It has also signed a five-year partnership with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, helping create a scheme to protect and rehabilitate wildlife in the capital. Unlike many other animal-themed attractions, the aquarium responsibly and ethically sources its animals. Hamilton says this can take roughly two hours, although with young children, it may take longer. This allows visitors to see all 10 zones. Those who want to visit can opt for a general admission pass for Dh105. Paul Hamilton is the general manager and project manager of The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi What are the ticket prices? "Our entire facility has been designed to provide both children and adults with world-class interactive learning opportunities, to spotlight the vital role our marine environment plays on the well-being of all." “Education, rescue and rehabilitation are guiding priorities for The National Aquarium," says Hamilton. The aquarium offers a number of interactive experiences including scuba diving, animal feedings and glass-bottom dhow tours that also go on to explain more about the animals and their natural habitats. It isn’t only about animals behind the glass or birds flying around. It works really well, it’s kind of surreal." "So there’s an invisible boundary that they seem to respect but it doesn’t resist them physically. “The birds have been with us for quite a while and we’ve been training them for quite a while," says Hamilton. The area also has more than 8,000 rainforest creatures, including free-roaming birds that fly around and yet don't go near guests. Where to find The National Aquarium's 'super snake'Īnother popular zone will likely be Flooded Forest where visitors will find the super snake, a female reticulated python aged 14 that weighs 115 kilograms. They undergo a one-year rehabilitation process at the aquarium that includes being treated, pre-released in the zone, before eventually getting released back into their natural habitat in the sea. It also houses rehabilitated sea turtles, some of which have been found sick or in a bad condition. For example, in Red Sea Wreck you'll find sharks and great barracudas, while The Sub has a submarine-themed room with creatures such as lobsters on view.Ī highlight is UAE Natural Treasures, which pays homage to the country’s rich pearl diving history through animated paintings with video mapping technology. “There’s so much rich history and culture and heritage that comes from the sea here that was really never covered in the other aquariums, so that was one of the big agendas – to get that through.”Įazh zone contains specific creatures that tie in with the theme. Here we really made sure that the UAE story was told,” says Paul Hamilton, general manager and project manager of The National Aquarium. The journey is designed in order to take the customer from the UAE, around the world and back to the UAE. “This aquarium is really more about storytelling. The 10 zones in total are UAE’s Natural Treasures, Red Sea Wreck, Atlantic Cave, The Sub, Ring of Fire, Ocean Magic, Frozen Ocean, Flooded Forest, Bu Tinah Island and Back of House, and set up to tell a narrative. As visitors move through the aquatic museum, it is more dimmed for the animals, and has special interactive features on the walls of the rooms.įor example, there's one that explains more about the animals in each room and another that shows how a Pacific island is created through sand.Įach zone is specifically themed. On entering the building, sunlight pours in from the floor-to-ceiling windows at the entrance offering an airy, open feel. 10 zones, including a rehabilitation centre for sea turtles Spanning more than 9,000 square metres, it is the largest aquarium in the Middle East and will open on Friday.Īhead of its opening to the public, The National got an early preview of the aquatic attraction. The attraction is the first to open in Al Qana, a new waterfront destination in the capital, and is home to 46,000 creatures and 300 species. Hammerhead sharks, great barracudas and puffins are only some of the animals on view at The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi.
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