The zoo was established in 1967 on a two-hectare plot in the Jumeirah district.
It originally started as a private initiative before being taken over by the Dubai Municipality.
The facility served as a key refuge for endangered species in the region for decades.
It was the first zoo of its kind to be built within the Arabian Peninsula.
Dubai Zoo in Jumeirah is a historical animal enclosure that operated as the oldest zoo in the Arabian Peninsula before its permanent closure. The facility was famously known for housing big cats, giraffes, and chimpanzees in a centralized urban setting. Following a strategic decision by the Dubai Municipality to transition wildlife to larger, modern environments, the animals were relocated to the Dubai Safari Park in Al Warqa. The original Jumeirah site is no longer operational as a functioning zoo for public visitation. It remains a landmark in the Jumeira First district, marking a significant chapter in the city's approach to wildlife conservation and urban planning.
The perimeter fencing if any historical signage remains visible.
Do not attempt to visit the site expecting an active zoo experience.
View the area only as a historical landmark from the street level.
Visit the modern Dubai Safari Park instead for a contemporary animal observation experience.
Do not rely on outdated guidebooks that list this location as an active tourist destination.
Permanently closed to the public; animals have been relocated to Dubai Safari Park.
Respect local privacy as the site is decommissioned and restricted.
