Visiting Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi
It’s easy to get distracted by all of Abu Dhabi’s architectural marvels, like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre. So much so that sometimes it’s easy to forget about all of the incredible natural attractions the UAE’s capital city has to offer. If you’re looking to get a glimpse of Abu Dhabi’s natural beauty or just looking for outdoorsy things to do, it’s well worth taking some time to check out the spectacular Jubail Mangrove Park!
This place boasts a 2-kilometer wooden boardwalk that allows you to walk through the mangroves and get an up close and personal glimpse of this natural marvel. If you’re planning a visit, here’s my guide to everything you need to know about visiting Jubail Mangrove Park!
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Getting to Jubail Mangrove Park
You’ll find this sprawling mangrove sanctuary on Jubail Island between Saadiyat Island and Yas Island, less than 30 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and just over an hour from the Dubai Marina.
Like most of Abu Dhabi’s top attractions, the best way to reach Jubail Mangrove Park is by car. If you don’t have your own car, you can easily get a taxi or Uber to take you out to the park but you might want to arrange for someone to pick you up. Because of the remote location of the park, getting a taxi may be a challenge. That being said, you should be able to book one using the Careem app!
At the time of writing (in May 2024), the part of Jubail Island where the mangrove park is located is still very much under construction with plans for a luxury community underway. You’ll have to drive through construction sites and on dirt roads to reach the entrance to Jubail Mangrove Park, but it’s still very easy to reach.
We just entered “Jubail Mangrove Park” into the Waze app and had no problem finding the parking lot, where visitors can park for free.
When to Visit Jubail Mangrove Park
Jubail Mangrove Park is open every day from 7 am to 9 pm. While the park is supposedly open during the summer months, the weather in Abu Dhabi is brutally hot at this time of year, so visiting this outdoor attraction would be fairly miserable! If you are planning a visit during the summer, call ahead to make sure the park is actually open.
When deciding when to visit, it’s important to know that the scenery at Jubail Mangrove Park changes with the tides. Visit during low tide and you’ll see that the mangroves are all dried up, revealing their impressive root systems and muddy flats. Alternately, visit during high tide, and you’ll find a watery oasis offering picture-perfect reflections of the plants in the crystal clear waters.
If you’ve got your heart set on visiting during high tide, be sure to check the tide chart to avoid disappointment.
Things to Do
There are quite a few experiences to be had at the park. The most popular option is to embark on the Boardwalk Experience, which costs AED15 for adults and AED5 for children.
You’ll have the chance to meander around a wooden boardwalk that takes you along three different routes, giving you unobstructed views of the mangroves and wildlife ranging from grey herons, gazelle, and turtles to crabs, flamingos, and breeding fish. Do note that flamingos migrate to Abu Dhabi from September to April, so you’ll want to visit during the winter months for the best chance of seeing these unique creatures!
For something a bit more educational, you can take a ranger-led tour around the boardwalk for AED50 for adults and AED40 for children or take a 20-minute tour around the mangroves in an eco-friendly electric car for AED30 for adults. Better yet, visit during high tide and you can even go kayaking or take an electric dragon boat around the mangroves!
There are also cool wellness classes offered in the mangroves, including monthly women-only Full Moon Yoga sessions and early morning Yoga, Breathwork, and Meditation classes on the boardwalk.
Do note that these tours and classes do sell out, so it’s well worth booking your tickets in advance.
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