Picture this: it’s Ramadan evening, the air has that gentle winter nip, the kids are buzzing with sugar-fueled excitement, and you’re strolling past giraffes who could happily judge your portion sizes. Welcome to Al Ain Zoo’s Ramadan vibe – late hours, live oud melodies, henna-stained hands and a buffet of family-friendly things to do that somehow make learning about wildlife feel like a cozy outdoor date with nature.
Ramadan hours
The zoo switches gears for the holy month: its doors open later in the day so families can enjoy cool evenings among shady trees, outdoor majlis seating with views of rhinos and giraffes, and pop-up bird and reptile encounters that run into the night – ideal if you want the kids to meet a beak or two after sunset.
Zarafa eats
If you’re wondering where to break fast with proper style (and maybe a tiny giraffe photo op), the newly opened Zarafa restaurant inside the zoo is serving hearty traditional chicken machboos – wholesome, comforting and just exotic enough to feel like a treat. For after-meal sweet-tooth therapy, pop by Oasis Café for warm luqaimat and a hug-in-a-mug hot chocolate.
Music & henna
The Pavilion area transforms into a soft, cultural hangout in the evening: live oud and qanun performances set a relaxed soundtrack while kids dive into traditional games, face-painting and animal-themed play zones. There’s also henna for those tiny hands (and the parents who insist they “won’t keep it on long” – we know).
Zoo Night Run
Fitness fans rejoice: the Ramadan Zoo Night Run returns on February 28. It’s beginner-friendly with 2.5km and 5km options, starts late when the air’s nicer, and finishes with Al Ain Zoo-themed medals that are basically proof you survived exercise and wildlife smells. Whether you jog, power-walk or glow-dance your way through, it’s a memorable way to cap a Ramadan evening.
Learning Center
For anyone who likes a side of education with their evening stroll, the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center offers immersive exhibits on conservation, heritage and sustainability. During Ramadan, it runs extra night-projection shows that make learning visually lush and actually kind of fun for all ages. (Yes, real learning that doesn’t come with a worksheet.)
Tickets & safari
Prices are pleasantly unfussy: general admission is budget-friendly (Dh31.50 for adults, Dh10.50 for children aged 3–12; under-3s go free). If you want to level up, the Al Ain Safari – a 45-minute private SUV guided tour for up to six guests – gives you a proper safari fix for Dh1,050. Bookings and special Ramadan offers (hello, buy-3-get-1) are handled via the zoo’s ticketing pages, so it’s worth checking availability before you go.
Quick tips
- Bring a light jacket – desert evenings can be breezy.
- If you want the giraffe selfie, get to the feeding platforms early (they’re popular).
- Book the safari in advance if you’re planning a special family treat – it’s intimate and books out.
Al Ain Zoo during Ramadan somehow manages to be part outdoor family hangout, part cultural stage and part mini-conservation lesson – and it does all of this under a starry sky and the soft call of traditional instruments. Whether you’re there to break fast, run with glow sticks, or hand a lettuce leaf to a very tall friend, it’s an eventful, heartwarming way to experience Ramadan nights in Al Ain.
Contact & Location:
Phone – +971800966
