1. Saadiyat Island

Renowned as the city’s cultural hub and home to the best beaches in Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island is also a haven for nature lovers. 

The island’s mangroves, spanning 150 square kilometres of the country’s coastline, are a sight to revel in. These plants have adapted to survive in the region’s salinity and temperature conditions and today are a massive and crucial part of the UAE’s ecosystem, providing shelter and food to countless wildlife species.

On the list of natural places in Abu Dhabi where you can enjoy close encounters and sightings of some of the country’s rarest and most fascinating animals, Saadiyat Island is definitely right at the top. 

Beneath the surface of the island’s azure waters, you’ll find stunning coral reefs and seagrass beds with over 600 species of marine animals. So, wherever you decide to take that Saadiyat Island staycation, you’re guaranteed to run into some colourful and exotic underwater creatures.

A few other examples of the oasis’s frequent and playful marine and terrestrial visitors include:

• Hawksbill sea turtles, an endangered species that nests on the island’s beaches every year from March to June. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), who initiated the Hawksbill Turtle Conservation Programme in 2010, a remarkable 650 eggs have successfully hatched to date.
• Mountain Gazelles that you can usually spot roaming around on the trimmed lawns of Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.
• Pied Kingfishers, winter visitors from Africa and India, often seen hovering above the island’s shorelines foraging for fish.

2. Al Wathba Wetland Reserve

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, founded by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is another Abu Dhabi nature gem to add to your itinerary. Originally a coastal salt flat, it’s transformed into a thriving habitat with natural and artificial lakes supporting a varied species community.

When you stroll along the reserve’s two self-guided trails, you’ll come across a bird-watching hide where you can observe its main star attraction: greater flamingos. Al Wathba houses a whopping average of 4,000 of these magnificent creatures during autumn and spring, in addition to over 250 other bird species, 37 kinds of plants and many other aquatic animals.

It’s one of the best places for nature in Abu Dhabi to visit your family for a fun, educational outing and a chance to reconnect with nature.

3. Mangrove National Park

Making up nearly 75% of the total mangrove forest area in the UAE, with stalks reaching as high up as 5 metres, Mangrove National Park sets the perfect balance between Abu Dhabi’s nature and wildlife.

The park’s colourful terrain includes salt marshes, mudflats and forests and hosts an eclectic mix of marine animals such as turtles, crabs and fish, bird species, like western reef herons and greater flamingos, as well as large mammals such as dugongs, dolphins and foxes. 

You can kayak or paddleboard your way through Mangrove National Park on your own or take a guided boat tour with an experienced operator to safely navigate its labyrinth of water channels.

Whichever way you choose, remember to always be respectful of this delicate ecosystem and its inhabitants.

4. Al Ain Zoo

Al Ain Zoo is the region’s largest and most renowned animal sanctuary, housing over 4,000 creatures from different species and continents, such as hippos, rhinos, lions, tigers, big-horned Barbary sheep, Arabian oryxes and many more.

The following are a few of the unique experiences you can have at this Abu Dhabi nature hub:

Close Animal Encounters

Sign up for a giraffe feeding experience, go camel riding or take your little ones and stop by the Elezba petting zoo to meet and greet some cuddly goats, llamas, chickens and ducks.

Zoo Safari

Book a Safari to explore all 217 hectares of Al Ain Zoo and the Jebel Hafit mountain range base, accompanied by an expert guide. On this adventure, you’ll also see some exotic and endangered animals up close, like African lions, white rhinos, ostriches, zebras and more.

The Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre

If you want to learn all you can about the UAE’s environment and conservation initiatives, don’t miss out on visiting the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre on Al Ain Zoo’s grounds. 

Inside, you can find five galleries that highlight the nation’s futuristic ideas and rich history, prompting visitors to rethink the way they interact with nature and the planet.

5. The Arabian Wildlife Park

One of Abu Dhabi’s natural attractions and best-hidden spots is the Arabian Wildlife Park on Sir Bani Yas Island. 

This animal haven is set on 1,400 hectares of land, covering over half of the island’s area. It was established in 1971 by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as a fully functioning ecosystem for birds and terrestrial animals that mirrors what takes place in the wild.

Today, this sanctuary is home to over 17,000 free-roaming creatures. Those include both island natives and endangered species that were successfully introduced to the area as part of its wildlife conservation programmes, such as the beisa oryx, the Arabian rock hyrax, giraffes, ostriches, striped hyenas and cheetahs.

You can see the park’s expansive landscape and residents from any of its safe viewing platforms or sign up for a nature and wildlife drive in a 4×4 car with a seasoned guide.

Plan your Abu Dhabi Nature Adventure Today

Whether you’re travelling alone or with family, Abu Dhabi’s nature and wildlife make for a fantastic adventure. Don’t let the winter season, the perfect time to explore the capital’s great outdoors, pass you by. Book your Abu Dhabi staycation today!