182 Bon Voyage Travel Near
G ETTING THERE: THE JOURNEY BEGINS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE Your adventure starts with a scenic three-and-a-half-hour drive from Dubai to the ferry port at Jebel Dhanna. Here, you’re warmly welcomed by resort staff for check-in—not just for your stay, but for the experience. As the staff share insights about the island’s history and unique conservation efforts, excitement begins to build. Then, it’s a 35-minute ferry ride across pristine waters to reach Sir Bani Yas Island—Abu Dhabi’s only dedicated wildlife reserve and one of the region’s most ambitious eco-tourism projects.
A ROYAL LEGACY OF CONSERVATION Owned and protected by the Al Nahyan royal family, Sir Bani Yas Island isn’t just a resort— it’s a living conservation sanctuary. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the royal family themselves lived on the island for eight months, further developing and preserving it with utmost care. The results are awe- inspiring: vast protected landscapes filled with rare wildlife and lush greenery. The island is home to a thriving array of species: Arabian oryx, blackbuck, white oryx, gazelles, deer, and even a lone zebra—part of a bold breeding experiment. And of course, the stars of the island—eight giraffes, six of which were born here—gracefully roam its plains. It’s not a zoo. It’s not a theme park. This is real-life wilderness, respectfully preserved for future generations.
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