Dubai Safari is to close its doors just half a year after opening so that it can undergo nearly five months of upgrade work.
The park will close on 15 May and reopen again on 1 October. The announcement comes just one month after Dubai Municipality handed over management of Dubai Safari to developer Meraas, which then brought in Spanish attractions firm Parques Reunidos to oversee its day-to-day operation.
In anticipation of an expected increase in demand, the “embellishment” programme will see Dubai Safari add new engagement programmes and interactive experiences for visitors, as well as more climate-controlled areas for animals.
Dubai Safari opened in December 2017 and was immediately inundated with visitors, with more than 100,000 people attending in the first week. The Dhs1bn ($272.2m) attraction occupies 119 hectares and is home to more than 2,500 animals from around the world.
It offers an open safari experience, giving visitors the opportunity to see animals in an environment that recreates their habitat. Dubai Safari also includes a Kids’ Farm that enables youngsters to closely interact with animals.
“In line with our commitment to offering a superior customer experience, the upgrades seek to provide a better habitat for our animals and a more interactive and educational experience for our visitors,” the Dubai Safari management team said in a statement.
“We are confident that our landmark destination will help attract even higher numbers of tourists to Dubai once it reopens after the summer.”
