Atlantis Dubai Secures Renewed AZA Accreditation for Global Animal Welfare Standards

By Web Desk / March 28, 2026

Dubai, UAE: Atlantis Dubai has officially renewed its accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), maintaining its status as the first and longest-standing destination in the Middle East to hold this distinction. Originally accredited in March 2020, the resort remains one of only 24 facilities outside the United States to meet these rigorous international benchmarks for animal care, conservation, and education.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is considered the global “gold standard” for animal care. Out of thousands of places that keep and care for animals worldwide, fewer than 10% actually qualify for this status.
Getting accredited isn’t a one-off award. Every five years, a team of independent experts conduct a massive, multi-day inspection. They check everything from water quality and nutrition to how the animals are socialising and the skill of the medical teams. If a facility doesn’t prove it is meeting the absolute highest global standards, they do not get the seal of approval.

For guests, the AZA logo is a guarantee that the facility truly puts the animals first.

Atlantis’ renewal follows a comprehensive multi-day on-site inspection by a team of independent zoological professionals.
The audit evaluated every facet of the resort’s marine operations, including veterinary programmes, staff training, and the physical and psychological wellbeing of the 65,000 marine animals housed within the destination.

The Atlantis Atlas Project: Impact and Conservation

A core requirement for AZA status is a demonstrated commitment to field conservation. Through the Atlantis Atlas Project, the resort has directed more than $500,000 toward 30 regional research projects over the past five years. Key scientific milestones achieved between 2021 and 2026 include:

The Dubai Dolphin Survey: 155 days at sea covering 12,000 kilometres to track cetacean sightings.

Species Tagging: 44 sharks and rays acoustically tagged to support regional scientific research.

Habitat Restoration: The establishment of 57 square metres of artificial coral reef structures in UAE waters.

The resort’s marine operations are managed by a team of over 100 professionals, including a full-time veterinary staff and an on-site laboratory. This infrastructure supports the care of more than 285 species across the destination.

Significant success has also been recorded in breeding and release programmes. To date, the team has successfully released 73 Arabian carpet sharks and 17 honeycomb stingrays into local habitats to bolster wild populations. These efforts are underpinned by a commitment to positive reinforcement training, with the team delivering more than 36,000 hours of behavioural sessions annually.

“Maintaining our AZA accreditation is a significant achievement and a testament to the passion and expertise of our entire team,” said Ms. Kelly Timmins, Executive Director, Sustainability & Marine Animal Operations. “We are committed to leading the way in modern zoological practices, ensuring the highest standards of animal wellbeing, and contributing to meaningful conservation outcomes both locally and globally. We look forward to continuing to inspire our guests and connect them with the natural world through impactful and educational experiences.”

The accreditation renewal coincides with the full-scale transformation of the former Lost Chambers, now reopened as The Lost World Aquarium. The redesign introduced 19 new marine habitats and 430 additional animals across 35 species, including the Giant Pacific Octopus and the Axolotl.