Al Ain

 The Garden City Of The Gulf

Al Ain is surrounded by magnificent red sand dunes and overlooked by an impressive mountain range.  Al Ain is located inland on the United Arab Emirates eastern border, at a focal point for journeys by excellent roads to Abu Dhabi,  Dubai and Sharjah.

Archaeological discoveries date settlements in Al Ain to around 3000 BC. A visit to the Al Ain Museum with it's many and varied displays will provide a fascinating insight to the history of the city and region. There are revealing archaeological excavations for the experts, however a visit to the beautiful Hili Archaeological Park to view the magnificently restored tomb can provide a flavour of times long past.  The Arabic words Al Ain mean "spring" and were taken as the city's name due to the abundant ground water springs in the area.  This ground water provided for natural oases in the desert which were the attraction to human settlement. 

HILI FUN CITY

This theme park caters to all the family. Picnic grounds, food outlets, souvenir shops and variety shows are provided in addition to the selection of over 30 rides including modern favourites such as Roller Coaster and Carousel and the latest attraction such as Laser Dome and Gyro Tower.

HILI ARCHAEOLOGICAL GARDENS

This beautifully landscaped park has as its centre piece - the restored tomb dating back four millennium.  It also contains children's playgrounds, picnic areas and a coffe shop.

CENTRAL GARDENS

Al Ain is blessed with numerous beautifully landscaped parks. Of particular interest to visitors is the Central Public Gardens located just west of the Clocktower Roundabout in the Town Center. Set within the gardens are fascinating fountains and a large children’s adventure play area.

HOT SPRINGS

Located off the road to the Hafeet Mountain,  it is an amazing sight to see the lakes of water amid the arid mountain and desert setting.

AL AIN MUSEUM

Situated adjacent to the Al Hosn Fort,  the museum has two sections. The Ethnographical Section reflects the past daily life of the people of the region. The Archaeological Section displays discoveries dating back to the Bronze and Iron ages. The museum is open Sunday to Friday. Closed on Saturdays.

AL AIN UNIVERSITY

Al Ain is the location for the University of the UAE,  opened in 1977.  Approximately 12,000 students are educated in seven faculties located in a variety of buildings designed and constructed in impressive Islamic architectural styles.

HAFEET MOUNTAIN

1350 meters high, of craggy rock, the mountain is a major landmark positioned to the south of the city. A 13 kilometer long road winds its way to the summit where temperatures are significantly lower. On a clear day,  there are magnificent views of the city and it’s surroundings.

ZOO AND AQUARIUM

The huge site housing the Zoo is located to the south of the town. Big cat houses, gorilla and monkey compounds, reptile house, aviaries all make viewing the large animal collection an easy experience. The zoo is also famous for its research activities particularly for it’s breeding of endangered native animals. (Closed on Saturdays and Wednesdays)

ICE RINK

Located adjacent to Hili Fun City, this magnificent Olympic sized facility is open daily. In addition to skating,  a variety of other children’s activity games and a video arcade are also provided.

CAMEL RACING

Through out the Camel racing season, (October to March) races are held regularly at the Camel Race Track located to the west of the City, just off the road to Abu Dhabi. Visitors are welcome to view the exciting races and experience the atmosphere, free of charge.

AIN AL FAYDA RESORT

This landscaped resort is built around the natural springs located to the south of the city. A Guest House and chalet style accommodation is provided. Casual visitors can also avail of the many leisure facilities including parks, a boating lake, 10 pin bowling and swimming.

SAND GOLF COURSE

This full sized 18 hole sand course offers the golfer the opportunity to play the game as it has traditionally been played in the Gulf for many years. The course is located 4.5 Kilometers east of the Intercontinental Hotel.

GRASS GOLF COURSE

This 9 hole par 3 course is located within the grounds of the Hilton Hotel. It is an ideal facility for practicing short games.

TRADITIONAL SOUQ

The  souqs in the Town center offer  a  fascinating  insight  to an aspect of the daily life of  Al Ain residents. Visitors to the Central Meat, Fish and Vegetable souq will discover a fascinating friendly atmosphere amid a kaleidoscope of oriental colours, noises and spice smells.

AL AIN OASIS

A shaded walk through this large date plantation, will provide a restful and interesting experience. See workmen cultivating the huge palms, observe the falaj irrigation system and then take in the serenity at one of the specially provided sitting areas.

The Corniche
A graceful sweep of park-lined coastal boulevard skirts the city. This is Abu Dhabi Corniche, an impressive address which has attracted a backdrop of architecturally modern and beautiful commercial buildings which face the sparkling aquamarine sea.

