Sharjah Safari is back. The wildlife reserve at Al Bridi reopened on September 21 for its fifth season, after its four-month summer closure, and will welcome visitors daily from 8:30am to 6pm. This year’s biggest draw is what happens off the usual route: exclusive behind-the-scenes tours, offered at selected times, that give visitors a look at the daily animal care routine and the specialists who run it. Add new animal encounters and a remarkable season of births, and the fifth season is the park’s most ambitious yet.

New behind-the-scenes tours: a look at daily animal care

Until now, most visitors experienced Sharjah Safari from a walking path or a guided vehicle. The new behind-the-scenes tours go a step further, taking small groups into areas where the keepers and veterinary teams do their daily work. You’ll see feeding routines, health checks and the kind of habitat management that keeps 50,000 creatures thriving in a desert climate.

The tours run only at selected times — check the park’s own timings before you go, and ask at the gate about same-day availability.

Run by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), the park is mixing observation with education this season. EPAA chairperson Aisha Rashid Deemas said the fifth season is another step in developing the safari’s role in wildlife conservation while giving visitors an educational, engaging experience that deepens their understanding of wildlife through direct engagement.

New animal encounters and private tours across five zones

Alongside the behind-the-scenes access, season five adds new animal encounters throughout the park, plus private tours that take you through landscapes named for some of Africa’s great wild regions: Niger Valley, Savannah, Kalahari, Sahel and Moremi, among others.

The park holds more than 120 species and about 50,000 animals across 12 Africa-inspired habitat zones — EPAA describes it as the largest safari park outside Africa. For Dubai-side alternatives see our best parks in Dubai roundup, and note that Dubai Safari Park’s season 8 opens on October 12, making October a strong month for wildlife visits in the UAE.

Zookeeper feeding giraffes during a behind-the-scenes animal care tour at Sharjah Safari

Behind-the-scenes tours let visitors watch the keepers’ daily animal care routines up close.

186 births and six radiated tortoise hatchlings

The season’s headline statistic belongs to the breeding programme. Emirates News Agency reported that Sharjah Safari recorded 186 births through its breeding and animal care programmes in the second quarter of 2026 — South African giraffes, elephants, lions, oryx, blue wildebeest, impala, nyala and zebra among them. Expect to see a new generation of young animals across the habitats this season.

Then there’s the quieter success story in Spiny Forest: six hatchlings of the critically endangered radiated tortoise, now on view in the park’s dedicated zone. Their arrival is a meaningful conservation win for a species under severe pressure in the wild, and well worth the detour.

Planning your visit: timings, tickets and getting there

The essentials: the park is open daily from 8:30am to 6pm at the Al Bridi (Al Bardi) Reserve near Al Dhaid, on the Sharjah–Khorfakkan road — roughly a 45-minute drive from Dubai, making it a very doable day trip from Dubai. Tickets can be booked online.

Local outlets report three tiers: a bronze walking-tour pass at Dh40/Dh15 (adult/child), a silver pass with a shared vehicle and guide at Dh120/Dh50, and the gold package — private guide plus a Serengeti walk — at Dh275/Dh120. Private vehicles start at Dh1,500 for a six-seater. Confirm prices when booking.

Arrive early: the animals are most active in the morning, the light is better for photos, and 12 zones take a full day. Families can pair the trip with a desert stop at Al Marmoom on the way back.

Sharjah Safari season 5: FAQs

What are Sharjah Safari’s opening hours this season?

The park is open daily from 8:30am to 6pm throughout its fifth season, which runs from September 21 through the cooler months.

What’s new at Sharjah Safari in season 5?

Exclusive behind-the-scenes tours at selected times, new animal encounters, private tours through zones like Niger Valley, Savannah, Kalahari, Sahel and Moremi, plus a new generation of animals — 186 births were recorded in Q2 2026, including giraffes, elephants, lions and zebras.

How many animals are at Sharjah Safari?

More than 120 species and around 50,000 creatures, spread across 12 Africa-inspired environments on an 8-square-kilometre site.

Where is Sharjah Safari located?

At the Al Bridi (Al Bardi) Reserve near Al Dhaid in Sharjah, on the Sharjah–Khorfakkan road — about a 45-minute drive from Dubai.

How much do Sharjah Safari tickets cost?

Reported season tiers: bronze Dh40/Dh15 (adult/child), silver Dh120/Dh50, gold Dh275/Dh120, plus private vehicles from Dh1,500. Tickets can be booked online — confirm prices at booking time.

Sources: What’s On, Gulf Business, Curly Tales