Dubai Safari Park to open eighth season on 12 October with week-long celebration
Version 2: Emirates 24|7 has published the same park announcement, a third outlet repeating the opening date, theme and programme details; no new facts, figures or disputes have emerged.
In short
Dubai Safari Park will welcome visitors for its eighth season from 12 October, with a first-ever “Wildest Opening Week” running from 12 to 18 October, according to the park’s announcement carried by the state news agency WAM and reported by Gulf News and Emirates 24|7. The season runs under the theme “Live More Wild Life”, and the opening week coincides with the school mid-term break. A “Little Explorers’ Base Camp”, six themed zones and paid premium experiences such as private tours form part of the programme.
Read the full story 2 min read
Dubai Safari Park will welcome visitors for its eighth season from 12 October, with a first-ever “Wildest Opening Week” running from 12 to 18 October, according to the announcement carried by the state news agency WAM and reported by Gulf News and Emirates 24|7. All three outlets said the seven-day celebration coincides with the school mid-term break. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The season runs under the theme “Live More Wild Life”. WAM said the programme reflects the destination’s three core pillars — education, entertainment and a commitment to animal welfare — and is designed to deepen visitors’ connection with wildlife and nature while raising awareness of the importance of conservation. Gulf News said the season focuses on bringing visitors closer to animals and nature while highlighting the importance of protecting wildlife, and Emirates 24|7 published the same announcement text. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
During the opening week, the park will set up a “Little Explorers’ Base Camp”, described by the outlets as a space where children can learn, explore and play. Activities listed in the announcement include safari-themed face painting, clay model making, arts and crafts, lawn games and safari-themed inflatables. The week also features creative, artistic and photography activities and personalised keepsakes for children and adults, the documents said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Beyond the opening week, visitors can explore six themed zones inspired by diverse natural habitats. The Arabian Desert Safari is included with all park tickets, and visitors can upgrade to a Safari Bundle that includes the Explorer Safari Tour, according to the announcement. Gulf News said the experiences offer opportunities to see lions, giraffes, rhinos and other animals across the park. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Gulf News said more exclusive options include King of Safari, Behind the Scenes, Dine in the Wild and Jungle Capture, which involve private tours, access to selected areas and the chance to dine close to some of the park’s animals. None of the documents states ticket prices or whether the opening-week activities carry a separate charge. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The opening falls in the school mid-term break, so the park is positioning the week as a family draw in Dubai’s autumn leisure calendar, as the outlets describe it. All three documents frame the season around animal welfare and conservation, which the park presents as part of its visitor offer. The documents give no attendance, revenue or pricing figures, so the scale of the season cannot be assessed from them.
Key facts
- Dubai Safari Park will welcome visitors for its eighth season from 12 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- For the first time, the park will hold a “Wildest Opening Week” from 12 to 18 October, coinciding with the school mid-term break. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Season 8 runs under the theme “Live More Wild Life”. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- WAM said the season reflects three core pillars: education, entertainment and a commitment to animal welfare. [ 1 ]
- The “Little Explorers’ Base Camp” will offer safari-themed face painting, clay model making, arts and crafts, lawn games and safari-themed inflatables. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Visitors can explore six themed zones inspired by different natural habitats. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Arabian Desert Safari is included with all park tickets, while visitors can upgrade to a Safari Bundle that includes the Explorer Safari Tour. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Gulf News said premium options include King of Safari, Behind the Scenes, Dine in the Wild and Jungle Capture, offering private tours, access to selected areas and dining close to some animals. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Dubai Safari Park’s eighth season opens on 12 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A “Wildest Opening Week” will run from 12 to 18 October for the first time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The season theme is “Live More Wild Life”. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The opening week coincides with the school mid-term break. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The “Little Explorers’ Base Camp” will host children’s activities including face painting, clay modelling, arts and crafts, lawn games and inflatables. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The park has six themed zones, and the Arabian Desert Safari is included with all park tickets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- WAM said the season reflects three core pillars: education, entertainment and a commitment to animal welfare. [ 1 ]
Still unclear
- The full list of Season 8 experiences included in the announcement The WAM article text available in the documents is cut off mid-sentence, so part of the programme is not visible.
- Ticket prices for the new season or for individual premium experiences None of the documents mentions prices or booking details.
- Whether the opening-week activities require a separate ticket from general park admission The documents describe the activities but do not state admission conditions for them.
- Attendance expectations or the scale of investment in the new season No figures are given in any document.
- The range of paid premium experiences and what each includes Details of the premium experiences come only from Gulf News; the other two documents’ available text does not list them.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- WAM publishes the park’s announcement that Season 8 opens on 12 October, with a “Wildest Opening Week” from 12 to 18 October. [ 1 ]
- Gulf News publishes its report on the season, adding detail on the themed zones, animals and premium experiences. [ 2 ]
- Emirates 24|7 publishes the park’s announcement. [ 3 ]
- Season 8 opens to visitors, starting the seven-day “Wildest Opening Week” that runs to 18 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]