Al Khawaneej is home to some unique parks in Dubai. In March 2019, there opened yet another park in the area. This latest addition to the list of parks in Khawaneej is unique by many measures. The Quranic park is the first-ever Quran-inspired park in the world.
Islam is deeply rooted in Arab culture. Even Though modernity has taken over much of the city, it has managed to keep its roots. The Quranic park is a reflection of this. The park welcomes Muslims and non-Muslims to learn and have a good time. Find out more about this unique park in Dubai.
The Quranic Park in Dubai, Al Khawaneej
The park covers an area of 60 hectares. This vast park has different sections, serving different purposes and themes. The park features the plants and herbs mentioned in the Quran and the prophetic traditions. An artificial cave tells the miracles of 24 different prophets through audio and visuals. Apart from these, there is a play area for kids, a cafeteria, a fountain, and a lake.
The Lake
The lake is divided into two, with a walkway in the middle. This lake represents the miracle of Musa, who saved the people of Israel from Egypt by parting the Red sea. There are a few fountains in the middle of this lake. So if you are walking on the walkway between the lake on a windy day, there is a high chance of getting wet.
The Glasshouse
The beautiful-looking greenhouse is in one corner of the park. Like every other glasshouse, this one, too, houses plants. But unlike others, the glasshouse in the quranic park shows those mentioned in the Quran and Islamic traditions (also called Sunnah).
As of now, there are 29 varieties of trees and medicinal herbs in the facility. These include pumpkin, fig, watermelon, etc. The glasshouse is air-conditioned. Instead of traditional air vents, fake trees that blend into the whole aesthetic of the place are used as air ducts.
You can see bronze poles with nozzles in them to water the plants. They spray mist as per the requirement of the specific plant.
A small artificial stream with fish in the glasshouse complements the whole ambiance. A romp way that spirals across the glasshouse lets you walk around and look at the different plants. The observation deck at the top of the rampway gives a complete view of the greenhouse.
Each plant has a signboard against them with its name and minor details. But you would wish they had added more information. An information board near the park entrance lists all the plants present inside the park.
The greenhouse houses those plants mentioned in the Quran that do not survive in the desert climate. The rest of them are grown in the outside garden. There is also a shop that sells the saplings and seeds of the plants on display.
The mobile app by the same name as the park, supported in both ios android, will let you find out more about the park.
The Cave of Miracles
The cave talks about the miracles given by God to all the prophets mentioned in the Quran and traditions. Each section of the cave is dedicated to specific miraculous incidents. Animated videos and sound effects make the stories engaging.
On your visit inside the cave, a guide will explain the details and walk you through them. The cave is enormous, but only some features are fully functional yet. It has been meticulously crafted to resemble a natural cave replete with stalactites.
One downside is that, at the moment, the videos are only in Arabic. Also, they are designed with kids in mind. So some adults may not find them interesting. But the work to translate the videos is underway and will soon be completed.
When you see the cave, it is better to choose a day other than weekends. Because the cave is not large enough, you will have to wait in the queue to get in. And on weekends, this can be quite a bit long.
The Gardens
The orchard garden in the park is quite large. Plants from the Quran and Sunnah are present here, as well. They are well-kept and manicured. You can spend hours walking in this garden.
Plants that need not be kept in the greenhouse are grown here. The garden has dozens of plants, including the Sidr tree and pomegranate. Again, many of the plants are pretty young. It will take them some time to grow to their total. If you find them unimpressive now, you should visit again after a few months or maybe a few years.
There are two play areas suitable for kids between 2 and 12. Surrounding the park is a rubber jogging track and a cycling track.
Prominent sculptors in the shape of trees provide shade along the walkway. The canopy of these trees is solar panels that power the charging stations in their trunk and the park lights. Boxes of these tree shades are embellished with golden Arabic calligraphy. These perfectly demonstrate integrating modern and eco-friendly technology into our daily lives without compromising aesthetic beauty.
Quranic Park Ticket Prices
Entry to the park is free for all. But the glasshouse and the cave have a small entry fee. Both of them have separate tickets that cost five AED each. You can pay for the ticket with your NOL card. You can get one from the counter outside the Cave of Miracles if you do not have an NOL card.
The park offers free parking to visitors.
Quran Park Timing
- Weekdays (Saturdays – Thursdays): 8.00 am to 10.00 pm
- Fridays: 3.00 pm – 10.00 pm
Attractions Near Quranic Park Dubai
The Al Khawaneej area is home to a few other unique attractions. Some of them are:
- The Yard by Meraas
- Mushrif park
- Cycling and walking track
Location of Quran Park
The Quran park is located in Al Khawaneej, opposite Mushrif park. The park is on Al Warqa road. The best way to get here is by driving. If you are coming by public transport, you will have to walk nearly 2 kilometers after getting off the bus. Because the parking is free, taking a car is even more convenient.
Conclusion
The park provides an introduction to Islamic traditions, faith, and practices. Once fully developed, the park will have an umrah corner to demonstrate rituals of the Islamic pilgrimage to the mecca. The time magazine listed it as one of the world’s most incredible places in its recent edition. The park will help build cultural understanding and teach peace in Islam.
All in all, the idea behind the park is excellent. Who else would have thought it possible to make a park based on the holy book? But because the park is very new, it will take some time to reach its full potential. Visiting the park even now is worth it too. But it would help if you did not keep your hopes high.
If you want to visit the attractions in Dubai and look around, a city tour is a great option. A Dubai sightseeing tour will let you explore the major sports in the city in a few hours. This is an excellent alternative to a task that will take a few days to weeks.