Dubai Safari to close for five months

The Dhs1bn ($272.2m) Dubai Safari is to close its doors for upgrade work just six months after opening.

The attraction began welcoming visitors in December after originally being scheduled to open at the end of 2016.

Operator Dubai Municipality recently signed a management deal with government-linked developer Meraas, which in turn selected Madrid-based animal parks operator Parques Reunidos to oversee the day-to-day running of the 12.8-million-square-foot park.

Read: Dubai Safari changes management months after opening

Dubai Safari said in an announcement on Saturday that the park would undergo upgrade work over the summer to offer guests “an enhanced experience”.

To allow this to take place, the attraction will close its doors from May 15 until October 1.

The embellishment programme will design the customer experience “in line with shifting trends in the market and to take advantage of emerging technologies”.

Dubai Safari said the park would reopen with new engagement programmes and interactive experiences as well as climatised areas for animals.

“In line with our commitment to offering a superior customer experience, the upgrades seek to provide a better habitat for our animals, and a more interactive and educational experience for our visitors,” said the park’s management.

“We are confident that our landmark destination will help attract even higher numbers of tourists to Dubai once it reopens after the summer.”

Dubai Safari is home to more than 2,500 animals after welcoming 175 newborns in March.

Read: Dubai Safari welcomes 175 newborn animals

The park’s new manager Parques Reunidos has also overseen the running of the Hollywood-themed Motiongate and Bollywood Parks at Dubai Parks and Resorts since 2014.

Visitors at Dubai Parks and Resorts increased 45 per cent in the first quarter after the attraction fell well short of its 2017 target.

Last year, the three-theme park attraction targeted 6.7 million visitors but only drew in 2.3 million. It posted a full year loss of Dhs1.12bn ($305m) for 2017.

Read: Dubai Parks and Resorts announces 45% increase in Q1 visitors