Abu Dhabi (which is Arabic for ‘Father of Deer’) is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is the second largest city in the country. While not a traditional tourist destination, the city has become quite popular in recent times with renewed interest in Arab customs and culture. The emirate is perfectly suited for a family vacation with plenty of kid friendly activities. One activity that should be at the top of the list for families travelling to Abu Dhabi, is visiting the Family and Kids Park Zoo, now renamed as the Emirates Park Zoo.

The Emirates Park Zoo is a popular zoo containing nearly seven hundred animals including hippopotamuses, giraffes, seals, lions, leopards, cheetahs and a pair of white tigers. In addition to the main zoo one will also find a large indoor ice rink, a Marine Zone with four fresh water tanks and twenty six salt water tanks, a Gaming Zone and a Butterfly Park. The site is currently undergoing expansion with new attractions being added including a new Parrot Park, a Chimpanzee Park and a Reptile and Amphibian House. By the time it is complete, the site will house more than two thousand animals. It offers a truly memorable day out for the entire family and visitors can enjoy learning about the zoos fascinating animal residents. 

The Emirate Park Zoo is a great way to spend an afternoon and is sure to delight both children and adults alike. Weekday opening hours (Sunday to Wednesday) are between 9.30 am and 8 pm. The park remains open an hour longer during the weekends (between Thursday to Saturday) and on public holidays. It is located in Al Bahia, which is about half an hour away from the Abu Dhabi city centre.

As a highly developed city the local infrastructure is very good. Finding a well appointed hotel Abu Dhabi UAE will not be a problem and Grand Millennium Al Wahda is a popular choice among those looking for luxury accommodation. This Abu Dhabi hotel is a thirty minute drive from the airport and contains a spa, a health club and even a rooftop swimming pool.