Al Ain

{{See also|Geography of the United Arab Emirates}}

Al Ain is known as the "Garden City" ({{langx|ar|مَدِيْنَة ٱلْحَدِيْقَة|Madīnat Al-Ḥadīqah|lit=City of The Garden}}){{cite news |last=ʿAbd Al-Nūr |first=Wadīʿ |title=المبزّرة الخضراء واحة سياحة ... ومقصد علاج |language=ar |publisher=Al-Hayat |location=Al-Ain |url=http://www.alhayat.com/article/878364/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%82%D8%B5%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AC |date=2 August 2017 |access-date=7 January 2019 |archive-date=16 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616154600/http://www.alhayat.com/article/878364/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%82%D8%B5%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AC |url-status=dead }} of Abu Dhabi,{{cite news |last=Gillett |first=Katy |newspaper=The National |title=Visit the Garden City: New bus route launched between Dubai and Al Ain |url=https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/travel/visit-the-garden-city-new-bus-route-launched-between-dubai-and-al-ain-1.848718#13 |date=18 April 2019 |access-date=18 April 2019 |archive-date=17 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617103301/https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/travel/visit-the-garden-city-new-bus-route-launched-between-dubai-and-al-ain-1.848718#13 |url-status=live }} the UAE or the Gulf, due to its greenery, particularly with regard to the city's oases, parks, tree-lined avenues and decorative roundabouts, with strict height controls on new buildings, to no more than seven floors.{{cite web |work=Abu Dhabi Digital Government |title=Al Ain Oasis and City |url=https://www.abudhabi.ae/portal/public/en/citizens/culture-and-recreation/cultural-and-historical-sites/al-ain-oasis-and-city;jsessionid=zEjPaM5cOVD2L1V91S_YuiZ3DmWiA6hPCpl5eLviLaR9F1IbgYFj!1986675952!1416563598!1541078044252 |date=27 June 2018 |access-date=31 October 2018 |archive-date=20 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220140217/https://www.tamm.abudhabi/ |url-status=live}} According to one author, the oases around Al Ain and Al-Hasa in Saudi Arabia are the most important in the region of the Gulf.{{cite book |last1=Cavendish |first1=Marshall |author-link=Marshall Cavendish |title=World and Its Peoples |volume=1 |chapter=Geography and climate |publisher=Cavendish Square Publishing |isbn=978-0-7614-7571-2 |pages=8–19 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j894miuOqc4C&q=the+most+important+oases+al-hasa+al+ayn |year=2007 |access-date=15 October 2020 |archive-date=20 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220140206/https://books.google.com/books?id=j894miuOqc4C&q=the+most+important+oases+al-hasa+al+ayn |url-status=live}}

