Al Ain
Intriguing traditions linger on in Al Ain, amidst the comforts of present day Arabia. Al Ain, the largest city in the Eastern region of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, is a charming desert oasis that has been a stop on the camel caravan trail since time immemorial. Although surprisingly little known, modern day Al Ain is a mélange of the traditional and modern, and has become a popular inland location for a short stay in stark contrast to the vibrancy and bustle of Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Al Ain holiday highlights
- Often described as the ‘Garden City of the Gulf’ with its lush greenery, Al Ain is backed by the imposing backdrop of Jebel Hafit, which dominates the skyline to the south of the city to form a major landmark amidst the desert landscape.
- 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. Using ancient non-mechanised ‘falaj’ irrigation systems, which remain to this day, the oases were developed into major date plantations.
