Emirates Park Zoo awarded Gold Standard accreditation

Emirates Park Zoo has become the first zoo in the Middle East to achieve the prestigious accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), marking a significant triumph in the pursuit of excellence and animal welfare.

This milestone accolade positions Emirates Park Zoo as a global leader in the zoo industry, joining an elite group of zoological facilities worldwide that have earned the revered AZA accreditation, often regarded as the Gold Standard in zoo management. The rigorous AZA accreditation process, which takes place every five years, involves comprehensive evaluations across various facets of zoo operations, including animal care and welfare, veterinary programmes, conservation initiatives, educational programmes, and safety measures.

Dr Walid Shaaban, director and CEO of Emirates Park Zoo, expressed his pride in the zoo's achievement, stating, "I am proud of our team and their dedication to delivering excellence at our zoo. Accreditation standards continuously evolve to ensure we are achieving the highest standard for our animals and their well-being. At Emirates Park Zoo, we are proud of the valuable zoo experience we provide for our guests from the breakfast with giraffes to the petting zoo we have enabled animal interactions for everyone, this helps us to achieve our mission to promote appreciation of the natural world, wildlife education, and conservation awareness and through this we can help future generations to work towards saving wild species and spaces from extinction."

AZA-accredited facilities adhere to the highest standards of animal care and welfare.