ME's first crocodile park to open in Dubai

Dubai Municipality has signed a AED 10 million agreement with White Oryx Investment LLC to set up the first crocodile park in the Middle East with the aim of becoming one of the best crocodile preservation parks in the world.

The BOT project, as it is known, is expected to complete in 24 months.

The project was announced by Eng. Hussain Nassir Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality, during a special press conference after the agreement signing attended by Assistant Director Generals, other top officials of the civic body and representatives of the contracting company.

Lootah said: “This ambitious project would be a turning point in the history of Dubai tourism and research projects as the proposed crocodile park would encompass different crocodile species in future stages of the park development enabling the tourists and research students to learn a-z about the crocodile, a gigantic animal existing for last 220 million years.

“Being a metropolitan city that has been enjoying a total turnover of 10 million tourist per year, Dubai is always keen to put its enduring efforts in the field of sustainable development along with natural and wildlife conservation creating a number of natural reserves such as Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Mushrif Park and Desert Conservation Reserve in addition to several initiatives to protect animals like turtles, Arabian Oryx, hawks, camels and horses,” he said.

Khalifa Abdullah Hareb, director of Assets Management Department said the main objective of the crocodile park is to offer a unique destination of wildlife tourism combining nature and adventure along with its diversified tourism attractions including upcoming mega tourism project in the emirate of Dubai.

He added: “The 20,000 sq m park will strengthen the role of the UAE in the protection of endangered animal species working closely with educational institutions as an alternative and pedagogical tool that encourages the interest of youth in natural sciences.

“This projects would adopt an eco-friendly approach like all other projects of the civic body through sustainable use of eco-friendly materials, resources, waste, renewable energy and creating a most suitable environment for the crocodiles for a hassle free living, interaction and reproduction,” he said.

The site is located in the north east of Dubai, about 10 km from the international airport, which represents an important link between the desert and the main touristic hub of the beach coast.

The locale also benefits of a strategic location and an easy access in addition to being close to 'Mushrif Reserve, and the Dubai Safari' Projects that is coherent with the nature of project surrounded by a wildlife neighborhood along with other adjacent natural attractions of Al Warqaa, Al Mizhar and al Mirdif.