Fakieh Aquarium — Attraction in Makkah Region

My visit to Fakieh Aquarium was a mix of positives and negatives. While there were a few commendable aspects, several policies, and practices left me disappointed. Here’s the complete review:

Ticket Upgrade Policy It was frustrating to discover that ticket upgrades to include both the aquarium and dolphin show weren’t allowed. When I approached the counter to inquire, I was practically blamed for not noticing the special offer. Arriving 80 minutes before the show should have been enough time to make adjustments, but the rigid policy left a sour impression.

Kiosk Pricing The pricing at the kiosks was excessive, with water being sold at six times the market price. While higher prices at such venues are expected, this felt unreasonable, especially for such a basic necessity.

Food and Beverage Restrictions Another frustrating surprise was learning that drinks purchased from kiosks or restaurants within the same complex were not allowed into the show area. This restriction wasn’t communicated beforehand, leading to frustration after spending money on drinks. Policies like this should be clearly stated to avoid inconveniencing visitors.

Photography Policy The photographers on-site charge 80 SAR for a printed picture, but they refuse to share a digital copy. This feels outdated and unaccommodating in the digital era. A digital copy would have been far more practical and preferable.

Positive Note: Security Staff On the positive side, the security staff were very nice and humble. Their professionalism and kindness helped balance some of the frustrating moments.

Queue for the Show While the dolphin show was scheduled to start at 9:30 PM, the doors opened earlier at 9:00 PM. However, there is no standard seating system tied to the tickets—no option to select seats in advance, even for an additional fee. This lack of organization led to people queuing as early as 8:45 PM to secure the best seats. By 9:05 PM, we were seated, but the waiting experience was dull. There were no introductions, entertainment, or efforts to engage the audience during this time, missing an opportunity to enhance the overall experience.

The Dolphin Show The show itself was underwhelming in some aspects. It lasted only 30 minutes, featuring one dolphin and two seals, which felt insufficient considering the website uses the plural “dolphins,” creating the expectation of at least three dolphins. Additionally, the duration of the show (30 minutes) was not mentioned anywhere on the website, which added to the disappointment.

On the bright side, the show is a good experience for children between 5–10 years old, thanks to the storytelling and musical elements. However, it’s important to note that both parts were presented entirely in Arabic. Non-Arabic speakers may struggle to understand or enjoy these portions of the show.

While there were redeeming aspects like the kind security staff and decent storytelling for kids, the rigid policies, overpriced essentials, outdated photography practices, and the lack of clear communication overshadowed the positives.

This could have been a much better experience with improved transparency and more...

Visiting Fakieh Aquarium in Jeddah was an amazing experience. I saw fishies and sea creatures 🐠 that I had never seen before, and the colors and patterns of the animals were incredible. It really makes you appreciate how amazing Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala created these creatures.

The sea lions 🦭 and dolphins 🐬 were very professional. Watching them swim and perform tricks was so entertaining. One sea lion even clapped and did stunts that humans couldn’t do! The dolphin show was full of energy and really fun to watch.

There was also a lazy penguin 🐧 who walked around slowly while his other friends showed off their strength and energy. The contrast was really cute! The turtles swam gracefully, and the baby sharks moved quickly around their tanks. All the animals were active, and it was fascinating to watch how they interacted with each other and with the trainers.

The aquarium is located next to the Red Sea 🌊, which makes the place even more special. You can enjoy the view while exploring the exhibits. The layout of the aquarium is excellent for taking photos and creating memories 📸.

It was a bit expensive, but worth it for the experience. We went in April 2025, and it’s a perfect place to take your kids—they will enjoy it a lot, and adults will also find it impressive. The aquarium is both educational and fun, letting you see marine life up close and learn more about different species.

Overall, Fakieh Aquarium is one of the best spots in Jeddah. From playful sea lions and energetic dolphins to adorable penguins, graceful turtles, and baby sharks, there’s so much to see. The shows and interactions with animals make it even more enjoyable. 5 stars because it’s definitely...

very overpriced to what they are offering. it is borderline theft at this point. tickets are very expensive over 60 riyals per person and the aquarium hasn't changed since it was opened we finish the tour in 10 minutes, not worth it. as for the dolphine show, 30 minutes of just looking at the water. only 2 dolphins are present and don't show up except for a few seconds they did a few jumps counted on one hand. and the sea lions were good, but the crowd interaction was very lacking. I know that these are animals and not slaves for us to watch and be entertained. but when you are charging us over 100 riyals, trained animals and an energetic atmosphere are the least we deserve. the whole show was just loud music, trainers that looked like they didn't want to be there, and a few delphine jumps and sea lion tricks, not worth it at all. and don't get me started on the food. this should be illegal. A water bottle sold normally for 1 riyal is sold there for 6 riyals, and the rest of the food and snacks were also extremely overpriced. it was very obvious they cut every corner and raise prices like this for the profit because nobody can stop them as a big corporation. we as saudi citizens deserve better than this. never go...