Things to do
5-
Al Ain Oasis
Date palms cover a walled plantation in the middle of town, irrigated by falaj channels that still run on a timed rota worked out centuries ago. Shaded paths cross it and an eco centre explains the system. Entry is free and the walk takes about an hour, best taken early while the water is flowing and the air is cool.
-
Al Ain Zoo
Four hundred hectares of desert ground hold Arabian oryx, big cats and a serious breeding programme for regional species, alongside a desert learning centre built into an artificial hill. Animals are active early and late, and midday sees the enclosures empty as they lie up in shade. A full circuit needs half a day and comfortable shoes.
-
Al Jahili Fort
Built in the 1890s to guard the palm groves, this mud brick fort holds a round watchtower and a permanent exhibition on Wilfred Thesiger, whose crossings of the Empty Quarter set out from nearby. Courtyards inside stay shaded and cool. Entry is free, the gates close early on Friday, and late afternoon light suits the plaster walls.
-
Hili Archaeological Park
Bronze Age tombs and settlement walls sit inside a public garden on the northern edge of town, among them a circular grave carved with figures of animals and human forms. Signage is light, so a visit rewards a little reading beforehand. The park is quiet, shaded and free, and an hour covers the monuments at a slow pace.
-
Jebel Hafeet
A limestone ridge lifts out of the desert on the Omani border, and a hairpin road climbs it to a summit car park looking over the whole oasis basin. Bronze Age tombs stand in the gravel plain at its base. Sunset draws a crowd and the descent is unlit, so headlights, low gear and patience are all needed.