Al Ain is the fourth largest city in the UAE and the second largest in the Abu Dhabi Emirate. It lies about 160 km to the east of Abu Dhabi and around 120 km to the south of Dubai. The cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain form a geographic triangle that is created by the freeways joining the three cities. Al Ain shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia. Al Ain meaning ‘the water spring’ was earlier known as Tawam and has been inhabited for the last four hundred years and forms a strong cultural centre of the country.
The city is known as the ‘Garden City’ due to its lush green environment, oasis, beautiful roundabouts, parks and other natural beauties that give the city this name. Although Al Ain has the highest summer temperatures, it experiences low humidity and is therefore a preferred summer retreat for nationals from the capital city, Abu Dhabi. Today it is fast becoming a chosen holiday destination for international tourists too, as the climate compared to the other cities in the country is comparatively cooler.
The Jebel Hafeet is a mountain range that towers over the city from the background and offers a day excursion trip where travelers can look at the mineral springs found at its base while a drive up the mountain top gives a spectacular view of the sunset over the beautiful city below. Other attractions include the Al Ain National Museum that lies adjacent to the Al Hosn Palace. The museum houses artifacts, gold pendants and coins from the Iron and Bronze Ages while the Ethnographic section displays the customs and traditions with exhibits of jewelry and household items of these eras.
The Grand Hili Tomb in the Museum complex is also worth a visit. The Al Ain Palace Museum, the Al Ain Oasis in the heart of the city, which is one of the seven oases in the city, the Al Ain Zoological Park, Al Ain Aquarium and the Al Ain Fun City, which is an amusement park are all places that are of tourist interest. Al Ain will soon be one of the most sought after places in the Arabian countries when it develops more as a tourist resort where travelers can get away from the terrible heat of the inner countries of the Arabic world.
Photo by Styve Reineck provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by njellis provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Omar AL Bahra provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Lacramioara Sovar provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by Omar AL Bahra provided courtesy of Panoramio.com