The city is located approximately {{convert|160|km}} east of the capital Abu Dhabi, and about {{convert|120|km}} south of Dubai.[http://www.scad.ae/Publications/YearBook/Population%20and%20Demography-English%20SYB%202011.pdf]{{dead link|date=April 2013}} The eastern region covers an area of approximately {{cvt|13,100|km²}}. Oman lies to the east, Dubai and Sharjah to the north, Abu Dhabi to the west and the Empty Quarter desert and Saudi Arabia to the south. The topography of Al Ain is unique and varies as one travels to the east. The ecologically important Jebel Hafeet ("Mount Hafeet"),{{cite news |newspaper=The National |title=Rare caracal sighting: how the fate of the country's most threatened species can be changed |url=https://www.thenational.ae/uae/environment/rare-caracal-sighting-how-the-fate-of-the-country-s-most-threatened-species-can-be-changed-1.830152 |date=26 February 2019 |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=26 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226214550/https://www.thenational.ae/uae/environment/rare-caracal-sighting-how-the-fate-of-the-country-s-most-threatened-species-can-be-changed-1.830152 |url-status=live }} an outlier of the main Hajar range, is considered one of the monuments of Al Ain, lying just to the south of the city. Rising to {{convert|1,100|-|1,400|m|feet|abbr=off}} in elevation,{{cite book |editor-last1=Lieth |editor-first1=Helmut |editor-last2=Al Masoom |editor-first2=A. A. |title=Towards the rational use of high salinity tolerant plants: Vol 2: Agriculture and forestry under marginal soil water conditions |publisher=Springer Science+Business Media |volume=2: Agriculture and forestry under marginal soil water conditions |chapter=Reclamation potentials of saline degraded lands in Abu Dhabi eastern region using high salinity-tolerant woody plants and some salt marsh species |pages=271–274 |isbn=978-9-4011-1860-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-fqCAAAQBAJ&q=hafit |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=14 January 2019 |archive-date=19 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219221359/https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-fqCAAAQBAJ&q=hafit |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Gardner |first=Andrew Somerville |title=The reptiles of Jebel Hafeet |publisher=ADCO and Emirates Natural History Group |pages=149–168 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235918847 |date=January 2004 |access-date=14 January 2019 |archive-date=14 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114153347/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235918847_The_reptiles_of_Jebel_Hafit |url-status=live}} Jebel Hafeet is one of the highest mountains in the country, and has a number of ridges which stretch to the inner part of the city, two of which are Jabal Al Naqfah{{cite news |last=Az-Zahiri |author-link=Dhawahir |first=Harib |title=العين مدينة القلب |publisher=Al-Ittihad |url=https://www.alittihad.ae/article/10959/2008/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A8 |language=ar |date=7 March 2008 |access-date=15 August 2019 |archive-date=6 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206022427/https://www.alittihad.ae//article/10959/2008/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d9%8a%d9%86-%d9%85%d8%af%d9%8a%d9%86%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d9%84%d8%a8 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |publisher=Visit Abu Dhabi |title=الواحة المصغرة |language=ar |url=https://visitabudhabi.ae/ar/see.and.do/attractions.and.landmarks/family.attractions/al.ain.oasis/mini.oasis.aspx |access-date=15 August 2019 |archive-date=15 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815183607/https://visitabudhabi.ae/ar/see.and.do/attractions.and.landmarks/family.attractions/al.ain.oasis/mini.oasis.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite news |publisher=Al-Bayan |title=ركض |language=ar |url=https://www.albayan.ae/sports/finish-line/2016-10-24-1.2741032 |date=24 October 2016 |access-date=15 August 2019 |archive-date=15 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815182107/https://www.albayan.ae/sports/finish-line/2016-10-24-1.2741032 |url-status=live }} (which touches Al Ain Oasis),{{citation |last1=Yildirim |first1=Ege |last2=El-Masri |first2=Sami |title=Master Planning for Heritage Conservation in Al Ain Oasis, UAE |publisher=ADACH and ISOCARP |pages=1–11 |location=UAE |url=http://www.isocarp.net/Data/case_studies/1705.pdf |year=2010 |access-date=15 August 2019 |archive-date=20 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020194304/http://www.isocarp.net/Data/case_studies/1705.pdf |url-status=live }} and the Western ridge.{{citation |publisher=UNESCO |title=The Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas) |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1343/multiple%3D1%26unique_number%3D1762 |access-date=15 August 2019 |archive-date=15 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815182109/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1343/multiple%3D1%26unique_number%3D1762 |url-status=live }}{{citation |work=UAE Government |title=The Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas) – Serial Property – Executive Summary |publisher=UNESCO |url=https://whc.unesco.org/document/169162 |date=March 2010 |access-date=15 August 2019 |archive-date=15 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815182104/https://whc.unesco.org/document/169162 |url-status=live }} Sand dunes of varying texture that are tinged red with iron oxide lie to the north and east of Al Ain.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

The city has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), featuring long, extremely hot summers and warm winters. In Al-Ain, the mean annual rainfall is {{convert|96|mm|in|abbr=on}} and the average relative humidity is 60% (United Arab Emirates University, 1993). Low humidity in Al-Ain, particularly during the summers, makes it a popular destination for many people during this time of the year. Boer (1997) classified the UAE climate as hyper-arid and divided it into four climatic regions: the coastal zone along the Persian Gulf, the mountain areas northeast of UAE, the gravel plains around Al Ain, and the central and southern sand desert. More rainfall and lower temperature occur in the northeast than in the southern and western regions. The monthly average rainfall around Al-Ain was {{convert|100|–|120|mm|in|abbr=on}} from the period 1970 to 1992.{{Citation needed|date=May 2008}}

