New Dubai Zoo by 2014 end

The new Dubai Zoo is expected to cost $40 million and will offer animals in a natural setting.  It will be known as Dubai Safari, and is right on track according to senior officials at Dubai Municipality. It will be around eight times the size of London’s Regent Park Zoo.

They confirmed that the new Dubai landmark has completed its first phase of construction and, as scheduled, will be completed by the end of 2014. “Within two weeks, we will start carrying out the works for the infrastructure and work on the water feature package. The schedule is going according to plan and will be completed by the end of next year,” said Hussain Nassir Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality.

The municipality has been carrying out excavation work since September 2012 and has been levelling the ground, as well as setting up the areas for internal and external roads.

The Dubai Safari project covers 120 hectares that will consist of a zoo, safari and butterfly park, botanical garden, resort, and golf course, in addition to educational and veterinary facilities.

At 29 hectares, the zoo, which is located in Al Warqa area along Al Aweer Road opposite Dragon Mart, will replace the existing 1.5 hectare zoo in Jumeirah. It is expected to feature more than 1,000 animals and birds.