City Nature Challenge 2026: Dubai residents invited to record wildlife this weekend
Capture plants and animals across the city using a simple app
DUBAI – Dubai is preparing to transform into a citywide hub for nature discovery as the City Nature Challenge returns from April 24 to 27, 2026.
Open to all residents and free to join, the four-day initiative encourages people to step outdoors and document the wildlife that exists all around them. From urban streets to coastal areas, every sighting can contribute to scientific research.
Organised locally by Terra at Expo City Dubai, the event forms part of a global movement spanning hundreds of cities. Participants collectively build a shared database of observations, helping researchers better understand biodiversity in urban environments. Last year alone, Dubai recorded more than 1,300 observations in just four days.
City Nature Challenge
The City Nature Challenge is a citizen science initiative that invites people to photograph wild plants, animals and insects wherever they find them. Whether it is a bird perched on a balcony, an insect on a pavement or a lizard in the desert, every observation counts.
Each image is uploaded to the iNaturalist platform, where a global community helps identify species. The data collected is then used by scientists and researchers to monitor ecosystems and track environmental changes.
The initiative requires no prior knowledge or expertise, making it accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. Participants effectively become contributors to a worldwide scientific effort simply by using their smartphones.
How to join
Taking part is straightforward and can be done at any time during the four-day window. Participants need to download the iNaturalist app, create a free account and head outdoors to start documenting wildlife.
Observations can be made anywhere within Dubai, including parks, beaches, neighbourhood streets and even private gardens. After taking a photograph, users upload it through the app, where it becomes part of the global dataset.
Following the observation period, the identification phase runs from April 28 to May 10, during which the online community verifies and classifies the recorded species. Final results are scheduled to be announced on May 13.
What you might spot
Previous editions have revealed a surprising diversity of species across Dubai. Participants have documented everything from violet sunbirds and damselflies to sand geckos, scorpions and Arabian salmon butterflies.
The challenge highlights how wildlife exists in everyday surroundings, often unnoticed. Even brief encounters during a walk or commute can lead to meaningful contributions.
Families are also taking part, turning the experience into an educational activity where children can learn about local ecosystems while exploring the outdoors.
Festival events
Alongside the main challenge, Terra is hosting the Nature and Wonder Festival on April 25 and 26 at Expo City Dubai. The event runs from 4pm to 9pm, with tickets priced at Dh50, while young children can enter free.
The programme includes guided biodiversity walks held every 30 minutes, as well as workshops, talks and interactive activities. Expert-led sessions feature marine life discussions by Susanne Fisher and urban biodiversity insights by Sheena Khan.
Visitors can also explore indoor screenings, creative sessions and an eco-market offering sustainable products, creating an immersive environment centred on nature awareness.