Qasr Al Hosn

The oldest building in Abu Dhabi & the sole survivor of the old city is the former home of Abu Dhabi’s Ruler. It now houses the Government Department of Documentation & Research, & with its traditional white walls is a rare reminder of how the city looked before oil arrived. The surrounding foliage & deep-blue sky make a stunning contrast to much of the rest of Abu Dhabi. Khaled Bin Waleed St, open Sun-Thurs 0730-1330, closed Fri & Sat, admission free.

Manhal Palace

This ornate palace with Arabic tiling & canopied wings was home to Sheik Zayed until 1974. Next to the Post Office on Airport Rd.

The Grand Mosque

This large, square building, notable for its vast size & triple-domed roof, is most impressive by night when the white walls are floodlit. At the junction of Airport Rd & Zayed I St. Open daily outside prayer times.

Batin Palace

The home of the current head of state of UAE & the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The handsome white building is the Abu Dhabi equivalent of Buckingham Palace. However, guests are rarely allowed inside, accommodated instead at the nearby Guest Palace, distinguished by its red & white walls & central tower.

Camel Races

Held at various desert sites around Al Wathba & Al Ain every Thurs & Fri during the winter, camel races are an unforgettably Arabic experience for Western expats. Check local newspapers for race schedule.

Petroleum Exhibition

Explains how oil was discovered & developed in the UAE through the use of old photographs & aerial shots tracking the scale of development in the region. Tel: 6269 715 for further details. On the Corniche Rd next to the fire station.

Heritage Village
The nomadic Bedouin way of life was not the only tradition of people in Abu Dhabi. They had diverse occupations, many involved in agriculture, fishing and trading. These different lifestyles are depicted in permanent displays at Heritage Village in Abu Dhabi city. Displays the reality of life in a Bedouin village, warts & all. Includes the myths & reverence that the Bedouin has for the desert, plus the history of pearling, complete with a pearling boat in an artificial lake. Regular markets sell traditional Bedouin crafts. Located behind the Abu Dhabi international exhibition centre on Mussafah Rd.

Lulu Island
Work began in 1988 on this man-made island resort off the Corniche. It is designed to be a recreational paradise to rival the best in the world, with hotels, restaurants, gardens, bird and animal sanctuaries, and fun-parks for the children.

The Cultural Foundation
Located next to Qasr Al Hosn, the Foundation boasts a library, galleries, meeting rooms, an archive, cinema, sculptures, coffee shop & theatre. Cultural events are held daily, check local press for details. The cultural heart of Abu Dhabi is its Cultural Foundation which occupies a sprawling complex covering 14 hectares in the centre of the city. It incorporates a library, theatre auditorium, lecture rooms and an exhibition centre. Built in white concrete in a style influenced by the arching colonnades of traditional Arabian-Islamic architecture, and surrounded by courtyards and gardens, it is truly a magnificent asset for the city.

SPORTS:

Power Boats
Abu Dhabi has entered the international sporting arena by staging the UIM Formula One Power Boat Race, the first such event in the Middle East. Competitors come from near and far for this race, held during the month of May in a festival atmosphere complete with top-line international entertainment and a magnificent fireworks display.

Dhow and Row-boat Races
The days of the great sailing dhows which plied the Gulf trading routes, fishing and pearling grounds are gone, yet the dhow lives on in Abu Dhabi as a recreational craft. These ocean aristocrats are raced several times a year on the waters off the Corniche. Just as thrilling are the traditional row-boat races. These are longboats with up to 200 oarsmen pulling through the water for the glory of their team to the rhythm of ancient seafaring chants.

Horse Racing
The sport of kings is also the sport of sheikhs and becoming increasingly popular in Abu Dhabi and Umm Al Quwain. This is the home of the Arab horse, bred for its stamina by the desert Bedouin.

Scuba Diving & Deep Sea Fishing
The clean, calm Gulf waters are teaming with exotic marine life and big game fish such as sail fish and barracuda. Charter a boat and go after the big marlin, or hire some scuba gear and delight in the underwater world. The Gulf is peppered with old wrecks to add mystery to the adventure.

Sand Skiing
It was recently discovered that the towering sand dunes around Liwa make excellent ski slopes - and you don't need chill-proof underwear. Just a T-shirt, jeans, a standard snow board like a monoski, and away you go.

SHOPPING:

Airport Duty Free
Visitors' first experience of shopping in Abu Dhabi is the superb Duty Free area at Abu Dhabi's Nadia Airport. Here prices are fixed so low there is no point in bargaining. Since it opened in 1986, the retail complex has won countless awards for marketing, quality, efficiency, advertising, and business enterprise. Brilliantly researched and designed, the area contains about thirty different stores, their open layouts making it easy for customers to browse and choose. There are no counters, no queues and no aggressive sales people and a vast and exciting range of merchandise.