Umm Al Emarat Park sits right in the heart of Abu Dhabi, and it has quietly become one of the most loved green spaces in the entire emirate. Whether you’re a resident looking for a calm evening walk or a tourist trying to escape the city’s glass towers for a few hours, this park delivers a slice of everyday Emirati life that few other attractions in Abu Dhabi can match. From its botanical gardens to its lively animal barn, the park has something for nearly every age group and every mood.
This guide covers everything you need before heading out: the latest ticket prices, timings, location details, what’s happening today, and honest answers to the questions people search most about this park.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | 15th Street, between Airport Road and Al Karamah Street, Mushrif, Abu Dhabi |
| Opening Hours | Daily, 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM (last entry 11:00 PM) |
| Per Person Ticket Price | AED 10 (some sources list AED 5; check current signage on arrival) |
| Children Under 3 | Free entry |
| Animal Feeding Fee | AED 10 |
| Original Name | Mushrif Park (1982) |
| Renamed | Umm Al Emarat Park (2010, in honour of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak) |
| Outside Food | Not permitted, except for babies |
| Best Months to Visit | January to April, August to December |
History and Background of Umm Al Emarat Park
The park wasn’t always called Umm Al Emarat Park. It opened back in 1982 under the name Mushrif Park, originally designed as a quiet retreat reserved for women and children. Over the decades, the space aged along with the city around it, and by the late 2000s it needed a serious refresh.
That refresh came in 2010, when the Abu Dhabi municipality closed the park for an extensive renovation. When it reopened in 2015, it carried a new name: Umm Al Emarat Park, a tribute to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, widely known as the “Mother of the Nation.” She has long served as Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and the renaming reflected her decades of work supporting Emirati families.
Despite the new name and modern facilities, the park has held onto its original spirit. It remains a place built around family life, community gathering, and quiet enjoyment of nature, rather than a flashy, ticketed theme park.
Umm Al Emarat Park Location and How to Reach It
Finding the park is straightforward. It’s located on 15th Street, sandwiched between Airport Road and Al Karamah Street in the Mushrif district, close to the center of Abu Dhabi city. This central position means it’s a short ride from most residential and business districts, including embassy row and several major shopping centers.
Most visitors arrive by taxi or ride-hailing apps, since this tends to be the most direct route. Public buses do service the surrounding area, though taxis remain the more popular choice among both residents and tourists because they drop you right at the entrance. If you’re driving yourself, on-site parking is available, and the surrounding streets are well-marked, so navigation rarely becomes an issue.
For anyone using GPS or map apps, simply searching the park’s name will pull up the exact pin, since it’s a well-established landmark that virtually every Abu Dhabi local recognizes.
Umm Al Emarat Park Ticket Price and Timings
The park operates daily from 8:00 AM to midnight, with the last entry permitted at 11:00 PM. That’s a long window, which makes it easy to fit a visit into almost any schedule, whether you prefer an early morning jog or a late evening stroll once the heat has died down.
As for cost, entry is genuinely affordable. Standard tickets are priced at AED 10 per person, though a few sources list it as AED 5, so it’s worth double-checking the gate signage on the day of your visit since pricing can shift seasonally. Children under three years old get in completely free, making this one of the most budget-friendly family outings in the city.
If you’re planning to bring a school group, the park also offers separate tour pricing: primary school students pay around AED 40 per entry, middle school students around AED 50, and senior school students around AED 60. These rates are aimed at organized educational visits rather than casual family trips.
Beyond the entry ticket, a few add-on experiences carry their own small fees. Feeding the animals at the Animal Barn, for instance, typically costs AED 10 per session.
What Is There to Do in Umm Al Emarat Park?
This is where the park really shines. It isn’t a single attraction; it’s a collection of nine distinct zones, each built around a different theme or activity.
The Animal Barn, run in partnership with Emirates Park Zoo, is one of the biggest draws for families. It houses camels, ponies, pygmy goats, rabbits, tortoises, and even a few curious emu birds. Capacity is sometimes limited to small groups at a time, and pony or camel rides are occasionally suspended depending on the season, so it’s smart to check the park’s social channels before visiting specifically for the animals.
The Amphitheatre is the park’s main performance venue, with grass seating that can hold over a thousand people. Throughout the year it hosts concerts, cultural dance performances, community theatre, and open-air movie screenings.
