46 Results found for 'tourism in Al Ain'
This is the last souk of its kind in the UAE, east of Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain, and is an excellent opportunity to see camels up close and see and hear traders discussing the price and merits of their animals. There are some excellent photo opportunities, but be careful where you point your lens and always ask permission first. People will try to sell you a tour around the pens, but feel free to walk around on your own. In the livestock section, watch locals arrive in pickups laden with goats and sheep, ready to do some hard bargaining.
To the southwest of Jahili fort is a small mosque which is probably contemporary with the inner fort built by Sheikh Zayed the First at the end of the 19th century. The building’s historic fabric survives intact below a new layer of mud plaster added during a TCA Abu Dhabi conservation project. The mosque has a single room with an open arcade on the east side and is entered from an enclosed courtyard which would have been covered in summer to provide additional shade. Within the courtyard there’s a low, stepped platform from which the call to prayer was made and a small room which probably served originally for ritual ablutions.
At the expansive Al Ain Sportplex, the Al Ain Heritage and Culture Village is a destination in its own right. Bringing the richness of Emirati culture and diversity together in one place, the heritage-style theme park invites you to journey into the past and experience traditional UAE life. The village includes an old café, a popular market, and two theatres where you can enjoy art shows and listen to poetry and concerts.
Qasr Al Muwaiji
Open till 07:00 PM
The historic Qasr Al Muwaiji – birthplace of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE – has been lovingly restored to its former glory and from November 16 will be reopened to the public as a museum and permanent exhibition. Located in the centre of the Al Ain, Qasr al Muwaiji is an impressive structure that has watched over the oasis for over a 100 years. Built in the early 20th century, this simple but striking building was originally used as a diwan (a council or seat of governance) and as a place for the community to congregate.
The picturesque Al Jahili Fort is one of the UAE’s most historic buildings. It was erected in 1891 to defend the city and protect precious palm groves. The former headquarters of the Oman Trucial Scouts, the force that protected the mountain passes and kept inter-tribal peace, it also served as a residence for the local governor. It is set in beautifully landscaped gardens, and visitors are encouraged to explore it. An Al Ain landmark, the fort has been carefully restored and now houses a permanent exhibition of the work of British adventurer Sir Wilfred Thesiger (whom the locals affectionately refer to as ‘Mubarak Bin London’) and his 1940s crossings of the Rub Al Khali (The Empty Quarter) desert.