Meraas signed an agreement with Dubai Municipality to manage Dubai Safari, the region’s latest landmark leisure and entertainment attraction.

In December 2017, Dubai Municipality launched the pilot phase of Dubai Safari, a 1.1 million square meter area of land that is home to more than 2,500 animals from around the world. Dubai Safari offers an open safari experience, giving visitors the opportunity to see animals in an environment that recreates their habitat. The destination includes a Kids’ Farm that enables youngsters to closely interact with animals in a safe outdoor setting, and the Wadi Area, where guests can enjoy a relaxing picnic by the waterfall.

This public-private sector partnership aligns with Dubai’s Tourism Vision for 2020 that seeks to attract 20 million visitors per year to the Emirates. It also supports Dubai’s preparations for Expo 2020 which will be held over a period of six months and is expected to attract about 25 million visitors, 70 percent of them from outside the country.

Meraas has also appointed Parques Reunidos, a world-renowned operator of animal parks, to oversee the day-to-day running of the destination in line with international best practices.

Meraas will also develop plans, to be implemented over the next two years, aimed at creating unique experiences and establishing the destination as one of the premier wildlife parks in the world, expected to attract two million visitors annually. The company seeks to promote Dubai Safari and its other destinations through one preferentially priced entry ticket to encourage residents and visitors to benefit from the city’s rich leisure offering.

His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai, group chairman of Meraas, said: “Following this agreement, Dubai Safari has been included as a key value addition in Meraas’s comprehensive entertainment portfolio. Meraas is dedicated to implementing the vision of our wise leadership of reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global tourist destination. The agreement also aims to support wildlife conservation efforts, through developing the skills of the local community in relevant fields, including veterinary medicine, animal care and breeding.”

Over the past five years, Meraas has expanded its business in the leisure and entertainment industry and invested in an innovative portfolio valued at AED18 billion (almost USD 5 billion) billion. Its portfolio includes destinations and attractions such as Dubai Parks and Resorts, Roxy Cinemas, Hub Zero, Mattel Play! Town, The Green Planet, Dubai Arena at City Walk, Ain Dubai at Bluewaters and the upcoming Laguna Waterpark at La Mer.