Inland, cooler and greener than the coast, Al Ain is the UAE's oasis city — and a genuinely worthwhile day trip from Abu Dhabi.
Sitting inland near the Oman border, Al Ain earned its “Garden City” nickname from its network of natural oases fed by an ancient falaj irrigation system, parts of which are recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The pace, greenery and mountain backdrop feel distinctly different from coastal Abu Dhabi.
A dramatic mountain rising sharply from the flat desert floor, Jebel Hafeet has a winding road to a viewpoint near its summit, popular with drivers and cyclists for the views back over Al Ain and, on a clear day, into Oman.
Al Ain Zoo is one of the region's larger wildlife parks, with a strong conservation focus. The old town's oasis area — walkable, shaded palm groves criss-crossed by irrigation channels — is a rare chance to walk somewhere in the UAE outside a mall or promenade.
