Holiday in Al Ain

What makes Al Ain special as a destination?

Al Ain — the "Garden City" — is the greenest city in the United Arab Emirates and a UNESCO World Heritage site that tells a 5,000-year-old oasis history in the middle of the desert. While Dubai and Abu Dhabi focus on glamour, Al Ain preserves the authentic Arab heritage with date palm oases, historic forts, and the majestic Jebel Hafeet. The Al Ain Oasis — in the middle of the city — is a labyrinthine network of shady paths under 147,000 date palms, irrigated by an ancient falaj system (underground water channels), which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The silence under the palm canopy, only interrupted by the sound of water, is a magical oasis of tranquility. Jebel Hafeet — at 1,249 meters the highest mountain in Abu Dhabi — offers a spectacular winding road to the summit and a panorama over the desert to Oman. At the foot of the mountain lies the Green Mounds — 5,000-year-old burial mounds from the Bronze Age. The Al Ain Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the Middle East with over 4,000 animals, including Arabian Oryx and white lions. The Al Jahili Fort — one of the best-preserved mud forts in the Emirates — houses a fascinating exhibition about the legendary explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger and his crossing of the Rub al-Khali.