Home to 46,000 marine exhibits the National Aquarium Abu Dhabi opens doors to visitors
The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi, the largest aquarium in the Middle East and home to 46,000 creatures spread across 10 zones, has opened to the public.
The National Aquarium is the first attraction to open in Al Qana, a new waterfront destination in Abu Dhabi’s Rabdan Area, which, when complete, will feature 11 tourism, lifestyle and retails destinations.
The attraction has 10 zones that house the marine animals, with each zone specifically themed: 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 – each backed by a narrative and contains creatures that tie in with the theme.
In the Red Sea Wreck zone sharks and great barracudas feature, while The Sub has a submarine-themed room with creatures such as lobsters on view. The Flooded Forest is home to a ‘super snake’, a female reticulated python aged 14 that weighs 115 kilograms.
The National Aquarium also 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.
National Aquarium Abu Dhabi General Manager, Paul Hamilton commented “we are absolutely delighted to have launched this amazing attraction not just for the citizens around the UAE (and) for the world to enjoy especially during a period where the country has been experiencing a huge amount of tourists from all over the world.
"The National Aquarium has been years in the making and we are so excited to have launched this magnificent attraction not just for visitors to experience, but also as part of the initiative to contribute to the conservation in the Emirate by providing education, rescue, and rehabilitation as the guiding priorities for this remarkable project.”
The National Aquarium is staffed by a team of 80 sea-life experts and specialists.
The weekend also saw the opening of the World's first Warner Bros. Hotel on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island.
Images courtesy of National Aquarium Abu Dhabi.
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