To the south of the city, near Oman, there is the man-made Lake Zakher, which resulted from the release of waste water from desalination plants.{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/14/world/meast/desert-lake-zakher-emirates/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 |title=The accidental lake: Birdwatcher's oasis or ecological disaster? |publisher=CNN |date=14 March 2013 |access-date=6 August 2013 |archive-date=18 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518052304/http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/14/world/meast/desert-lake-zakher-emirates/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 |url-status=live }} Also in this region, to the east of Jebel Hafeet, lies the area of Mezyad, which has a border crossing with Oman, and is where the historic Mezyad Fort is located.{{Cite news |last=Kazmi |first=Aftab |title=Mezyad Fort stands tall in the foothills of Jebel Hafeet |work=Gulf News |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/mezyad-fort-stands-tall-in-the-foothills-of-jebel-hafeet-1.1187525 |date=23 May 2013 |access-date=4 March 2019 |archive-date=1 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401081741/https://gulfnews.com/uae/mezyad-fort-stands-tall-in-the-foothills-of-jebel-hafeet-1.1187525 |url-status=live }}

{{Weather box|width = auto

|location = Al Ain International Airport (1991–2020)

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 31.8

|Feb record high C = 36.6

|Mar record high C = 42.9

|Apr record high C = 44.4

|May record high C = 49.3

|Jun record high C = 49.4

|Jul record high C = 49.2

|Aug record high C = 48.8

|Sep record high C = 47.8

|Oct record high C = 43.7

|Nov record high C = 37.5

|Dec record high C = 35.0

|year record high C = 49.4

|Jan high C = 24.7

|Feb high C = 27.5

|Mar high C = 31.3

|Apr high C = 36.9

|May high C = 42.1

|Jun high C = 44.6

|Jul high C = 44.9

|Aug high C = 44.6

|Sep high C = 42.0

|Oct high C = 37.7

|Nov high C = 31.4

|Dec high C = 26.9

|year high C = 36.2

|Jan mean C = 18.5

|Feb mean C = 20.7

|Mar mean C = 24.0

|Apr mean C = 29.1

|May mean C = 33.7

|Jun mean C = 36.0

|Jul mean C = 37.2

|Aug mean C = 37.1

|Sep mean C = 34.4

|Oct mean C = 30.3

|Nov mean C = 24.8

|Dec mean C = 20.4

|year mean C = 28.9

|Jan low C = 12.8

|Feb low C = 14.5

|Mar low C = 17.3

|Apr low C = 21.7

|May low C = 25.7

|Jun low C = 28.1

|Jul low C = 30.2

|Aug low C = 30.6

|Sep low C = 27.6

|Oct low C = 23.7

|Nov low C = 19.0

|Dec low C = 14.8

|year low C = 22.2

|Jan record low C = 5.6

|Feb record low C = 5.9

|Mar record low C = 9.9

|Apr record low C = 13.2

|May record low C = 18.0

|Jun record low C = 19.9

|Jul record low C = 22.8

|Aug record low C = 21.9

|Sep record low C = 21.8

|Oct record low C = 16.2

|Nov record low C = 13.0

|Dec record low C = 7.4

|year record low C = 5.6

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 14.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 4.6

|Mar precipitation mm = 17.9

|Apr precipitation mm = 6.1

|May precipitation mm = 0.7

|Jun precipitation mm = 0.6

|Jul precipitation mm = 4.9

|Aug precipitation mm = 1.5

|Sep precipitation mm = 0.8

|Oct precipitation mm = 0.5

|Nov precipitation mm = 2.2

|Dec precipitation mm = 7.3

|year precipitation mm = 62.0

|unit precipitation days = 1 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 3.2

