Travel in Al Ain - United Arab Emirates - History

Al-ain, also spelled Al-ayn is the principal town in al-Buraymi oasis, south-eastern Abu Dhabi emirate, United Arab Emirates. The town is located 160 kilometres from Abu Dhabi City and 135 from Dubai. It has a hot but pleasant climate with low rainfall and is a popular summer retreat within the U.A.E.

The oasis town consists of houses of dried earth in a large palm grove; it also has a modern mosque and many gardens. Al-'Ayn is situated in a large expanse of fertile land at the foot of Jabal (mount) Hafit. Grave mounds at Al-'Ayn have tombs with figures of animals and people carved from stone and dating to about 2700 BC. Across the desert from the oasis town stands the fort of al-'Ayn erected by shaykh ibn-Zayd in 1910; a museum is nearby. In 1952, the Saudis occupied a neighbouring village in al-Buraymi oasis. Al-'Ayn was assigned to Abu Dhabi emirate under an agreement with Oman in 1953. The Saudis withdrew their small force from al-Buraymi oasis in 1955, after being defeated by the forces of the Sultan of Abu Dhabi and the dispute was settled by an agreement signed in 1974.

The Arabic words AL AIN mean “ spring” or “source” and were taken as the city’s name due to the abundant ground water provided for natural oases in the desert which were the attraction to human settlement. Using ancient but efficient non-mechanized “falaj” irrigation systems, which remain to this day, the oases were developed into major date plantations, which were the staff of life to the local populations. Modern day AL Ain has its origins in the plantations. Today a visit to the restored AL Ain Oasis adjacent to the museum can provide visitors with a relaxed walk providing an interesting insight to date cultivation.

Places of particular interest are Al Ain Zoo, Al Ain Museum, public parks at Hili and in the centre of town, Hili Fun City, Ayn al-Faydah resort and Jebel Hafit. Al Ain is also an educational centre, site of the UAE University, which includes among its many faculties a medical school. The Medical Centre at Tawam hospital is one of the country's main cancer treatment and medical research facilities. The city has a superb road network as well as an international airport.