Dubai Dolphinarium is one of the most established and family-loved attractions in the city, a fully indoor, climate-controlled marine entertainment and education venue located inside Creek Park at Gate 1, Umm Hurair 2, in Bur Dubai. Opened in 2008, it holds the distinction of being the Middle East’s first fully air-conditioned indoor dolphinarium, and was developed under the support of Dubai Municipality as part of the city’s vision to build world-class family-friendly destinations alongside its more celebrated landmarks.
Spread across 5,000 square metres, the facility houses a central performance arena with a large saltwater pool, a dedicated bird show stage, a 5D and 7D cinema, a mirror maze, a trampoline park, a photo shop, a gift shop, and a restaurant, making it a complete half-day or full-day attraction for families with children of all ages. The venue is wheelchair and stroller accessible throughout, with ramps, accessible seating, free Wi-Fi, a prayer room, and free parking at Creek Park Gate 1, all available.
The main arena seats approximately 1,250 guests across a tiered stadium configuration, with the first three rows designated as a wet zone, where dolphin-generated splashes reach the audience during high-energy sequences. The Dolphin and Seal Show is the flagship attraction and the primary reason most families visit, a 45-minute choreographed performance showcasing the intelligence and athleticism of the facility’s resident bottlenose dolphins and Northern fur seals.
The show is expertly staged with music, lighting, and an arena format that builds genuine excitement, with the dolphins performing complex routines including synchronised swimming, basketball, painting, and aerial jumps several metres above the water surface. Trainers share educational facts about dolphin behaviour, communication, and marine conservation throughout the performance, adding a layer of learning to the entertainment. Shows run at 11am, 2pm, and 6pm daily except Tuesdays, when the venue is closed. Children below 2 years enter free, and children aged 2 to 11 require a child’s ticket.
The Creek Park Exotic Bird Show is a complementary highlight that many visitors overlook but consistently rate highly, a performance featuring macaws, cockatoos, falcons, eagles, and other exotic species performing tricks and interacting with the audience. Shows run at 12:15pm, 3:15pm, and 7:15pm, slotting neatly between the dolphin show timings so both can be experienced in a single visit.
For those seeking an interactive experience beyond watching, the Swim with Dolphins programme allows guests aged 8 and above to enter the water and spend approximately 20 to 30 minutes with the bottlenose dolphins in a supervised, shallow habitat pool. Slots are available at 10am, 12pm, 3pm, and 4pm and must be booked in advance due to limited availability. Photo packages allow guests to take home digital or physical photographs taken with the dolphins, seals, and exotic birds by the facility’s in-house photography team.
Beyond the shows and swim programmes, the venue also houses a Mirror Maze, a dizzying labyrinth of life-size mirrors priced at AED 25 for adults and AED 20 for children, a 5D Cinema Movie Ride and 7D Cinema Shooting Game offering multi-sensory film experiences with physical effects, and a trampoline park for younger visitors.
The Happy Valley Restaurant is the in-house dining option, serving affordable Asian-inspired meals, snacks, hot and cold beverages, open to both ticketed visitors and walk-in diners, with a seating capacity of 150. A gift shop stocks dolphin and marine-themed souvenirs, toys, clothing, and keepsakes. A dedicated birthday party and school trip booking service is available, with the venue regularly hosting educational lectures, art festivals, and group programmes aligned with marine conservation awareness.
The venue is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7:30pm and is closed on Sundays. Booking in advance is strongly recommended, particularly for weekend shows, the swim programme, and school holiday periods. The best time to visit for the smallest crowds is a weekday morning from Monday to Thursday, with the 11am show offering the quietest experience of any slot. Creek Park charges a separate AED 5 entry fee per adult at the gate, independent of the Dolphinarium ticket, which also opens access to the full Creek Park grounds including walking paths, gardens, and the bird aviary.
Getting there by metro, take the Green Line to Dubai Healthcare City Station and walk approximately 10 minutes or take a short taxi to Creek Park Gate 1. By bus, alight at Creek Park Main Gate Bus Stop. Free parking is available at Gate 1 on a first-come, first-served basis. Nearby attractions include Children’s City, Dubai Frame, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, and Dubai Creek, all within easy reach.
Address: Dubai Dolphinarium, Riyadh Street, Creek Park Gate 1, Umm Hurair 2, Bur Dubai, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +971 4 336 9773
1 AED