Speaking of movies, the park has brought back its Cinematic Sundays series in partnership with Image Nation Abu Dhabi, screening films for free in a relaxed outdoor setting. This sits alongside daily sunset falcon shows, wellness and yoga sessions, and weekend pop-up parties for kids run by Kidz Factory.
Families with younger children will want to head to the Children’s Garden, which includes a splash play area and a dedicated outdoor cinema corner showing kid-friendly films. The Botanic Garden and Shade House appeal more to plant lovers, the latter being an architecturally striking structure that maintains a controlled, moisture-rich environment for various plant species.
Every Saturday, the Ripe Market sets up inside the park, selling organic produce, handmade goods, and seasonal items, drawing a steady crowd of regulars who treat it as a weekly tradition.
Umm Al Emarat Park Events Today and Ongoing Activities
Because the park runs a packed calendar, there’s almost always something happening beyond the static attractions. On any given week you might catch a fitness class with a wellness partner, a themed market, or seasonal festival programming tied to Ramadan, UAE National Day, or other cultural milestones. During Ramadan specifically, the park transforms with special iftar setups and extended evening activity.
The most reliable way to confirm what’s scheduled on a specific day is to check the park’s official social media accounts shortly before your visit, since programming for the amphitheater, movie nights, and animal barn access can shift week to week.
Can You Bring Food Into Umm Al Emarat Park?
Outside food is generally not allowed inside the park, with one notable exception: food for babies is permitted. This rule exists partly because the park hosts a genuinely good range of dining outlets inside its grounds, including well-known names that serve everything from casual bites to proper sit-down meals. If you’re planning a longer visit, it’s easier to simply plan around eating at one of these on-site spots rather than trying to sneak in a packed lunch.
Is Umm Al Emarat Park Free?
Not entirely, but it comes close. The entry fee sits at a modest AED 10 per person, and children under three enter at no cost. There are no specific free admission days currently advertised, though the park occasionally runs promotions tied to seasonal events, so it’s worth following their official channels for updates. Given how much is packed into a single visit, the ticket price still represents excellent value for a half-day or full-day family outing.
Is Umm Al Emarat Park Worth Visiting?
For most visitors, yes. It manages to combine quiet, reflective garden spaces with genuinely lively family attractions, something not every park in the region pulls off well. The variety is the real selling point: you can spend a morning at the animal barn, an afternoon wandering the Botanic Garden, and an evening at an outdoor movie screening, all without leaving the grounds or paying more than a few dirhams extra.
It’s particularly well suited to families with young children, joggers and yoga practitioners looking for an open-air gym setup, and anyone wanting an authentic look at how locals in Abu Dhabi actually spend their leisure time, away from the malls and skyscrapers.
What Is the Best Time to Visit Umm Al Emarat Park?
Climate plays a big role here. The recommended visiting window runs from January through April and again from August through December, when temperatures stay manageable enough for outdoor walking and activities. The peak summer stretch, roughly May through July, brings intense heat that makes daytime visits uncomfortable, though the park does stay open and some visitors still come for evening hours once the sun goes down.
Within any given day, early morning tends to be the quietest period, ideal if you want to avoid crowds. Late afternoon into early evening works well for catching the sunset, especially near the park’s pond and water features, while the amphitheater and movie nights naturally draw bigger crowds after dark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Umm Al Emarat Park previously called?
It was originally known as Mushrif Park when it opened in 1982, before being renamed in 2010 in honour of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.
Does Umm Al Emarat Park have a zoo?
It has an Animal Barn rather than a full zoo, operated in partnership with Emirates Park Zoo, featuring camels, goats, ponies, rabbits, tortoises, and emu birds.
Can children under three enter for free?
Yes, children under the age of three are admitted free of charge.
Is there a movie schedule at the park?
Yes, the park regularly hosts outdoor screenings, including the Cinematic Sundays series in partnership with Image Nation Abu Dhabi.
What is the closest landmark to Umm Al Emarat Park?
The park sits between Airport Road and Al Karamah Street in the Mushrif district, close to several residential and embassy areas in central Abu Dhabi.
Are pets allowed inside the park?
Specific pet policies should be confirmed directly with park management, as rules can vary by season and event.
