Final Verdict
The Green Planet
The Green Planet, located in the City Walk district, allows visitors to swap Dubai’s desert heat for a humid tropical rainforest housed within a four-story biodome. The facility features a self-contained ecosystem with over 3,000 species of plants and animals, including sloths and exotic birds that often live without visible barriers. This attraction is well-suited for families and educational visits, offering a rare immersive nature experience within the city. Practical considerations include high internal humidity and a requirement for visitors to remain quiet to ensure animal welfare. A tour generally takes up to two hours and is easily integrated into a visit to the surrounding City Walk neighborhood.





Why visit
Who it’s for: Families with children and nature enthusiasts who value an immersive experience. Visit for the rare opportunity to see sloths, toucans, and reptiles without visible barriers or cages.
It is the best choice for those looking to trade the sterile glitz of shopping malls for a living ecosystem and who are willing to spend time spotting wildlife within the dense foliage.
What to know beforehand
The Green Planet functions more as a meditative observation space than a traditional zoo with cages. The primary appeal of the biodome is the lack of visible barriers, but this format requires patience: to spot a sloth or a rare bird within the dense foliage, you must move slowly and remain quiet.
In practice, the ecosystem is best experienced during the morning hours. When noisy groups arrive, the animals instinctively retreat deeper into the canopy, which significantly diminishes the immersive experience.
The venue is ideal for families and those seeking a visual break from the dry heat and glare of Dubai’s shopping malls. However, visitors expecting massive exhibits or high-energy shows may find the space too compact and the ticket price high for a walk that typically lasts about 90 minutes.
You should also consider the specific microclimate; the high humidity can be physically taxing, making the visit uncomfortable for those who do not tolerate stuffy environments well.
Editor's Tip: Your glasses and camera lenses will inevitably fog up during the first 10–15 minutes due to the sudden change in humidity. Do not plan on taking important photos immediately after exiting the elevator. Give your equipment time to acclimate so you are not stuck constantly wiping the lens.
🎫 Tickets, tours & discounts
Standard Entry Ticket
- Access to all four levels of the biodome
- bird and sloth watching
- entry to the Flooded Forest zone.
Animal Encounter Packages
- Personal interactions with sloths or sugar gliders
- professional guide accompaniment
- participation in animal feeding sessions.
For most visitors, a standard entry ticket is more than enough. It provides access to all four levels of the biodome, from the Canopy to the Flooded Forest. The primary value of The Green Planet lies in its atmosphere and the opportunity to observe free-roaming birds, both of which are fully accessible under the base fare.
Choosing Your Ticket
The choice between ticket types depends entirely on your desire for direct contact with the inhabitants:
- Standard Entry: Ideal for a first-time visit, photography, and a relaxed exploration of the ecosystem.
- Animal Encounter Packages: These are only worthwhile if you want to participate in feeding sessions or get a closer look at specific animals, such as sloths or sugar gliders, accompanied by a guide.
The biggest mistake visitors make is buying tickets at the box office on-site. Prices on the official website are always lower, so a spontaneous visit will cost you more. Additionally, do not overpay for extra packages if you plan a quick tour.
Due to the high humidity inside the biodome, staying longer than two hours can be physically demanding, and you may not have the energy for complex interactive sessions.
For most visitors, the standard ticket is more than sufficient. It provides access to the entire ecosystem, from the Canopy down to the lower levels. The primary value of this attraction lies in the atmosphere and the opportunity to see birds and animals without cages—all of which is included in the base fare.
If you are visiting without children and do not require specific feeding sessions, the basic option offers the full experience.
The additional Animal Encounter programs are only worthwhile if you want guaranteed contact with specific inhabitants under a guide's supervision. This is a practical choice for families with children who prioritize interactivity.
Adults generally find that seeing a sloth or a toucan at arm's length during a regular walk along the spiral ramp provides enough of an encounter.
The biggest mistake is purchasing tickets at the entrance counter, as prices on the official website are consistently lower. Avoid overpaying for complex packages if you only plan a quick visit. Due to the high humidity inside the biodome, staying longer than two hours can be physically demanding, and you may find you lack the energy for extra activities.
Ticket price comparison
Book tickets & tours
Entry tickets
Crowd indicator
Mini-calculator based on crowd levels by day and time.
Mini-calculator based on crowd levels by day and time.
This day is usually calmer than average. This slot has a higher chance of a comfortable visit: compromise between light and visitor flow.
Nearest days
How to get there
How to find the entrance
The complex is located in the City Walk district. If you are arriving by public transport, get off at the Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall Metro Station. From there, it is best to take a 5–10 minute taxi ride to the entrance. The Green Planet entrance is situated in the building's main lobby.
Inside, you must present your e-ticket barcode and pass through security. The tour follows a specific route that always begins at the top. After the ticket check, visitors proceed to the elevators, which take everyone to the fourth level directly under the dome roof. From there, you will gradually descend on foot via a wide spiral ramp.
The most critical moment is the transition from the air-conditioned hall into the tropical zone. Due to high humidity (around 70%), your glasses or camera lenses may fog up during the first 10–15 minutes. Simply allow your equipment a little time to adapt to the jungle climate.
