Abu Dhabi's Brand New Butterfly Gardens Have Opened

Head into the first - smallest - dome to find the ticket counter and welcome desk. Tickets will set you back AED55, with the option to purchase a nectar-coated flower for AED10 to entice butterflies to pose for the perfect picture. This isn’t really necessary - we didn’t bother, and butterflies landed on our heads, shoulders, clothes and hands throughout the visit!

Tickets secured, make your way into the first butterfly bio-dome (which is themed around Asian ecosystems) and prepare to be impressed: there are SO many butterflies (over 10,000 in fact, across the two domes). Given it’s called The Butterfly Gardens Abu Dhabi, this shouldn’t come as a surprise, but they really are everywhere. Staff are on hand to give advice and answer questions - and to make sure everyone is following the rules, like not touching the butterflies wings, not grabbing or injuring them and being mindful of where you walk. Amongst the treetops and raised platforms, keep an eye out for some fluffy residents as well: a sleepy bearcat and some overly friendly squirrels (watch your jewellery, as we learned the hard way!) add an extra cute-factor to your visit.

Dome number two (the Americas bio-dome) is home to even bigger butterflies - giant blue-winged beauties flutter amongst plenty of other varieties, making for a really special experience. Not many fuzzy friends in this dome - unless you count some tarantulas in their miniature domes, or the snoozing sloth tucked away in the branches above - but take a closer look in the pond below the waterfall to see some turtles and caiman crocodiles. School yourself with the educational butterfly life cycle exhibit, where you can see butterflies from the earliest chrysalis stage right through to emerging as a fully fledged butterfly, ready for release into the bio-dome.

Kids and adults alike will love the experience - any insect phobias aside - and it’s a really pleasant visit overall. Ticket guidelines allow for approximately 20 minutes in each dome, so around 40 minutes all up - although when we went on a weekday morning, the crowds weren’t huge and this wasn’t strictly monitored. Weekends and peak hours the domes can get quite full, busy and hot - so bear this in mind when planning your visit. 

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Frequently Asked Questions 

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How much are tickets to The Butterfly Gardens Abu Dhabi? 

AED55 per visitor 

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Where are The Butterfly Gardens Abu Dhabi?

Right next to The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi at Al Qana - you can’t miss them. It’s a great place to visit - combine your Butterfly Garden experience with a visit to the aquarium, or grab a bite to eat and enjoy the waterfront views from one of the many restaurants and cafes at Al Qana. You can even peep the Grand Mosque in the distance - it’s a prime location for your next day out. 

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How long does a visit take at The Butterfly Gardens Abu Dhabi? 

Officially, 40 minutes - approximately 20 minutes per dome. 

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What are The Butterfly Gardens Abu Dhabi’s opening hours?

10AM - 8PM daily, and an hour extra from 9AM Friday - Sunday. 

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Is it accessible for persons of determination?

Yes - the whole exhibit is wheelchair and pram friendly. 

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What’s not allowed at The Butterfly Gardens Abu Dhabi? 

Leave any large bags and suitcases at home, along with your pets (registered service animals are excepted). As you’d expect, outside food and drinks, smoking and e-cigarette usage are also not allowed. 

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Contact Details? 

Call 056 584 1769 for more information. 

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