Abu Dhabi National Aquarium is the largest in Mideast

With an area of 9,000 square meters, the UAE’s National Aquarium  in Abu Dhabi is the largest in the MENA region and is home to 46,000 aquatic creatures. 

The total investment cost of the aquarium has exceeded US$ 490 m, and the aquarium is part of the “Al Qana” tourism project developed by Al Barakah International Investment Company. 

A real challenge to establishing the aquarium was the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted the transportation of 45,000 animals by air at a time when airlines from around the world were grounded. 

With its emphasis on world-class educational experiences for children and adults alike, the National Aquarium project stands out for its educational value. As a result, it hosts 50,000 students per year for on-site environmental education and visits to the aquarium’s entire section dedicated to science and the environment.

An estimated one million people a year are expected to visit the aquarium housing marine animals in ten distinct habitats under the direct supervision of an 80-person team of marine life experts.

Vistors will learn about more than 250 species, ranging from those inhabiting the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean and the fresh waters of the Amazon to the ice caps of the Arctic and the caves of the Mediterranean.

The aquarium offers many interactive activities, including scuba diving, animal feeding, and glass-bottomed sailing boat tours. Visitors can also interact with sharks, puffins, and other unique creatures and enjoy a diving experience with various sharks and rays.