Dubai Safari, the much-awaited AED 1 billion park located in Al Warqaa, is in the final development stages and expected to open its doors before the UAE celebrates its 46th National Day on December 2, 2017.
The new wildlife project will replace the existing Dubai Zoo.
"We are expecting to complete and hope to open Dubai Safari by the end of November," Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality told Gulf News.
Lootah also confirmed that "by the end of November [the first phase of] the project will be complete."
Here is everything you need to know about Dubai Safari...
1. Dubai Safari is designed to be environmentally-friendly and completely solar-powered.
2. It will feature a number of themed sections including an African, Asian and Open Safari village and will be home to 1,000 animals.
3. 350 rare species will be cared for in temperature-controlled environments.
4. It will be twice the size of the world’s smallest country, Vatican City.
5. The park will host many attractions and environmentally-friendly electric vehicles, trains and buses.
6. Dubai Safari will have a valley that spans across 7.5 hectares, will feature a waterfall and a lake filled with fish.
7. It will have authentic restaurants with elements to provide the feeling of being in wilderness and many opportunities to closely interact with the animals.
8. The new development will also host a breeding program at the conservation centre that aims to release animals into the wild each year.
The official opening date is yet to be announced.