Butterfly Garden To Become Abu Dhabi's Newest Indoor Wildlife Attraction, Set To Open This Week

Abu Dhabi will see a new indoor wildlife attraction this week as The Butterfly Gardens Abu Dhabi opens to the public on January 9 at Al Qana.

The sanctuary will house more than 10,000 butterflies in a series of climate-controlled biodomes, alongside a collection of tropical animals and rare rainforest species. The attraction is situated within the Al Qana Walk area, about five minutes from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and opposite The National Aquarium.

According to the operators, the gardens are designed as a walk-through experience where visitors can move freely along planted pathways and observe butterflies in recreated tropical environments. The biodomes draw inspiration from the landscapes of Asia and the Americas and include features such as indoor planting and koi ponds.

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The facility will also host several non-insect species. Animals confirmed to be part of the opening collection include a two-toed sloth, Palawan bearcat, tamandua, Sri Lankan giant squirrel, Cuvier's dwarf caiman and a range of birds such as finches and Gouldian finches.

Open from 10am to 8pm on weekdays and from 9am to 8pm on weekends, entry tickets are priced at Dh55 for the gardens, with a combined ticket option with The National Aquarium available for Dh150.

Being fully indoors, the facility will operate throughout the year, including during the summer months when outdoor activities in the UAE are limited.

Officials said the butterflies displayed in the gardens are sourced through conservation-oriented breeding programmes in Costa Rica and the Philippines. The animals are obtained through established partnerships with small-scale farming communities in those countries.

The attraction follows what it described as an ethical sourcing model, with a portion of butterflies released back into their native habitats each month to support pollination efforts. The programmes aim to protect local ecosystems while providing livelihoods for families involved in butterfly cultivation.

Paul Hamilton, General Manager of the attraction, said the intention was to create a nature-focused space within an entirely indoor setting.

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