We Explored Safa Park in Dubai and Forgot about the Outside World
As a writer, being stuck at home just doesn’t cut it for me. I always need to be somewhere else, like a library, cafe, or mall. Having a writing buddy helps too!
But my absolute favorite spot to write is the park! I’ve got pretty broad shoulders, so I usually take time looking for the biggest tree around for some good shade.
The problem is, many of the parks I’ve visited are kind of boring—just green and blah. But ever since my buddies and I found Safa Park in Dubai, we can’t bear to leave when it closes! Check out the travel guide we’ve put together after our visits there.
What is Safa Park known for?
Dubai’s Safa Park is known for the BBQs, play areas, and lakes, as well as 300 bird species and 17,000 tree and bush types. Its spacious greenery also makes it a peaceful spot to read or write in the shade.
Best Time to Go
The best time to go to Safa Park is November and December. During these winter months, the weather is nice enough for various sports and activities. Plus, the park grounds during this time are typically used for small festivals and concerts.
Things to Know
Entry Fee: Entering the park costs AED 3 for adults, but it’s free for kids.
Operating Hours: Safa Park is open from 8 am to 10 pm from Monday to Wednesday and from 8 am to 11 pm from Thursday to Sunday.
Parking: Parking here is generally convenient, with ample parking lots around Safa Park Gate 2 and others.
Washroom: The park offers several restrooms to make your visit a breeze when nature calls.
Dogs: Safa Park is pet-friendly! Just be responsible—your dog should be on a leash when you explore the beautiful landscapes and have a delightful picnic together.
How to Get Around
Trains: Some of the closest metro stations are Safa Park Metro Station and Emirates Towers Metro Station. Then, you can hail a car or hop on a bus to the park.
Buses: Several bus stations near Safa Park are Safa, Lufthansa, Business Bay Seaside Metro Bus Stop, and Al Quoz, J Mart Supermarket.
Taxis: You can easily grab a taxi anywhere in Dubai, making it the handiest option if you’ve got the budget.
Car: Prefer driving? You may bring your own! Alternatively, there are several luxury rental agencies in Dubai that you can explore.
What to Do in Safa Park
Try Birdwatching
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What better way to learn about birds than to watch hundreds of species in Safa Park? For us, the park is like a bird paradise, which makes its greenery even more beautiful and interesting.
Of course, you won’t be able to see all 300 bird types at once—you’d have to be very lucky! Migratory birds in different seasons flock to the park to rest before moving on to their destinations.
We just recommend bringing binoculars to see the fascinating birds, even from afar. Also, make sure to wear sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and the like for sun protection.
Let the Little Ones Play
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Want to spend some time with your loved ones this weekend? Safa Park is a happy, family-friendly place, offering a bunch of dedicated play areas for the kids.
We like that the park provides slides, see-saws, monkey bars, and swing sets to get all the children hyped for an energetic day. Do note that they should always be supervised by an adult since accidents can happen at any time.
Hop on the Train
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If you’re not a walker or a runner and want to go around Safa Park with ease, we reckon the train is a handy way to go about it.
As a popular park attraction, the train has more than 9 stations and covers each major part of the 64 hectares. We think you’ll appreciate that over 80% of the park is filled with greenery, mostly pretty flowers and trees!
Get Active with Games and Sports
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Have you eaten way too many falafels this week? Safa Park offers a space where friends can burn extra calories while having fun. You can play active sports like basketball, football, and volleyball at various courts available in the park.
But if you’re not into that and want to remain a couch potato after lunch (no judgment!), you might like to explore the electronic game center there for gamers and young adults.
Where to Eat in Safa Park
RARE
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Address: Parking under bridge – Al Wasl Rd – Al Safa
Contact Details: +971 4 398 5288
Pricing: $$
Want an alternative to typical restaurants? RARE is a homegrown food truck where you can enjoy top-notch Japanese and Latin American cuisine in a casual spot.
We recommend the A5 Wagyu Nakuru (high-grade beef) and the chocolate Wagyu fillet. The latter is interesting to us since the staff told us the cows were actually fed a combo of chocolate and gummy bears! What a unique flavor profile, we say.
This food truck is just right under the Al Wasl Bridge too, so we believe it’s hard to miss. And during the summer, we recommend enjoying the dishes inside your car with AC, since you might find the outside seating area a bit too hot.
Kabab Al Bastakiah Restaurant
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Address: Park – Al Safa
Contact Details: +971 54 246 5512
Pricing: $
Kabab Al Bastakiah Restaurant offers relatively affordable Iranian cuisine, grills, and kebabs that many visitors and the park regularly visit. There’s also plenty of parking around, which makes this handy for drivers.