|Feb precipitation days = 2.0

|Mar precipitation days = 2.6

|Apr precipitation days = 1.7

|May precipitation days = 1.0

|Jun precipitation days = 1.5

|Jul precipitation days = 1.4

|Aug precipitation days = 1.2

|Sep precipitation days = 1.2

|Oct precipitation days = 1.0

|Nov precipitation days = 1.3

|Dec precipitation days = 1.8

|year precipitation days = 20.0

|Jan humidity = 63

|Feb humidity = 55

|Mar humidity = 48

|Apr humidity = 36

|May humidity = 30

|Jun humidity = 33

|Jul humidity = 37

|Aug humidity = 35

|Sep humidity = 39

|Oct humidity = 43

|Nov humidity = 53

|Dec humidity = 61

|year humidity = 44

|Jan sun = 267.3

|Feb sun = 258.0

|Mar sun = 281.1

|Apr sun = 309.7

|May sun = 344.0

|Jun sun = 335.2

|Jul sun = 320.0

|Aug sun = 318.0

|Sep sun = 304.9

|Oct sun = 308.5

|Nov sun = 280.4

|Dec sun = 269.5

|Jan dew point C =10

|Feb dew point C =10

|Mar dew point C =10

|Apr dew point C =10

|May dew point C =12

|Jun dew point C =16

|Jul dew point C =18

|Aug dew point C =18

|Sep dew point C =16

|Oct dew point C =15

|Nov dew point C =14

|Dec dew point C =11

|source 1 =NOAA (humidity 1995-2017){{cite web |title=Climate Normals for Sharjah |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/UAE/CSV/AlAinIntlAirport_41218.csv |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date=10 February 2024}}

|date=February 2013 National Center of Meteorology{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220153334/http://www.ncm.ae/en/climate-reports-yearly.html?id=8802 |archive-date=20 February 2018 |url=http://www.ncm.ae/en/climate-reports-yearly.html?id=8802 |title=Climate Normals for Al Ain I.A for the period from 1995 to 2017 |publisher=The National Center of Meteorology |access-date=20 February 2018}}

|source 2 =[https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/united-arab-emirates/al-ain/climate Time and Date] (dewpoints, between 2005 and 2015){{cite web |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/united-arab-emirates/al-ain/climate |title=Climate & Weather Averages at Al Ain International Airport weather station (41218) |publisher=Time and Date |access-date=6 February 2022 |archive-date=6 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206184546/https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/united-arab-emirates/al-ain/climate |url-status=live}}

}}

{{See also|Demographics of the United Arab Emirates}}

With a population of 846,787 (as of 2021),{{cite web |date=21 Jan 2025 |title=United Arab Emirates live poopulation tracker |url=https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/united-arab-emirates-population/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218024219/http://www.ipsnews.net/2017/10/abu-dhabi-population-hits-3-million-fertility-rate-3-7-per-citizen-female/ |archive-date=18 February 2018 |access-date=17 February 2018 |website=www.ipsnews.net}} it has the highest percentage of Emirati nationals (30.8%) in the country, though the majority of its residents are expatriates, particularly from the Indian subcontinent. Many people are from Bangladesh and Pakistan. There is also a significant number of Afghans in the city.{{cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/afghan-city-reflects-expats-trust-in-young-democracy-says-envoy-1.2076703|title=Afghan city reflects expats' trust in young democracy, says envoy|access-date=8 September 2017|archive-date=8 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908201219/http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/afghan-city-reflects-expats-trust-in-young-democracy-says-envoy-1.2076703|url-status=live}}

{{See also|Economy of the United Arab Emirates}}

File:Al Ain cement factory.jpg]]

Al Ain is an important services centre for a wide area extending into Oman. There are three major shopping centres,{{cite web |last=Vijayan |first=Ranjit |title=Shopping |publisher=Explore Al Ain |url=http://www.explorealain.com/shopping.html |access-date=23 April 2019 |archive-date=23 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423123216/http://www.explorealain.com/shopping.html |url-status=live }} Al Ain Mall, Al Jimi Mall, Al Hili Mall and Al Bawadi Mall (opened in 2009 in Al Khrair area) as well as traditional souqs for fruit and vegetables and livestock. One such souq exists for camels near an IKEA store and Bawadi Mall on Zayed Bin Sultan Street, the road which leads to Mezyad.{{cite book |title=The Rough Guide to Dubai |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-2412-9865-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3awnDQAAQBAJ&q=Mazyad |date=15 November 2016 |access-date=10 March 2019 |archive-date=20 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220140153/https://books.google.com/books?id=3awnDQAAQBAJ&q=Mazyad |url-status=live }} Industry is growing on a small scale, and includes the Coca-Cola bottling plant and the Al Ain Portland Cement Works. The water in Al-Ain is of good quality. Service industries such as car sales, mechanics and other artisans are located in the area known as Sanaiya and Pattan Market. Social and governmental infrastructure include the Higher Colleges of Technology, well-equipped medical facilities including the teaching hospital at Tawam, Al Ain International Airport,{{cite web |last=Vijayan |first=Ranjit |title=Transportation |publisher=Explore Al Ain |url=http://www.explorealain.com/transportation.html |access-date=23 April 2019 |archive-date=23 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423123232/http://www.explorealain.com/transportation.html |url-status=live }} and military training areas.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} Al Ain also has world's largest dates processing and marketing company, Al Foah Company LLC. The place is also famous for Al Ain Dairy Farm located just outside Al Ain.

