10 reasons to visit Al Ain

A living oasis in the UAE capital, Al Ain invites visitors to experience culture, wellness and adventure in Abu Dhabi’s Garden City

Al Ain has welcomed visitors and explorers for thousands of years. This living oasis remains a destination offering a unique combination of wellness, adventure and heritage.

Historically and culturally, it is an important area which can trace its habitation back 5,000 years. This recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as The Cultural Sites of Al Ain, has six oases at its heart and is the ancestral

Al Ain invites visitors to experience the destination at their own pace

Here are 10 reasons why Al Ain is a destination not to miss:

1. The Hili Archaeological Park traces the history of the area in the Bronze and Iron Ages and contains the earliest known evidence of an agricultural village in the UAE. Villages, burial grounds and agricultural infrastructure dating back to 3,000 BCE are located at Hili, with some of them open to the public.

2. Bait Mohammed bin Khalifa is a historic house that has been carefully restored and transformed into a vibrant community centre and creative space for residents and tourists alike, with a permanent exhibition celebrating the nation’s social and architectural past.

3. Al Jahili Fort is a focal point of activities associated with the philosophy, culture and heritage of Abu Dhabi. One of the largest forts in the UAE, it was built between 1891 and 1898 on the orders of Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan (also known as Zayed the First) to serve as the home of the members of the ruling Al Nahyan family. It has been restored and transformed into a cultural centre.

4. Al Ain Palace Museum was home to the Founding Father of the UAE and the first President of the country, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. A contrast of modern design elements and traditional Emirati influences can be seen throughout the property.

7. The Oasis Garden consists of sub-gardens that represent the oasis ecosystem’s three different levels. The Pre-Oasis Garden represents an oasis at the time of its creation, with crops from arid areas and small palm trees providing shade while they grow. The Orchard Garden features figs, pomegranates, lemons, bananas and olives. The Symbolic Garden combats heat with the shade of tall plant foliage, allowing all the other plants to grow in the desert.

8. Spanning approximately 80 square kilometres of natural conservation, Telal Resort Al Ain is a luxurious boutique desert getaway where history, culture and local traditions are brought to life in a relaxed setting. Nestled in the heart of a natural oasis, this unique destination combines luxury with beauty and serenity against a backdrop of a vast natural landscape where rare plants and wildlife flourish.

home and birthplace of His Highness

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Less than 90 minutes from Dubai and 90 kilometres from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain invites visitors to experience the city at their own pace, whether they’re seeking family-friendly attractions, activities for couples or culture, fun and adventurous pursuits for singles.

5. A hidden gem in Al Ain, Souq Al Qattara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best heritage attractions in Al Ain. It hosts a traditional handicrafts festival that gives visitors a closer look at long-practised Emirati traditions, through demonstrations, competitions and hands-on workshops.

6. Al Ain Oasis is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. A stroll around the oasis reveals sprawling pathways shaded by a vibrant canopy of 147,000 date palms and fruit trees, which bloom with fruits like mangoes, oranges and bananas.

9. Jebel Hafit Desert Park is part of one of the Cultural Sites of Al Ain that form the UAE’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. It not only preserves the area’s rich history but also its unique biodiversity, encouraging visitors to experience this landscape up close and understand how it has changed over millions of years. The park offers guests three experiences: basic camping, fully serviced camping including breakfast in a camp of Bedouin tents and furnished five-star bubble glamping tents, complete with air-conditioning.

10. For something unique, the Al Ain Safari experience is led by passionate Emirati guides. It covers an impressive 217 hectares of land along the base of the majestic Jebel Hafit range, offering a glimpse of African lions, white rhinos, ostrich, zebra, wildebeest, gazelles, kudu, critically endangered or extinct-in-the-wild scimitar oryx, addax and more.

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