Between Two Islands
Located 15 kilometers from downtown Abu Dhabi, Al Jubail Mangrove Park is situated in Jubail Island between Saadiyat and Yas Islands in Abu Dhabi. It is free for everyone and open daily from 8.00am to 6.30pm. The Mangrove Park provides a fresh lush green scenery, a perfect way to unwind from the busy hustle and bustle we have all gotten acquainted with (or tired of!)
A Walk With Nature
The kids (and us of course) quickly immersed with nature as soon as we set foot on the wooden platform of the park.
They got excited to see schools of small fishes swimming around.
We stopped at almost every turn at the platform to see if we'd find more crabs on that part. It was so interesting especially we do not always see such a spectacle from nature.
Very soon, we passed by this floating platform where the kids bravely stepped on the net spread across the water.
Little Miss enjoyed it so much, that she was looking forward to go back to this on the way back.
Mangroves Everywhere!
Honestly, it was just mangroves to your left and to your right, but something about nature so interesting is that they did not seem to be the same at all. It was not boring to see.
The park also has several viewpoints and resting stations where you can sit and appreciate these beautiful plants and animals.
A few more turns and we got to the viewing tower where we got to see from a higher perspective the vast mangroves that we trailed.
It is a 3-level viewing deck that allowed us to marvel at just how magnificent the place is!
Nature's Wonder
It is so interesting to know (and experience) that within the desert, there lies this magnificent and diverse ecological sanctuary.
Having been opened to the public, I just hope that this place will be preserved and continue to thrive for future generations to see. Hence it is imperative that the visitors should strictly follow the rules imposed within the eco-park.
Other Points Worth Noting
It is best to visit the place when the tides are high so as to maximize the visit and find as much marine animals as possible. Check the tides here : https://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/Abu-Dhabi/tides/latest.
Driving there:
When coming from Abu Dhabi downtown, taking Saadiyat Road, you will find that the exit to Jubail Island is not properly marked yet. Don't make the same mistake I did when I missed the exit (it had a sign "private entry") and had to take a 10km U-turn at Yas Island exit.
As for public transport, we noticed lots of taxis already there so booking a taxi won't even be necessary.
I have read that they will close the park in summer. Rightly so. I am not sure how anyone would be able to handle walking around there in the summer months!
For any other related information check out their website: https://park.jubailisland.ae/
I hope you enjoyed the walk with me. Finally, here's a quick video of the highlights of that truly enjoyable and educational afternoon with my fam:
All photos are by the author
❤️Arlyn