{{See also|Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates|Bidaa Bint Saud|Hafit period|Hili Archaeological Park|Jumeirah#History|List of Ancient Settlements in the UAE|List of cultural property of national significance in the United Arab Emirates|List of oldest continuously inhabited cities|Umm al-Nar culture}}

{{quote box

| quote = Hafit {Tuwwam} abounds in palm trees; it lies in the direction of Hajar {Al-Hasa}, and the mosque is in the markets ... Dibba and Julfar, both in the direction of the Hajar, are close to the sea ... Tuwwam has been dominated by a branch of the Quraysh ...

| width = 25% | align = left | source = —Al-Muqaddasi, 985 CE.{{cite book |last1=Morton |first1=Michael Quentin |title=Keepers of the Golden Shore: A History of the United Arab Emirates |publisher=Reaktion Books |location=London |isbn=978-1-7802-3580-6 |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-oxfDQAAQBAJ&q=tuwwam |date=15 April 2016 |access-date=8 November 2016 |archive-date=19 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219221358/https://books.google.com/books?id=-oxfDQAAQBAJ&q=tuwwam |url-status=live}}

}}

The region of Al Ain and Buraimi, together known as the Buraimi Oasis,{{cite book |editor-last=El Reyes |editor-first=Dr. Abdulla |title=Liwa Journal of the National Archives |publisher=Emirati National Archives |pages=35–37 |location=United Arab Emirates |url=http://www.na.ae/en/Images/LIWA12.pdf |date=December 2014 |access-date=5 February 2017 |language=en |archive-date=6 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206103840/http://www.na.ae/en/Images/LIWA12.pdf |url-status=dead }} is of cultural and historical importance.{{cite news |last=Leech |first=Nick |title=The long read: has a lost Arab capital been found on the Oman-UAE border? |newspaper=The National |url=https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/the-long-read-has-a-lost-arab-capital-been-found-on-the-oman-uae-border-1.4941 |date=22 October 2015 |access-date=20 January 2019 |archive-date=31 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531044954/http://www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle/the-review/the-long-read-has-a-lost-arab-capital-been-found-on-the-oman-uae-border |url-status=live }} For example, the area witnessed events relevant to the history of Islam during the Rashidun, Umayyad and Abbasid eras, similar to Dibba and Ras Al-Khaimah.{{cite book |last1=Abed |first1=Ibrahim |last2=Hellyer |first2=Peter |title=The United Arab Emirates, A New Perspective |location=London |publisher=Trident Press Ltd. |year=2001 |pages=60–86 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QcMz3zV0qAMC&q=dibba+tuwwam |isbn=978-1-900724-47-0 |access-date=30 January 2019 |archive-date=20 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220140222/https://books.google.com/books?id=QcMz3zV0qAMC&q=dibba+tuwwam |url-status=live}} It was at this place Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the United Arab Emirates,had spent considerable time of his life (approximately from 1927 till he became the Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1966). Though it is often said that he was born in Abu Dhabi,{{cite thesis |last=Al-Hosani |first=Hamad Ali |title=The Political Thought of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan |publisher=Durham University |pages=43–44 |url=http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3448/1/electronic_version_of_my_thesis.pdf |format=PhD Thesis |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205164804/http://www.na.ae/en/Images/LIWA12.pdf |year=2012 |access-date=15 April 2016 |archive-date=5 February 2017}}{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Douglas |title=Zayed bin Sultan, Gulf Leader and Statesman, Dies |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/03/international/middleeast/03zayed.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730112802/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/03/international/middleeast/03zayed.html |archive-date=30 July 2013 |date=3 November 2004 |access-date=25 January 2014}}{{cite news |newspaper=AMEinfo.com |title=The legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Father of the UAE |url=http://www.ameinfo.com/sheikh_zayed_bin_sultan_al_nahyan/ |access-date=18 April 2013 |date=2 November 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429104101/http://www.ameinfo.com/sheikh_zayed_bin_sultan_al_nahyan/ |archive-date=29 April 2013}} some others were of the opinion that he was born in Al-Ain.{{cite book |publisher=Rough Guides UK |title=The Rough Guide to Dubai |chapter=Al Ain |pages=227–232 |isbn=978-0-2412-9864-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IYYnDQAAQBAJ&q=al+ain+birthplace+of+sheikh+zayed |date=1 November 2016 |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-date=20 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220115858/https://books.google.com/books?id=IYYnDQAAQBAJ&q=al+ain+birthplace+of+sheikh+zayed |url-status=live }}{{cite book |publisher=Oxford Business Group |title=The Report: Abu Dhabi 2014 |chapter=ALAIN |page=228 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4RDPBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA228 |access-date=18 April 2013 |date=25 March 2014 |isbn=9781907065972 |archive-date=20 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220115841/https://books.google.com/books?id=4RDPBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA228 |url-status=live }} Al-Ain could also be the place for the oldest mosque in the country, which is in the premises of the Sheikh Khalifa Mosque.{{cite news |work=The National |title=Remains of 1,000-year-old mosque reveal a rich past |publisher=Emirates 24/7 |url=https://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/remains-of-1-000-year-old-mosque-reveal-a-rich-past-2018-09-10-1.673063 |date=10 September 2018 |access-date=10 October 2018 |archive-date=29 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329101404/https://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/remains-of-1-000-year-old-mosque-reveal-a-rich-past-2018-09-10-1.673063 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Power |first=Timothy |title=How a 1,000-year-old mosque in Al Ain anchors the UAE in human history |newspaper=The National |url=https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/how-a-1-000-year-old-mosque-in-al-ain-anchors-the-uae-in-human-history-1.770075 |date=13 September 2018 |access-date=10 October 2018 |archive-date=28 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528214720/https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/how-a-1-000-year-old-mosque-in-al-ain-anchors-the-uae-in-human-history-1.770075 |url-status=live }}

