Sharjah Desert Park
A complex holding an Arabian wildlife centre, a natural history museum, a children's farm and a botanical museum.
Updated 2 September 2026
The Desert Park groups four institutions on one site outside Sharjah: the Arabian Wildlife Centre, which keeps regional species including Arabian leopard, oryx, hyena and wolf in enclosures and a walk-through aviary; the Natural History and Botanical Museum covering the geology, plants and habitats of the peninsula; and a children's farm with domestic animals. The wildlife centre has bred Arabian leopards, one of the rarest large cats, as part of a regional conservation programme.
What's there
- The Arabian leopards - a breeding group of one of the region's rarest large cats.
- The nocturnal house - desert species shown on a reversed light cycle.
- The natural history museum - the geology, plants and habitats of the peninsula.
- The walk-through aviary - regional birds in a large planted enclosure.
When to go
October to April for the outdoor sections; the main halls are air conditioned. It closes on Tuesdays. Mornings are best for animal activity.
Things to know
Enclosures are dated in places and some are small by modern standards. The site is spread out and the walks between buildings are hot. It closes one day a week and hours are shorter in Ramadan.
Nearby
Sharjah Safari is east, and Al Dhaid is beyond it.
What to pack for Sharjah Desert Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Binoculars - The single best wildlife tool - even a compact pair transforms a sighting. Find on Amazon
- Loose, light, long clothing - Covering up beats bare skin in the desert - and locals dress this way for a reason. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A zoom camera or long lens - Animals rarely come close; reach beats megapixels. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