The highlights for us are minced lamb kebab, chicken yogurt tikka skewer (small pieces of marinated meat), and saffron buttered rice. We also like that you can ask for a special cocktail to go with your meals!
Rascals Deli
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Website: http://www.rascals.me/
Address: Wasl Square – Block 7
Contact Details: +971 50 740 4692
Pricing: $
Are sandwiches your “bread and butter” in the afternoon? We hear ya! Rascals Deli is a cool specialty sandwich deli near Safa Park that we believe is worth a visit.
We think you might enjoy its signature sandwich, The Rascal. It has Shokupan milk bread, salami, seasoned honey burrata (Italian cow’s milk), spicy red pepper sauce, and other flavorful ingredients that got us hooked.
The thing is, many sandwiches here are super tall, which makes them challenging to bite. You’re going to have to be more creative when eating them. Otherwise, you’ll miss half the flavors, or they fall apart easily.
Tayba Gourmet Restaurant
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Website: https://taybagourmet.com/
Address: Wasl Square – Al Hadiqah Road – Al Safa 1
Contact Details: +971 56 684 9660
Pricing: $
Tayba Gourmet Restaurant is where you should go for a good ‘ol tasty roasted duck. This restaurant serves authentic, traditional Egyptian cuisine, which we reckon makes it a great option for iftar (breaking of the fast after Ramadan).
We also recommend the stuffed pigeon and mumbar-stuffed (intestines) sausages with rice. As for dessert, we like the rice pudding with basbousa (sweet, syrup-soaked semolina cake). There’s also free valet parking, so you can relax while you dine.
Wokyo Noodle Bar
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Website: https://www.wokyo.com/
Address: Al Safa 1, Al Hadiqa Rd, Wasl Square Block 8 – Shop 34
Contact Details: +971 4 330 5188, [email protected]
Pricing: $
If you’re looking for something to warm you up, Wokyo Noodle Bar is among the best places near Safa Park to get some spicy ramen.
We also suggest going for the wok-tossed stir-fries and dumplings. To balance it all out, we say order the soft serve ice cream for dessert too!
Just note that it can get pretty crowded here. For us, it’s wise to arrive earlier or later than peak lunch and dinner hours—especially if you want a good parking spot!
Where to Shop near Safa Park
Aster Flower Trading
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Address: Wasl Square Block – 10 – 110 Al Hadiqa Rd – Al Safa – Al Safa 1
Contact Details: +971 50 868 0753
Aster Flower Trading is a flower shop in Dubai near Safa Park where you can get a gorgeous bouquet for your date.
We also recommend researching each color’s symbolism beforehand to make your gift more meaningful (e.g., red for love, white for purity or new love, or pink for gratitude). Otherwise, just ask the friendly florist!
If you’re thinking about the cost, don’t fret! We appreciate that there’s an option here for every budget, so you can get some nice flora at reasonable prices.
LIFE Pharmacy
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Website: https://www.lifepharmacy.com/
Address: Union Coop Jumeirah, Al Wasl road, Jumeirah Opp. Al Safa Park, next to Al Safa library
Contact Details: +971 4 394 6618
LIFE Pharmacy is a store near the park where you can find vitamins, supplements, beauty products, baby essentials, and the like.
We believe this is convenient for those needing sunscreen, sunburn relief products, first aid kits, drinks, lip balms with SPF, and so on. You never know when you’ll need them!
The store is still open 3 hours after the park closes, so you’ll likely have enough time to get what you need. We noticed the pharmacy is well-sorted too, so you can pan around without hassle.
Hobb Design & Visual Culture Bookshop
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Website: https://www.hobb.ae/
Address: Wasl Square – Al Hadiqa Rd
Contact Details: +971 4 554 3137, [email protected]
This one’s for the bookworms! Hobb Design & Visual Culture Bookshop offers books, art prints, posters, stationery, comics, and magazines near Safa Park. For us, this is great for those planning their “me time” by reading a new story in the shade.
There are many highly visual and attractive book covers and posters here too! In our opinion, this is helpful to graphic designers and enthusiasts. These folks can look around and get creative inspiration for future art projects.
Padel House Shop
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Website: http://www.padelhouseshop.com/
Address: Al Wasl – Al Safa 1
Contact Details: +971 56 650 6065, [email protected]
If you like sports, you might love new or cooler sports gear more! Located a few minutes from Safa Park, Padel House Shop is a sporting goods store worth checking out for folks who love tennis and running.
We appreciate the selection of well-stocked rackets and accessories here. And if you’re nitpicky about shirt and shoe colors and designs, we feel you’ll love the variety in the store.
Mom Store
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Website: http://www.momstore.com/
Address: Matloob Building – 22A St – Al Safa – Al Safa 1
Contact Details: +971 54 994 9341, Xxx
From its name, Mom Store is a cozy spot that provides everything parents need for their baby. This is helpful for issues like broken strollers and car seats, or if you just want to buy a gift for a loved one.
