Green Planet Dubai

Go Green in the Tropical Biodome Rainforest in Dubai

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Dubai is a city on steroids in the middle of a desert, yet it’s full of life, action and fun. Dubai is packed with attractions such as  Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountains, Palm Jumeirah island, or the Atlantis Resort with its water park and famed dolphin experience. But most visitors are not expecting to see any sort of rainforest in Dubai, which makes a visit to Green Planet Dubai all the more magical. 

Dubai has many family attraction. Some of the things to do in Dubai include visiting the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo and the relatively new Dubai Safari Park.

dubai green planet sloth climbing a tree
Green Planet Dubai is home to this adorable sloth.

However, nature lovers and eco-warriors are not limited to seeing desert wildlife on a classic Dubai desert safari and camel ride as Green Planet Dubai is a lush green ecosystem that is truly impressive. 

Flying to Dubai? Also read: Emirates Airlines A380 Business Class Review

Green Planet Dubai

Green Planet Dubai Video

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What is Green Planet Dubai?

dubai biodome
Green Planet Dubai – Left: The Biodome, an Architectural Masterpiece; Right: The Rainforest Canopy

Green Planet Dubai is accessed via the Dubai Mall and a 20-minute walk along the air-conditioned Metro Bridge.

It’s region’s first biodome, opened in August 2016, and one of only a few biodomes in the world, 

Dubai’s Green Planet is aptly named and an amazing vertical tropical rainforest in Dubai.

lush foliage in Green Planet Dubai
Green Planet Dubai is a lush oasis in the city. Top: The Lush Tropical Mid Storey; Bottom: Awesome Suspension Bridge

This fully glass-enclosed ecosystem is built around a central structure, one of the world’s largest man-made tree.

It supports over 3000 exotic plants and animals creating four levels of the rainforest and is a truly impressive sight. 

Green Planet Dubai rainforest floor
Flooded Rainforest Floor at Green Planet Dubai

The canopy is at 30 to 45m, followed by a mid-storey, forest floor and finally a flooded rainforest.

Dubai Green Planet has multiple levels of access, including a suspension bridge, a three-storey waterfall and numerous interactive educational stations to explore along the way.

dubai green planet attractions
Dubai Green Planet attractions: Clockwise from top: Insect and Spider Exhibit; Interactive Exhibits; Rare Man-Faced Bug

Green Planet Dubai Birds 

birds at green planet dubai
Colourful birds at Green Planet Dubai – Clockwise from top: A Curious Toco Toucan; Ivory-Billed Aracari; Exotic Cuban Amazon parrot

We had no idea what to expect but as explorers, found so much to do, touch and feel.

The birds at Green Planet Dubai were exotic and enthralling, particularly the toucans and Cuban Amazon parrot

Green Planet Dubai Animals 

holding a snake at green planet dubai
Snakes Alive at Green Planet Dubai

Our up close and personal animal encounters along the way, guided by the very friendly and accommodating, knowledgeable staff, topped off our visit making it a highlight of our short trip.

From learning how to handle a snake, to feeding a stunningly beautiful toucan flying freely around the canopy, to being mesmerised by a totally not shy and well-camouflaged chameleon.

Here are some of the animals in Green Planet Dubai. 

Burmese Python

One of the largest snakes in the world, the Burmese Python can be as long as 20 feet. 

One of the highlights at Green Planet is holding and touching the boa constrictors and pythons. 

Chameleon

They say when photographing animals, always try to take THE shot when there is eye contact between you and your subject.

Well, tell that to a chameleon whose eyes move independent of each other, constantly roaming in all directions at the same time…

A still photographer’s nightmare, but a videographer’s dream!

Two-Toed Sloth

green planet dubai
Liam, a Two Toe’d Sloth calls Green Planet Dubai home.

The most amazing moment was spotting Liam.

One of two, two-toed sloths living in the Biodome, he was characteristically asleep, in a tree right next to our path (sloths sleep for 18 hours a day).

At the sight of him, I thought my ‘sloth-ship’ had come in but then he awoke and my excitement overflowed.

He was right there, face height and within arm’s (and camera’s) reach.

Oh, my godfather…!

For all of 15 minutes of a sloth’s wakeful moments, he entertained us.

His keeper informed us of his ‘slothful’ (and very enviable) lifestyle.

How a small snack can totally exhaust a slow-moving with a metabolism slower than a self-confessed menopausal female totally amazed me.

Squirrel Monkey

These cute critters are from South America and have very long tails. 

Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders are small nocturnal mammals that glide from tree to tree. 

Feeding time at the Green Planet 

the green planet dubai feeding time
Snack Time For A Sloth at Green Planet Dubai

A few bites of his favourite feed of sweet potato wedges, some cursory poses for our cameras and opportunistic gentle strokes of his fur, and that was it.

He was done.

Time for another slothful nap.

Almost on cue, he slowly ambled down the tree to ground level, whereupon he simply curled up under a leafy plant, and, yes, went straight back to sleep.

In contrast to Liam, I was so full of adrenaline and excitement at our brief encounter.

Never in my dreams did I think a short visit to Dubai would deliver one of my life’s dreams to see a sloth, up close and personal, never mind actually touch and stroke one.

Well, Liam did it for me. From then on, nothing else mattered.

The biodome had delivered.

Special Encounters at Green Planet Dubai

These special encounters are worth checking out as you’ll learn heaps from the experts as you watch the activities. The Piranha Encounter and Bat Cave are free while the Sloth and Sugar Glider Encounters cost AED149

Piranha Encounter

The Piranha encounter is at 4 pm daily. Watch the Piranha feeding frenzy when 1,000 Piranhas devour food with razor-sharp teeth.

The Bat Cave

Meet that bats at Green Planet’s bat cave, which is a recreation of the Seba’s short-tailed fruit bat’s natural habitat. 

Also in this cave is the Pygmy Slow Loris, which is one of the few Southeast Asian mammals with venom. 

The Sloth Encounter

The Sloth Encounter is a 20 to 30-minute interaction with the sloths at 2.30pm daily.

It’s a chance to get close enough to take photos as well as learn more about sloth behaviour from Green Planet biologists. 

Sugar Glider Encounter

Get a selfie with a sugar glider and find out more about their behavioural patterns from the resident biologies. 

Green Planet Dubai Tickets

BOOK HERE

Green Planet Dubai is open from Sunday to Wednesday (10am to 7pm) and Thursday to Saturday (10am to 8pm) at City Walk near Sheikh Zayed Road.

Find out more information here

The Green Planet is truly a great place to visit for the young and not so young, so do yourself a favour, if you are heading to Dubai, go and visit the Green Planet!  

Click here to see more Dubai tours 

Green Planet Dubai

Green Planet Dubai

Green Planet Dubai

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Irene Isaacson
While living the life on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and actively volunteering with wildlife organisations in her spare time as a semi-retired medical doctor, Irene has travelled the world with her shark scuba diving husband, Tony Isaacson (aka DiveCareDare). Experiencing wonderful wildlife adventures as well as voluntourism, travel and nature photography has become her passion. She loves to share their experiences via Instagram and YouTube, in an effort to increase awareness and promote conservation. On a mission to make a difference, their shared motto is: "In the end, we conserve only what we love, we love only what we understand, and we understand only what we can learn." (adapted from Baba Dioum 1968)