Feed a shark, catch the biggest snake in the world and more in Abu Dhabi.
Slowly drifting through a calming blue backdrop of thousands of gallons of water, the Hammerhead Shark patiently hangs around, waiting for dinner to be served by scuba-clad waiters at The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi.
This mammal from the deep is just one of the 46,000 marine and aquatic creatures, including the world ’s largest diverse collection of sharks and rays as well as Super Snake; a 14-year-old reticulated python, that all call The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi home.
Spread over some 9,000 square metres of the mega-lifestyle destination at Al Qana, the aquarium traverses 10 different ecosystems from around the blue planet, supported by the foundation stones of cultural heritage, education and conservation.
Cultural heritage
Highlighting the UAE’s special relationship with the Arabian Gulf, the country’s seafaring tradition is subtly celebrated throughout every room of the tour, from the ceiling of the front lobby that cleverly reflects the joinery of a dhow to shrines of pearl divers from days of yore.
Incorporating the UAE’s marine traditions into the building’s design is a deliberate act, which Paul Hamilton, General Manager of the National Aquarium, says that past aquariums have failed to do.
Education
While the attraction of The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi for many guests will be, to go underwater and discover the various weird and wonderful creatures of the deep showcased in more than 60 exhibits, the center is also designed to offer children and adults a world-class interactive learning environment.
Shining a spotlight on the important role the marine world plays on the health of the earth, an entire department of the aquarium is dedicated to learning with an in-house curriculum that has been developed for the expected arrival of some 50,000 schoolchildren per year.
Conservation
The third core theme that defines The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi is the protection and rehabilitation of marine life in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Working in tandem with The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue department takes an active role in rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing at risk marine life.
Already in the past year the Wildlife Rescue team has taken part in several rescue operations, such as rehabilitating more than 250 turtles and releasing them back into the wild, not to mention some astounding rescues such as whale sharks back in 2020.
To find out more about this incredible attraction, visit thenationalaquarium.ae