The store offers fashionable items, maternity essentials, feeding, and play products. But if you’re not buying anything in particular, we think all the fun items here are still worth a look for future reference.
Where to Stay near Safa Park
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
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Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/dxbjw-jw-marriott-marquis-hotel-dubai/overview/
Address: Business Bay
Contact Details: +971 4 414 0000, [email protected]
Pricing: $$$
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai is a 5-star hotel offering sleek rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and marble bathrooms. We like that there are iPod docks here for those who can’t live without their gadgets.
But what caught our attention are the palatial suites—they have separate living rooms! Plus, there’s a heated outdoor pool at the hotel that’s perfect for those hesitant to take a dip in cool waters.
And if you get hungry, we think you’ll be set even if you don’t leave—there are 14 restaurants and bars here to choose from! This includes a sophisticated French bistro, a fancy cocktail bar, and a vibrant nightclub.
Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City
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Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dxbahhi-hilton-dubai-al-habtoor-city/
Address: Sheikh Zayed Rd
Contact Details: +971 4 437 3333, [email protected]
Pricing: $$$
Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City is a 5-star accommodation worth exploring. It overlooks the Dubai Water Canal, which we like because it gives guests fantastic views!
We love the chic rooms with free-standing baths for relaxation. But if you want an upgraded suite, we bet you’ll appreciate the game rooms to make every night with your crew more exciting.
The glam bar looks promising for us too! It’s where you can get dolled up before choosing which of the 6 restaurants you’d like to have dinner at. Also, the 4 outdoor pools here make us believe you can swim without worrying about crowds.
Holiday Inn Express Dubai
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Website: https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/gb/en/dubai/dxbsp/hoteldetail
Address: Al Wasl District – Sheikh Zayed Road – Al Wasl Rd
Contact Details: +971 4 511 9333
Pricing: $$
The Holiday Inn Express Dubai is a 3-star spot that faces Safa Park in the business district. We feel you’ll sleep like a baby here because the rooms feature warm colors like blues and browns that are soft on the eyes.
Besides the typical amenities, we suggest asking the staff to get you one of those rooms with sofabeds too—only some rooms have them!
And if you (or your kids) love the water, this inn is 7 km from Jumeirah Beach and 12 km from Wild Wadi Waterpark for a breezy trip! The free perks also include a shuttle to the beach and the Dubai Mall, so we say use them when you can!
V Hotel Dubai
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Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dxbvhqq-v-hotel-dubai/
Address: Al Habtoor City – Sheikh Zayed Rd
Contact Details: +971 4 436 6666, reservations.v@hiltonalhabtoorcity
Pricing: $$$
V Hotel Dubai is a high-rise 5-star hotel that offers something cool for the younger guests—posh, futuristic rooms with mini bars and some with lovely creek views!
If you need more space for your friends, we recommend getting upgraded rooms to include living areas. As for the suites, we love the sleek and round beds, whirlpool tubs, and kitchenettes that make the experience more comfortable.
For us, you won’t get hungry by the pool since there’s a snack bar nearby. But if you want full meals, we think it’s convenient that you can select between a high-end Mediterranean and Asian restaurant at the hotel.
Park Regis Business Bay
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Website: https://www.parkregisbusinessbay.com/
Address: Park Lane Tower – Business Bay
Contact Details: +971 4 574 2100, [email protected]
Pricing: $$
Park Regis Business Bay is a 4-star getaway that offers a cozy experience with its chill rooms with Wi-Fi, TV, minifridges, and other essentials. We also like the lobby cafe that’s easily accessible to all if you want a serene “me time.”
And if you’re going all out with self-care, this accommodation offers a luxurious spa with sauna and steam rooms. The way we see it, coming here is the best way to regain all your energy after walking around all day at Safa Park.
Tips When Visiting Safa Park
Now that you’re knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the park, here are some tips and tricks to make your trip free from any hassle:
Pack a picnic like a pro.
Make your picnics fun and memorable by being well-equipped with a cozy blanket, a basket of different-flavored snacks, and various beverages for family and friends.
Explore events beforehand.
To make your visits more exciting, check the park’s event schedule online in advance. This way, your park visits become more interesting with interactive activities. Plus, you might even meet new people with the same interests!
Stay hydrated!
It can get a bit hot at the park, so we suggest taking advantage of the free water refilling points around! For us, it’s also smart to bring an insulator mug to keep your drinks cool all day.
Rent a bike.
Check out the bicycle rentals at the entrance for a healthier and more active way to explore the area. You’ll see more of the greenery more quickly and easily follow where the fantastic birds might be headed.