Al Noor Island Butterfly House in Sharjah: Tickets, Hours & Species
The Butterfly House on Al Noor Island is open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM, and getting in means buying a Standard Pass (AED 50 for adults, AED 30 for children) or an Explorer Pass (AED 75). The cheaper AED 35 island ticket does not cover it.
The house is the one part of the island that closes early, so it shapes the whole visit. The rest of Al Noor Island stays open until 11 PM on weekdays and midnight at weekends.
Al Noor Island Butterfly House key details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Al Noor Island, Khalid Lagoon, Buhairah Corniche Road, Sharjah |
| Butterfly House hours | Daily, 9 AM to 6 PM |
| Island hours | 9 AM to 11 PM on weekdays, 9 AM to midnight on weekends |
| Cheapest Butterfly House ticket | Standard Pass: AED 50 adults, AED 30 children aged 3 to 12 |
| Standard Pass length | 1 hour with an educator |
| Collection | 500+ butterflies from 20+ species |
| Access | Pedestrian bridge behind Al Noor Mosque, no vehicles on the island |
| Phone | 06 506 7000 or 056 992 9983 |
Ticket options & prices
Butterfly House entry starts at AED 50 for adults and AED 30 for children, both on the Standard Pass.
| Ticket | Adult | Child (3 to 12) | Butterfly House | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island self-guided tour | AED 35 | AED 20 | No | Island entry only |
| Standard Pass | AED 50 | AED 30 | Yes | Island entry and a one-hour educator-led Butterfly House visit |
| Explorer Pass | AED 75 | AED 75 | Yes | Island entry, Butterfly House, island map and explorer toy kit |
Adding the Butterfly House to island entry costs AED 15 more for an adult and AED 10 more for a child, which is the gap between the first two rows. Visitors aged 13 and over pay the adult price.
Standard Pass
The Standard Pass covers island entry plus a one-hour Butterfly House session with an educator, who explains the life cycle from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. It suits most visitors, and it is the better value for anyone who wants the butterflies without paying for extras.
Two adults and two children pay AED 160 in total. Island entry alone would cost the same group AED 110.
Explorer Pass
The Explorer Pass costs AED 75 for every visitor, so it runs AED 25 above the Standard Pass for an adult and AED 45 above it for a child. The extra pays for a printed island map and a toy kit that sends children around the island on their own mini adventure.
A family of four pays AED 300, which is AED 140 more than the Standard Pass. It makes sense when the children will actually use the kit, and it does not for adults visiting on their own.
Island self-guided ticket
The AED 35 ticket suits visitors who only want the art installations, boardwalks and gardens. It does not open the Butterfly House door, so anyone who wants the butterflies needs the Standard Pass or the Explorer Pass instead.
Opening hours & best time to visit
The Butterfly House opens daily from 9 AM to 6 PM, while the rest of the island runs later.
- Butterfly House: 9 AM to 6 PM, every day
- Island on weekdays: 9 AM to 11 PM
- Island on weekends: 9 AM to midnight
See the butterflies first and save the walkways, lighting and café for the evening, because the house is the only part that shuts at 6 PM. October to April is the most comfortable season for the outdoor paths. Inside, the house is temperature and humidity controlled.
What you will see inside the Butterfly House
The house is a sculpted steel shell with a perforated outer skin that lets sunlight in, and its design has won international awards. More than 500 butterflies fly freely inside, drawn from over 20 species.
Inside, children can follow the full life cycle, from furry caterpillar to chrysalis to winged adult. A dedicated children’s area sits alongside displays on butterflies native to the region.
Butterfly species at the house
The display list names 13 species, and the collection itself runs past 20.