Part of the historically important Western Hajar region,{{cite encyclopedia |year=2007 |title=Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia |publisher=ABC-CLIO |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&q=buraimi+al-ain |last=Abu-Lughod |first=Janet L. |editor-last1=Dumper |editor-first1=Michael R. T. |pages=99–100 |isbn=978-1-5760-7919-5 |editor-last2=Stanley |editor-first2=Bruce E. |chapter=Buraimi and Al-Ain |access-date=17 January 2019 |archive-date=19 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219221359/https://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&q=buraimi+al-ain |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last=Allen |first=Calvin H. Jr. |title=Oman: the Modernization of the Sultanate |publisher=Routledge |chapter=1: Land and People |pages=1–8 |isbn=978-1-3172-9164-0 |location=Abingdon, New York |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tlmFCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 |date=5 February 2016 |access-date=17 January 2019 |archive-date=19 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219221358/https://books.google.com/books?id=tlmFCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 |url-status=live }} the area of Al Ain has been inhabited for nearly 8,000 years, with archaeological sites showing human settlement at places like Rumailah, Hili and Jabel Ḥafeet. The early Hafit culture built "beehive" tombs for their dead and engaged in hunting and gathering in the area. The oases provided water for early farms until the modern age.{{Cite news |last=Salama |first=Samir |title=Al Ain bears evidence of a culture's ability to adapt |work=Gulf News |url=https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/culture/al-ain-bears-evidence-of-a-culture-s-ability-to-adapt-1.958876 |date=30 December 2011 |access-date=7 August 2018 |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716165606/https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/culture/al-ain-bears-evidence-of-a-culture-s-ability-to-adapt-1.958876 |url-status=live }}{{Cite book |last1=Potts |first1=Daniel T. |last2=Nābūdah |first2=Ḥasan Muḥammad |last3=Hellyer |first3=Peter |title=Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates |url=https://archive.org/details/archaeologyunite00pott |url-access=limited |publisher=Trident Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/archaeologyunite00pott/page/n173 174]–177 |location=London |oclc=54405078 |isbn=1-9007-2488-X |year=2003}} In the 1950s, Sheikh Zayed discovered the tombs, and brought this to the attention of a Danish team, leading to an excavation at the tombs in 1959. In 1971, Al Ain Museum was built to house items from this area. In the 2000s, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage lobbied for its recognition as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and in 2011, Al Ain became the first World Heritage Site in the UAE to be recognized by UNESCO.{{cite news |last=Ghazal |first=Rym |title=Al Ain's World Heritage tombs can now rest in peace |newspaper=The National |url=https://www.thenational.ae/uae/heritage/al-ain-s-world-heritage-tombs-can-now-rest-in-peace-1.574354 |date=3 July 2011 |access-date=6 May 2019 |archive-date=6 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506083542/https://www.thenational.ae/uae/heritage/al-ain-s-world-heritage-tombs-can-now-rest-in-peace-1.574354 |url-status=live }}

