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AL AIN
VENTURING OUT EAST FROM ABU DHABI WILL BRING VISITORS TO AL AIN, A GARDEN CITY BOASTING A WEALTH OF CULTURAL HOTSPOTS AND AMAZING LANDSCAPES.
HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS Al Ain boasts a profusion of old forts - some restored and some still picture perfect in their ruin- ous state. One of the oldest forts in the country lies in the grounds of the National Museum, and houses several permanent exhibitions, from a fascinating photographic display of black and white prints of Al Ain taken in the 1960s, to the reconstruction of a traditional majlis.
The National Museum was established in 1969 and includes exhibitions from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Hellenis- tic Era and the more recent Is- lamic period. The Al Ain Palace Museum, located on the edge of the city's oasis, is a former resi- dence of HH Sheikh Zayed. Built in 1937 and restored in 1998 as a living museum, it offers a nostalgic glimpse into the inner workings of a royal residence. Archaeological remains abound in nearby Rumeilah where there is a magnificent fort as well as the ruins of an Iron Age settlement, and rem- nants of a disused falaj (water irrigation) system. Mud-brick houses on the northern edge of the city form Bida Bint Saud dating back centuries.
Full-day tour incorporating museum and site visit 10-50
The National Museum is open 8am to 7.30pm Saturday to Thursday, 3pm to 7.30pm Friday and is closed on Monday
Inform the museums in advance of large groups, and see what special facilities they can offer
JEBEL HAFEET Al Ain's crowning glory is the UAE's highest mountain, Jebel Hafeet, which dominates the landscape and forms part of the Hajjar mountain range. Its impressive apex of 1,160 metres above the city is a sight to behold and made easy to ascend on the 13-kilometre road - which took six years to build - and topped off by a circular viewing area to survey the land.
A maze of caves traverse the interiors of the mountain, while at its base the tourist attraction of Green Mubazarrah offers hot springs and a lake, comple- mented by swimming pools and whirlpool facilities.
The mountain is often used by cyclists in training, and is the location for the annual Jebel Hafeet Mercure Challenge road cycling competition, which takes place every January.
Half-day trip 10-50
AL AIN WILDLIFE PARK AND RESORT The Al Ain Wildlife Park and Re- sort, which has undergone a series of landscaping transformations in the last few years, offers wide open spaces filled with numerous wild animals over a 40-hectare area. The largest park of its kind in the region it has a diverse variety of residents both great and small, indigenous and exotic.
Local attractions include oryx and gazelle while a big cat house holds lions, tigers, pumas, leopards and jaguars. For visitors during the summer months, the zoo
offers a special night-time opening schedule, which enables interested parties to witness the unique be- haviours of nocturnal animals. A night bird show, with special lighting, is also part of the programme, where un-tethered birds of prey zoom overhead, oblivious to curious onlookers. The zoo also has a dedicated restaurant and picnic areas.
Part of full-day city tour Two to 50
Best visited in the morning before the mid-day heat Take a tour guide
abudhabi 2011
Visit early to see the mountain at its best Combine the visit with a balloon trip or paragliding Local DMCs can assist
ATTRACTIONS KEY
Ideal for
Group size Timings Top tip
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