| Butterfly | Origin | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Common Cruiser | Philippines | Flies high above the ground |
| Tailed Jay | South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia | Swift flight |
| Pink Rose | Philippines | Flies high in forest canopies |
| Emerald Swallowtail | Southeast Asia | Flies high in forest canopies |
| Malachite | Central and northern South America | Bright green colour like the mineral |
| Great Eggfly | Arabia, parts of Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Australia, South Pacific | Active and feisty |
| The Nymph (Paper Kite) | Taiwan, parts of Australia, Southeast Asia | Slow, graceful flight |
| Red Lacewing | India, Southeast and East Asia | Likes sun basking |
| Gray Cracker | Central and South America | Makes a sound like crackling bacon |
| Common Mormon | India, East and Southeast Asia | Strong defences against predators |
| Great Mormon | Northeast India, East, South and Southeast Asia | 13 cm wingspan |
| Clipper | Peninsular India, Southeast Asia | Fast flier with rapidly flapping wings |
| Forest Giant Owl | Mexico, Central and South America | Short hops that make it hard for predators to follow |
How to get to the Butterfly House
Leave the car or taxi on Buhairah Corniche Road and cross the pedestrian bridge behind Al Noor Mosque, because vehicles cannot enter the island. The entrance sits beside the mosque, and the Al Noor Island map pin shows exactly where the footbridge starts.
From the bridge, the boardwalk passes art and sculpture, then runs through a tropical botanical garden to the Butterfly House. The steel shell catches the sun and is hard to miss.
How to book Butterfly House tickets
Booking the Standard Pass online takes four steps:
Decide on the pass: Standard Pass for the butterflies with an educator, Explorer Pass for children who want the kit, or the island ticket for the grounds only.
Open the Standard Pass booking page on Shurooq’s ticketing site and choose your adult and child tickets.
Pay online and keep the ticket on your phone.
Show the ticket and a valid photo ID at the island entrance beside Al Noor Mosque.
The Explorer Pass and the island ticket have their own listings on the same ticketing site. Questions go to 06 506 7000 or 056 992 9983.
Rules & visitor etiquette
- Outside food and drinks, glassware, alcohol, smoking and pets are not allowed on the island.
- Wear casual, modest clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Beachwear is not allowed.
- Carry a valid photo ID alongside your ticket.
- Look but do not touch: butterflies, plants and installations stay hands-off.
- The paths and the Butterfly House are wheelchair and stroller accessible.
- The island suits all ages.
Food and drinks are sold at Noor Café, which serves from breakfast through evening.
Other things to do on Al Noor Island
The island has more than the butterflies.
- A rope playground in the trees for children
- The shaded Literature Pavilion
- Art installations, including OVO, an egg-shaped sculpture that lights up with music and water
- Noor Café for a sit-down meal
- Yoga at Sunrise, from 8 AM to 9 AM for AED 50, for women only, in the shade near the Butterfly House
- By the Bay, a shoreline dining ticket available from 9 AM to 10:30 PM
The island sits inside Khalid Lagoon, where the free evening fountain show starts at about 6:30 PM. Abra boats that pass the island run from Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Qasba between 4 PM and 11:59 PM. An illuminated walkway from Al Layyah Canal also leads on to Flag Island.
FAQ
How much is the Al Noor Island Butterfly House ticket?
The Standard Pass costs AED 50 for adults and AED 30 for children aged 3 to 12, and the Explorer Pass costs AED 75 for adults and children. Both include entry to the island and the Butterfly House.
What time does the Al Noor Island Butterfly House close?
The Butterfly House closes at 6 PM every day. The island stays open until 11 PM on weekdays and midnight on weekends.
Does the AED 35 island ticket include the Butterfly House?
No. The AED 35 adult and AED 20 child ticket covers the island only. Adding the Butterfly House costs AED 15 more for adults and AED 10 more for children, which is how the Standard Pass reaches AED 50 and AED 30.
How many butterflies live in the Butterfly House?
More than 500 butterflies live in the house, from over 20 species.
How long does a Butterfly House visit take?
The Standard Pass runs one hour with an educator. Allow longer if you also plan to walk the island.
Is the Butterfly House suitable for children?
Yes. The house has a dedicated children’s area, and the educator-led visit explains the butterfly life cycle in simple steps.
What is the phone number for Al Noor Island?
Call 06 506 7000 or 056 992 9983 for questions about visits and tickets.
Next steps
- Choose the Standard Pass at AED 50 for adults and AED 30 for children, or the Explorer Pass at AED 75 if the children will use the kit.
- Book online before you travel and keep the ticket on your phone.
- Plan to reach the Butterfly House well before 6 PM, then stay on the island for the evening lights.
- Cross the pedestrian bridge behind Al Noor Mosque with a valid photo ID and your phone ticket.
