Dubai aquariums 2026: Dubai Aquarium vs Lost Chambers vs Green Planet
Three main aquariums plus alternatives. Which to pick with kids, by budget, and for photos.
The short version
Three full aquariums plus a few side spots. Dubai Aquarium in Dubai Mall is the biggest, visible from the mall for free. Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis runs a "sunken Atlantis" theme, the prettiest of the three. Green Planet in City Walk is a tropical rainforest biome, not a classical aquarium.
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
In Dubai Mall itself. The 10-million-litre tank is visible right inside the mall for free; entering it needs a ticket.
Tickets:
- Explorer (zoo + inside panorama): 119 AED
- Underwater Observatory (glass tunnel through the tank): 169 AED
- VIP Experience (all + shark feeding): 299 AED
- Cage Snorkel (swim in the tank with sharks): 540 AED
Strong:
- Inside a mall — easy combo with shopping and
- 33 000 marine animals, 750+ sharks and stingrays
- Free panorama from outer mall levels
Weak:
- Design is utilitarian, not the prettiest
- Queues on weekends
Best for: first trip, kids 4-12, add-on to Dubai Mall.
Lost Chambers Aquarium
At Atlantis The Palm. Theme: the lost city of Atlantis, water through ruins of an ancient civilisation. 65 000 marine animals.
Tickets:
- Standard: 165 AED
- Behind-The-Scenes Tour: 195 AED
- Aquatrek or Ultimate Snorkel: 595-695 AED
Strong:
- Atmosphere — the most Instagram-worthy aquarium in Dubai
- 21 themed zones
- Glass tunnels + observation deck with sharks overhead
- Included in Atlantis premium ticket (1 ticket, 2 attractions)
Weak:
- Far from Downtown (Palm, 25 min taxi)
- Visiting alone without Aquaventure is rarely worth the trip
Best for: imaginative kids 5-12, couples chasing photos, parents on a half-day at Atlantis.
Green Planet
In City Walk. Not an aquarium — a 7-floor tropical rainforest biodome. 25 m trees, parrots, sloths, caiman, river-cascade with freshwater fish.
Tickets:
- Standard: 130 AED
- VIP Tour + Animal Interaction: 320 AED
Strong:
- Unique format — there's no other indoor 7-floor rainforest
- Cool inside (16 °C), perfect in summer
- Kids 3-10 love it — sloths, parrots on the arm
- City Walk dinner and cafes nearby
Weak:
- Small, walked through in 1.5 hours
- For adults without kids, mild
Best for: kids 3-10, naturalist parents, an alternative to a mall .
Other spots
The Lost World Pavilion at Atlantis Royal (Aqualux pack)
- Tunnel through jellyfish and sharks, bonus on top of Aquaventure
Sharjah Aquarium (40 min from Dubai)
- 250 species from the Gulf
- Ticket 50 AED, quiet, no tourists
- A reasonable add-on if you're going to Sharjah anyway
SeaLion Pool at Lost Chambers
- Add-on to the 695 AED ticket — 30 min swim with sea lions
- Unique experience, not for everyone (water phobias)
What to pick
- One aquarium only — Dubai Aquarium (don't make a separate trip for any of them)
- Photo wow — Lost Chambers Atlantis
- With small kids 3-7 — Green Planet or Dubai Aquarium Underwater Zoo
- With Aquaventure — Lost Chambers is included, do the combo
- Budget — free panorama at Dubai Aquarium from outside
Parent hack
Dubai Aquarium is visible through the glass from Dubai Mall levels L1 and L2, for free. For a 4-5 year old not desperate to "go inside", 15 minutes through the glass delivers 80 % of the experience.
Best time to go: 11:00-13:00 weekdays. After 14:00 on weekends Dubai Mall's family wave starts.
If you're with kids and want a Dubai Aquarium + Underwater Zoo + Burj Khalifa combo in one day, we run a package — send a date.