Bronze Age burial sites often re-used materials from earlier burials. For instance, the Wadi Suq communal tomb at Qattara Oasis is thought to have been constructed from stones recovered from previous Umm Al Nar burials.{{Cite book|title=The archaeology of the Arabian Gulf, c. 5000–323 BC|last=Rice|first=Michael|publisher=Routledge|year=1994|isbn=0-2030-3726-X|location=London|page=247|oclc=252810506}}File:Qattara dagger.jpg, on loan from Al Ain Museum]]

Finds at Qattara include Wadi Suq era chlorite jugs and bowls and late Bronze Age short swords and daggers. Artefacts recovered also include carnelian jewellery, often associated by UAE historians with trading links to the Indus Valley. A find of particular interest from Qattara is a Bronze Age pendant discovered in the 1970s depicting a double-bodied or entwined pair of horned animals.{{Cite news|url=http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302671343|title=Al Ain National Museum launches Archaeology Workshops for Children|work=wam|access-date=7 August 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=7 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807135046/http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302671343|url-status=live}} Made from electrum, an alloy of silver and gold, the motif is found repeated in a number of Bronze Age sites in the UAE. Iron Age finds in and around Al Ain include aflaj (underground water channels) in Bidaa bint Saud, Al Ain and Buraimi which have been placed several centuries prior to the qanats of the Achaemenid Empire, which had previously been credited with the innovation.{{Cite book|title=Underground aqueducts handbook|author1-link=Andreas N. Angelakis|last1=Angelakis|first1=Andreas Nikolaos|last2=Chiotis|first2=Eustathios|last3=Eslamian|first3=Saeid|last4=Weingartner|first4=Herbert|isbn=978-1-3153-6856-6|location=Boca Raton|oclc=966358839}}

Al Ain was originally within the area of influence of the Dhawahir, a Bedouin tribe who settled Dhahirah before Buraimi. A later wave of settlers, the Na'im, have long had an uneasy relationship with the Dhawahir and the two tribes were frequently in dispute.{{Cite book|title=From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates : a society in transition (1941–)|last=Heard-Bey|first=Frauke|year=2005|publisher=Motivate|isbn=1860631673|location=London|page=48|oclc=64689681}} Numbering 4,500, the Dhawahir consists of three subsections: the Daramikah, who populated Hili, Mutared and Qattara; the Jawabir in Al Ain and the Bani Saad who lived in Jimi. Staying in the villages for the summer date season, in winter the community would move throughout the Trucial States.

A number of interests jostled for influence over the tribes of Buraimi, including the Sultan of Muscat, the Wahhabis (who had made a number of incursions) and the Sheikhs of the Trucial States, particularly the Bani Yas of Abu Dhabi, who acquired large tracts of land, principally from the Dhawahir. This suzerainty over Al Ain was cemented by Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, known as 'Zayed the Great', a strong and charismatic leader who took the Dhawahir's main settlement 'Ain Dhawahir (the original name of Al Ain) when the tribe rebelled against him in 1877. He built a fort, one of a number of fortifications established by the various interests vying for control over the oasis, to underline his dominion over the oasis and established a wali, appointing a member of the Dhawahir as his headman.{{Cite book|title=From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates : a society in transition (1941–)|last=Heard-Bey|first=Frauke|year=2005|publisher=Motivate|isbn=1860631673|location=London|page=109|oclc=64689681}}

Wilfred Thesiger visited Al Ain in the late 1940s, during his travels across the Empty Quarter. He met Sheikh Zayed and stayed with him at Al Muwaiji Fort. An ongoing dispute between Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Oman led to the Buraimi Dispute, a series of incidents which saw a Saudi armed force enter the oasis. Forces from the Trucial Oman Scouts, as well as the army of Muscat-Oman, arrived to recapture the oasis. With British intervention, the Saudi forces surrendered, leaving the oasis back in the hands of Abu Dhabi and Oman.

