Sharjah Desert Park: Tickets, Timings & Venues
Sharjah Desert Park charges AED 20 plus 5% VAT for visitors aged 13 and over, which comes to AED 21 at the counter. Children aged 12 and under go in free, and the park is closed every Tuesday.
The park opened in 1995 as a conservation centre inside the Seih Al-Masmout Reserve. Today it works as a wildlife and nature-education day out, with four venues covered by one ticket.
Three things shape a visit more than the price does: opening time changes by day (Friday starts at 2 PM), the farm and gardens are outdoors, and the venues are spread across the site.
Sharjah Desert Park visitor information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Al Dhaid Road (E88), Interchange 9, Seih Al-Masmout Reserve |
| Opened | 1995 |
| Adult ticket (13 and over) | AED 20 + 5% VAT |
| Children (12 and under) | Free |
| Closed day | Tuesday |
| Parking | Free on site |
| Time needed | 4 to 5 hours for all four venues |
| Covered by the ticket | Arabia’s Wildlife Centre, Natural History & Botanical Museum, Islamic Botanical Garden, Children’s Farm |
Entry fees & ticket rules
An adult ticket costs AED 20 plus 5% VAT, so you pay AED 21 per person.
- Visitors aged 13 and over pay the full adult price, so a 13-year-old needs a paid ticket.
- Children aged 12 and under enter free.
- One ticket covers all four venues, and the same ticket works for a return visit if you want to finish the venues you missed.
Tickets are sold at the main gate counter on arrival, and both cards and cash are accepted. Two adults with three children under 12 pay AED 42 in total.
The Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife sits inside the park but is closed to the public, so it is not part of what the ticket buys.
Opening hours & closed day
The park is closed every Tuesday and opens at different times on the other six days.
| Day | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 11:00 AM | 6:30 PM |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM | 6:30 PM |
| Monday | 9:00 AM | 6:30 PM |
| Tuesday | Closed | Closed |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM | 6:30 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM | 6:30 PM |
| Friday | 2:00 PM | 6:30 PM |
Ticket sales stop at around 5:30 PM, an hour before closing. The opening time decides how much of the park you can cover:
- Monday, Wednesday & Thursday: a 9:00 AM start gives 9.5 hours, enough for all four venues with a lunch break.
- Saturday & Sunday: an 11:00 AM start leaves 7.5 hours, which still fits all four venues.
- Friday: a 2:00 PM start leaves 4.5 hours. The Wildlife Centre alone takes 3 to 4 hours, so plan on it plus one smaller venue and save the rest for another day.
What’s inside the park
The park has four venues. The Wildlife Centre is fully indoors and air-conditioned, while the Children’s Farm and the gardens are outdoors.
Arabia’s Wildlife Centre
Arabia’s Wildlife Centre is a fully indoor, air-conditioned zoo of Arabian species, and it holds the park’s biggest crowd-pullers:
- The Arabian oryx, the UAE’s national animal
- The Arabian leopard
- Hyenas, Arabian wolves and cheetahs
- Flamingos and other birds, including a walk-through aviary
- Reptiles, snakes and desert foxes
A cafeteria inside the centre serves food, so lunch does not need a trip out of the park.
Natural History & Botanical Museum
The museum covers the history of the Earth and Arabian ecosystems across five halls:
- Discover Sharjah: the habitats found between the east and west coasts of the emirate
- A Walk Through Time: an audiovisual story running from the Big Bang to the present
- Beautiful Arabian Flora: gardens of native plants
- The Living World: microorganisms and the roles they play
- Underwater World: replicas of regional marine life
Islamic Botanical Garden
The Islamic Botanical Garden displays plants and trees mentioned in the Quran and the Sunnah. It is the first garden of its kind in the Middle East.
Children’s Farm
The Children’s Farm is a petting area where children can touch and feed domestic farm animals under staff supervision.
How to get to Sharjah Desert Park
The park is on Al Dhaid Road (E88) at Interchange 9, about 28 to 30 km east of Sharjah city. It is 44 km from Dubai International Airport and 21 km from Sharjah International Airport.
By car
The drive from central Sharjah takes 30 to 40 minutes.
- Join the E88 Al Dhaid Road heading east.
- Leave at Interchange 9, following the exit toward Siyouh (S151).
- Follow the signs to the entrance and the parking area.
Save the exact map pin in your navigation app before you leave.
Parking is free. The four venues are spread across the site, so most visitors drive between them in summer and walk in the cooler months.
By bus
Bus route 116 from Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah stops at Desert Park. Buses run roughly every 30 minutes between 5:30 AM and 11:00 PM.
Facilities & visitor rules
- Pets are not allowed anywhere in the park.
- Wheelchairs and strollers can be used in the museum.
- The Wildlife Centre has a cafeteria with a food menu.
- Modest clothing is the norm, as across Sharjah.
Best time to visit
October to April is the recommended season, when the outdoor walks between venues are comfortable. In those months, start with the Children’s Farm and the gardens in the morning and finish indoors.
From June to September the farm and gardens are hard going by midday. Spend the afternoon in the air-conditioned Wildlife Centre and keep the farm and gardens for the first hour after opening.
Strengths & limits
On the plus side, AED 21 buys four venues, parking is free, children aged 12 and under enter free, and the Wildlife Centre stays cool through the summer.
On the other side, the venues are far enough apart that a car makes the day easier, the farm and gardens are uncomfortable in summer heat, the Breeding Centre is closed to visitors, and Friday’s 2:00 PM start cuts the day short.
FAQ
How much is a Sharjah Desert Park ticket?
An adult ticket is AED 20 plus 5% VAT (AED 21 in total) for visitors aged 13 and over. Children aged 12 and under are free.
Is Sharjah Desert Park open on Tuesday?
No. The park is closed every Tuesday and open on the other six days.
How long does a Sharjah Desert Park visit take?
All four venues take 4 to 5 hours. Arabia’s Wildlife Centre alone takes 3 to 4 hours.
Is Sharjah Desert Park indoors?
Arabia’s Wildlife Centre is fully indoors and air-conditioned. The Children’s Farm and the gardens are outdoors.
Where do you buy Sharjah Desert Park tickets?
Tickets are sold at the main gate ticket counter on arrival, and cards and cash are both accepted.
Is parking free at Sharjah Desert Park?
Yes. Parking on site is free.
Are pets allowed at Sharjah Desert Park?
No. Pets are not allowed anywhere inside the park.
Before you go
- Check the day first: Tuesday is closed, and Friday opens at 2:00 PM.
- Arrive at opening, and aim for a Monday, Wednesday or Thursday if you want all four venues without rushing.
- Pay at the main gate counter: AED 21 per visitor aged 13 and over, free for children aged 12 and under.
- Carry on east along the E88 to Al Dhaid if you have spare time for a longer day out.