Potential delays:
- Taking a taxi from the metro and locating the entrance within City Walk.
- Ticket and security queues, particularly on weekends.
- Waiting for the elevator to reach the "Canopy" level.
Practical limits & what to bring
When planning your visit, be prepared for a significant climate shift. The bio-dome maintains a tropical humidity level of approximately 70%, which typically causes glasses and camera lenses to fog up for the first 10 to 15 minutes.
To stay comfortable while exploring the four levels of the indoor jungle, wear lightweight clothing made from natural fabrics. The facility is designed for easy navigation: an elevator takes visitors to the top floor, where a wide spiral ramp leads back down.
The space is fully wheelchair accessible, though passages narrow significantly in the terrarium and bat cave sections. On weekends and public holidays, these areas can become congested, which may be challenging for those with strollers.
Many animals live without visible barriers and are within arm's reach; visitors must remain alert and keep noise to a minimum.
- Flash photography is strictly prohibited to avoid distressing the animals.
- Do not touch the animals or feed them.
- Pets and outside food or drinks are not permitted inside.
- Advance ticket booking is required.
Expert Tip: To see sloths and exotic birds at their most active, schedule your visit for weekday mornings. By midday, the noise from larger crowds often causes the animals to retreat into the dense foliage.
Location and what's nearby
The Green Planet is located in City Walk, one of Dubai’s few truly pedestrian-friendly districts, known for its European-style atmosphere and street art.
While the location is not directly served by the metro—requiring a 5 to 10-minute taxi ride from the Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall station—it serves as an excellent spot for a change of pace.
The complex is strategically positioned between the Downtown skyscrapers and the Jumeirah coastline, making it a logical stop when moving between these two major areas.
A visit to the biodome takes approximately two hours and requires minimal planning. Since the attraction is integrated into a developed retail district, the transition from the indoor tropical forest to the surrounding restaurants and shops is seamless.
You will find everything needed for lunch or a break within a few minutes' walk along well-maintained sidewalks, eliminating the need for additional travel after your tour.
Travel Tip: The Green Planet is an ideal "midpoint" for your daily itinerary. The most efficient way to visit is to stop here after a morning at the Jumeirah beaches while heading toward the evening fountain shows in Downtown.
This route helps avoid unnecessary traffic loops and provides a smooth transition from a relaxing morning at the beach to an active evening in the city center.
ReferenceFacts
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Scale and Ecosystem
The center of the biodome features a 25-meter artificial tree, the largest of its kind in the world. It serves as a complex engineering support for living vines and plants, sustaining an entire ecosystem across four levels.
The visitor route is organized in a downward spiral, offering a rare cross-section view of the rainforest, from the sunlit canopy to the "Flooded Forest" at the base.
- 3,000 species of animals and plants coexist without visible barriers, creating a fully immersive natural environment.
- A constant 70% humidity level is maintained, transforming Dubai's dry climate into an authentic tropical rainforest.
- The four forest layers allow visitors to observe how flora and fauna change based on their vertical habitat.
Practical Note: Due to the sudden increase in humidity, eyeglass and camera lenses often fog up for the first 10–15 minutes. Both visitors and electronic equipment require time to adapt to the microclimate after leaving air-conditioned city spaces.
BackgroundHistory
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The Green Planet opened in 2016 as an ambitious project to sustain a living ecosystem within Dubai’s extreme desert heat. Rather than acting as a simple tourist attraction, the bio-dome was designed to highlight the fragility of tropical rainforests—an environment entirely absent from the natural landscape of the United Arab Emirates.
Technology in Service of Nature
The centerpiece of the facility is a 25-meter artificial tree, one of the largest of its kind globally. This structure supports the entire ecosystem, allowing 3,000 species of flora and fauna to coexist in conditions that closely mimic their natural habitats.
A specialized climate-control system maintains constant humidity and temperature levels, effectively turning the building into a complex living organism.
Today, the site is recognized for offering a vertical cross-section of the jungle. The visitor path descends from the forest canopy down to the flooded forest floor, illustrating how life functions across different ecological layers. This transition provides a stark contrast between the dry desert air outside and the humid atmosphere of the tropics.
Practical Note: The absence of visible barriers or cages creates an immersive environment where birds and sloths are often found within arm's reach of visitors.
Reliability & freshness
FAQ
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
Yes, booking is mandatory. Purchasing online is more cost-effective, with ticket prices starting from 155 AED.
When is the best time to visit?
We recommend visiting on weekday mornings when the animals are most active and the crowds are smaller.
What is the most convenient way to get there?
Take the metro to the Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall station, followed by a 5–10 minute taxi ride to the City Walk district.
How long does the tour take and how should I prepare?
A typical visit lasts 1.5–2 hours. The bio-dome maintains a high humidity level of 70%, so we recommend wearing lightweight clothing made from natural fabrics.
Is the route accessible for strollers?
Yes, the bio-dome is fully stroller-accessible, though some pathways on the lower levels may be narrow.



