Just an hour and a half to drive from Dubai or
Abu Dhabi through rolling sand dunes along a tree-lined
freeway takes you to the oasis city of Al Ain (Arabic:
'The Spring').
Al Ain is the UAE's largest inland city, and the
second city of the Abu Dhabi Emirate. It is
surrounded by magnificent red sand dunes and overlooked
by an impressive mountain range. Al Ain is located
on the United Arab Emirates eastern border with Oman,
and is at a focal point for journeys from all over the
region by excellent roads. A holiday destination
for the UAE shiekhs for many years, Al Ain
enjoys its own microclimate bringing welcome relief from
the humidity of the coast.
The oases have brought people to this area for
thousands of years, and there is a rich history as
evidenced by the many archaeological excavations. There
are numerous restored and ruined forts and settlements
to be seen throughout the area. Today, the abundance of
water from the oases allows the city to bloom
in its numerous parks and gardens. It is often known as
the 'Garden City of the Gulf' and brings welcome respite
from the desert all around.
Visitors to the city will find a large amount of
facilities and attractions, and will find an atmosphere
and culture that feels more traditionally
Arabic than can be found in the coastal cities.
Some of the attractions include an active and
thriving Camel Market (not so easy to take one home
on the plane though!), ancient forts and even a theme
park. No visit would be complete without a trip to the
top of Jebel Hafeet mountain, with stunning views across
the desert dunes, or relaxing at one of the leavy
plantations or parks.
Al Ain also provides a great base from which you can
explore the desert, with desert 'safaris', 4WD
expeditions and camel trips through the desert all
available in the area. Visitors can even hop across the
border into Oman without the need for a visa and
visit the shops in Al Ain's sister city Al Buraimi.
Driving around the city you will also find at every road
junction fascinating roundabouts, each of which contain
themed sculptures, statues, gardens and fountains.
Al Ain can also boast a large amount of shops, from
modern air conditioned malls with prices often lower
than those in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, to specialised stores
including one of the regions largest gold souks.
There are three 5-star hotels in the city: The
Hilton, the Rotana and the Intercontinental, as well as
a number of smaller guesthouses.
Not many visitors to the UAE make it this far inland
to visit this fascinating city, and as a result you can
feel what this country used to be like before the
tourist influx - once you tire of the shopping and
beaches of the coast it is well worth a couple
of days to visit Al Ain.
Al Ain is the fourth largest city in the United Arab
Emirates, and many visitors are drawn to this oasis in
the desert. Al Ain is often referred to as "The
Garden City" and its restaurants are wide-ranging, much
like the variety of visitors the city sees annually.
Depending on your mood, Al Ain probably has the cuisine
to match.
Horse & Jockey
Considered the only pub in town, this typical sports
bar located in the InterContinental Inn serves a variety
of bar food. The fare here ranges from bangers and mash
to chips and curry. The food here is actually
decent and the pub services the
late-night crowd. The environment at the Horse
& Jockey is very casual, and it is a good place for
a cold beer and quick bite to eat.
Casa Romana
Casa Romana is a good Italian option located next to
the lobby within the Hilton hotel. The service is
questionable, but the fare is good. The menu holds all
the classics as some of its popular options are
fettuccine Alfredo, pizzas and lamb chops. The
vegetarian platter is a great option for an appetizer
with fresh artichokes, mushrooms, tomatoes, and
peppers.
Min Zaman
Location: Al Ain Rotana, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi
Min Zaman is a fantastic Arabic/Lebanese
establishment located in the Al Ain Rotana. The portions
are large, and delightful. Min Zamanprovides on-stage
entertainment with talented belly dancers for the
diners' enjoyment, and provides classic Arabic and
Lebanese dishes such as garlic labneh, beet root salad,
lamb kibbeh, homous, tabbouleh and mutabbel. Entrees
include lamb, chicken, and beef Zaman courses--and
enough of it to feed an army. The experience at Min
Zaman is second to none.
Tanjore
Location: InterContinental Al Ain Resort, Al Ain, Abu
Dhabi
Tanjoreis, located in the InterContinental Al Ain
Resort, is an Indian restaurant with a low key ambiance
(hard to come by in Al Ain). The decor is minimal, but
the flavors are delightful and plentiful. Tanjore's
specialities are brought from the Northern Indian
areas and they also focus on Tandoori. The curries at
Tanjore come prepared to order, and the dhal Tanjoreis,
the house speciality is made with lentil beans in a
creamy gravy served with saffron rice and garlic naan.
Tandoor hansh, marinated duck cooked in a clay oven, is
another house dish that is very well-executed. The menu
is typical of most Indian restaurants, but the chefs
have perfected their specialities.
Al Ain Festivals capture the elegance and
multi-cultural connection that this city offers to
visitors. Developing as a popular tourist destination,
Al Ain offers festivals at differing times of the year.
Music fills the air during the well-known festivals of
Al Ain, providing tourists with a cultural experience
while travelling to this destination.
Classical Music Festival
Al Ain Classical Music Festival features rankings
across the globe for being one of the most popular music
festivals. The Classical Music Festival of Al Ain runs
in March for a little over a week. This festival covers
classical music from Mozart to Opera. Two special
evenings are set aside for ladies only during the 11 day
presentation.
Al Ain Aerobatic Show
Several teams of military and civil aircraft come
together from across the globe for this Al Ain festival.
Teams fly through the air doing aerobatic flips and
somersaults with planes and skydivers. This long-running
sport festival of Al Ain offer spectators competitions
and stunt displays to witness before their eyes. Some of
the most dare-devil stunts have been performed at this
Al Ain festival in all of aviation history.
Shopping Festival
Al Ain adds a new festival to their list in the
summer months of June through August. Al Ain has put
together this festival to become the premier destination
for shopping. Hosted by Bawadi Mall, the shopping
festival provides fun for the whole family. Tourists and
residents to Al Ain and nearby cities are welcome to
join in the festivity.
Car Festival
Car festival in Al Ain races into town in March
annually. Cars range from dated Bentleys to modern
racing cars. The Cup is at stake as drivers compete
against each other to win. Spectators can enjoy the race
while seated at nearby cafes, restaurants, or hotels to
cheer on the drivers. If you are competing in the race,
this rally offers award to the winner with the Al Ain
Hill Climbing Cup.
Camel Racing
Camel racing is a popular sport in Al Ain. The season
begins in October and lasts through March. Regular
events are held for racing the camels at Camel Race
Track. The admission for visitors is free and offers the
most exciting races and atmosphere. If you plan your
travel to Al Ain just right, you can experience the
Classical Music Festival and see camel racing.
Travel the Al Ain festivals during different times of
the year offers much for tourists to do and
experience.
