ABOUT
For travelers, families and wildlife lovers alike, Sharjah Desert Park is a great place to be. With over 300,000 visitors a year, the Sharjah Desert Park is a place of knowledge and entertainment for people of all ages. If you are planning a visit, here are some important information, including ticket prices, times and more about Sharjah Desert Park. Founded in 1995 in the Seih Al-Masmout Reserve, the Sharjah desert park began as a center for the conservation of endangered plants and animals. Over time, it has been built into a vibrant edutainment suitable for the weekend with a beautiful vegetable garden, a suitable farm and a breeding ground for rare desert animals rescued from their endangered habitats. The breeding center, however, is not open to the general public.
HISTORY
The Sharjah Natural History Museum is divided into different sections according to the history of the Sharjah: The first section is ‘Journey through the Sharjah,’ which includes various preserved sites. There are also vivid illustrations of various Sharjah scenarios to show how plants and animals have survived. The Desert Life section shows the desert environment and shows how organisms adapt to survive in harsh desert conditions. Another hall in the Sharjah Natural History Museum is entitled ‘A Journey through Time.’ This is a center for geography exhibitions. It sets the time line of the earth and includes a small dinosaur pumpkin, a large copper metal slab and a real meteor from space. It also contains the remains of raindrops and the oldest rock in the world. The ‘The Living World’ section shows biological views. Further, it describes the pros and cons of those human organisms, the environment, and other natural areas. The fifth hall is ‘The Living Sea’ which depicts the creatures of the sea. This underwater nature exhibition is also a must visit.
The Sharjah Botanical Museum was inaugurated on March 6, 2008 and has since become a popular tourist attraction. There is an integrated exhibition of plants, herbs and trees where you can learn all about plant life and its various forms such as fungi, algae, trees and grasses. The Sharjah Botanical Museum serves as a fun and varied dutainment place for people of all ages. Those who love botany will also find that this is a great place to learn about plant life from millions of years ago.
ARABIA ANIMAL CENTER
One of the attractions of the Sharjah desert park, Arabia’s Wildlife Center, was opened in 1999 by His Highness Sheikh bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Governor of Sharjah. It is considered to be the first learning center to work as a nature reserve in the UAE. The Arabian Wildlife Center focuses on educating visitors about the biodiversity of the Arabian Peninsula. The Wildlife Center and zoo include the following categories:
Reptiles and Insects: This category includes species of reptiles native to the Arabian desert, including the Arabian Cobra, the Puffer snake and the Saw-scaled Vipers. Aviary: This section represents avifauna from various valleys, deserts and mountains in the Arabian region. It is home to a variety of birds such as weavers, partridges and Houbara bustard. The flight path also leads to the bat’s cave where you can see Egyptian fruit bats and Omani blind cavefish. Night animals: Here you can see several animals that work at night like foxes, mongoose, wild cats, honey badger and more. Large predators and deer: This category includes five enclosures that are home to Hamadryas chimpanzees, Arabian wolf, striped wolf, Arabian leopard, and other predators. Restaurant & View: This is a double viewing area as a restaurant. Visitors here can enjoy a panoramic view of the great anaconda exhibition and view species such as the Arabian Oryx, ostriches, frogs, and more. In addition to animal views, the Sharjah Desert Park zoo provides the necessary details for each species with sound recording and educational panels. The climate control environment makes the experience more comfortable for tourists and also makes Arabia’s Wildlife Center a great place to visit with children.
CHILDREN’S FARM
The children’s farm at Sharjah Desert Park was opened in May 1997, by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority. It is a great opportunity for young people to enjoy contact with birds and pets. Young visitors can feed their favorite animals and pet them in the outdoor section of the farm. For example, children can feed pets such as cattle, sheep, Arabian horses, goats and camels. People of all ages can take part in information awareness workshops and workshops to get acquainted with local animals and birds. The interior of the farm has a small library with children’s reading materials. They can also watch nature movies and documentaries here.
BREEDING CENTRE
Established in 1998, the goal of the BCEAW is to keep endangered species at risk. The center has also been the basis for research on some of the most endangered species in the region such as the Arabian Cobra, the Arabian Leopard and others. In addition, BCEAW participates in various breeding programs for various species such as sand cat, cheetah and others.
BOTANICAL GARDEN
The botanical Garden of this center is part of the Natural History and Botanical Museum. It includes 91 species of local plants found in Sharjah. Aside from the native flowers, the area is also a great place to learn about local soil types.
THE FIELD OF ISLAM
Opened in 2014, the Islamic garden of Sharjah Desert Park is the first of its kind in the Middle East. The garden is home to the plants mentioned in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This includes 44 varieties such as aloe, lemon, henna, sent and others. Identity cards and touch screen contacts allow guests to learn about plants. In addition, guests can also dine at the restaurant and visit the library, which has the same number of books for all ages.
