterfalls. Walkways let you see them from several angles, so you can watch the biggest adults from above, then move on to see others hauling out onto the islands. Because the population includes Nile crocodiles of all ages, you get a sense of how these reptiles grow from hatchlings into giants.

Inside, the aquarium brings you eye to eye with crocodiles underwater. Through the glass you can see how they move in water and how much power they hold in reserve, which is quite different from watching them lie still in the sun.

Feeding Shows and Baby Crocodile Encounters

Two scheduled activities are included in standard entry. The Baby Crocodile Encounter runs every day, giving visitors a supervised chance to see a young crocodile up close, while the Crocodile Feeding Show takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and lets you watch the adult crocodiles at feeding time.

Session times have changed over the seasons. The ticket listing originally gave the baby encounter at 11.30am and 4.30pm daily, and the most recent official DubaiPass listing gives the same encounter times with the feeding show moved to 5.30pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Some older listings show the feeding at 4pm, so check the schedule on your ticket before you plan your arrival around it. The park’s own advice is that midday and mid-afternoon are good times to visit.

The Museum, Education and Okavango Dining

The Natural History Museum traces the evolution of crocodilians and the adaptations that let them survive the extinction of the dinosaurs, which gives older children and adults the background to what they see outside. The park also runs expert-led educational visits on the life, history and conservation of crocodiles and their role in the ecosystem, which makes it a natural fit for school trips.

When it is time for a break, there are two places to eat. Okavango Terrace is a relaxed, family-friendly space styled as an African lodge, while the Okavango Room offers a more polished, sit-down dining experience. The Curio Shop sells genuine handcrafted African artefacts if you want a souvenir that goes beyond a toy crocodile.

Planning a Visit to Dubai Crocodile Park

Your ticket gives full access to the park’s experiences, including the baby crocodile encounter and the feeding show on the days it runs. The park’s listed hours are 10am until 8pm daily, and the Okavango café and lounge keep the same hours. Some third-party listings say bookings should be made at least 24 hours in advance, and children under three go in free with a ticket-holding adult. Dress is casual, and the park is accessible to people of determination.

Getting there is simple. By car, take Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street or Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Highway, exit onto Al Saada Street, then follow it to the Mushrif Road exit; the park is on your left along Mushrif Road. By metro, ride the Red Line to Centrepoint Station and take a taxi or ride-hailing car for the last stretch. Most Dubai taxi drivers know the park well.

Who Will Love It

Crocodile Park is a strong pick among kids and family events in Dubai, and it works well alongside other wildlife-themed Dubai attractions such as Dubai Safari Park. If you are mapping out a season of days out, see our guides to things to do in Dubai and things to do in November.