In 1971, Queen Elizabeth II visited the Hilton Hotel in the area, during her tour of the Persian Gulf. Following independence in 1971, Al Ain experienced rapid growth and investment as part of the emirate of Abu Dhabi,{{citation |author1=Agyeman, K. |author2=Feerick, C. |author3=Jha, P. |author4=Stosky, M. |author5=Teran, W. |author6=Zhong, C. |title=Comprehensive Plan Central District, Al Ain |publisher=Ohio State University |url=https://knowlton.osu.edu/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/docs/413.pdf |year=2008 |access-date=24 April 2019 |archive-date=24 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424180511/https://knowlton.osu.edu/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/docs/413.pdf |url-status=dead }} quickly becoming larger and more successful than Oman's Al-Buraimi. In 1972, Oman and Abu Dhabi agreed on the final borders to divide Buraimi and Al Ain. Until Sheikh Zayed's death in 2004, Al Ain's municipal code forbade construction of buildings over four stories, with the exceptions of the Hilton (now Radisson Blu), Danat Al Ain Resort, and Rotana hotels. Until 2006, Buraimi and Al Ain shared an open border. This border was closed in November 2006, and passport controls were imposed.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

File:Al Hili Tower By. Eng. Fadi Fayyadh Al Toubeh - panoramio.jpg|Al-Hili Tower

File:Entrance Up Close.jpg|Al Jahili Fort, among the largest castles in the region

File:Mezyad Fort.jpg|Jebel Hafeet, as viewed from Mezyad Fort near the southern border with Al Buraimi Governorate in Oman

Beehive Tombs Jebel Hafeet District 1.jpg|Beehive Tombs in the district of Jebel Hafeet are evidence of human habitation in the area approximately 5,000 years ago

File:Al murabba fort.jpg|Al-Murabba Fort in the city's central district

File:Al Muwaiji Fort - 01.jpg|Qasr Al Muwaiji, the birthplace of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE, and former home of his father, Sheikh Zayed{{cite web |work=Qasralmuwaiji.ae |title=Building History |url=http://qasralmuwaiji.ae/en/qasr-al-muwaiji-story/building-history/ |access-date=9 March 2019 |archive-date=19 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319173643/http://qasralmuwaiji.ae/en/qasr-al-muwaiji-story/building-history |url-status=live }}{{citation |work=Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi |title=Annual Report 2017 |volume=1: Culture |pages=8–211 |url=https://tcaabudhabi.ae/DataFolder/reports/2017%20Annual%20report%20-%20EN.pdf |year=2017 |access-date=9 March 2019 |archive-date=7 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807235514/https://tcaabudhabi.ae/DataFolder/reports/2017%20Annual%20report%20-%20EN.pdf |url-status=live }}

File:Falaj at al ain.jpg]]

The city's wāḥāt ({{langx|ar|وَاحَات|lit=oases}}) are known for their underground irrigation system (falaj{{cite news |author=Leech, N. |title=Magical history tour of Al Ain |newspaper=The National |url=https://www.thenational.ae/uae/magical-history-tour-of-al-ain-1.639805 |date=6 March 2017 |access-date=2 April 2018 |archive-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402163419/https://www.thenational.ae/uae/magical-history-tour-of-al-ain-1.639805 |url-status=live }} or qanāt) that brings water from boreholes to water farms and palm trees. Falaj irrigation is an ancient system dating back thousands of years, and is used widely in Oman, the UAE, China, Iran and other countries.{{cite book |author=Wilson, A. |author-link=Andrew Wilson (classical archaeologist) |chapter=Hydraulic Engineering and Water Supply |editor=John Peter Oleson |editor-link=John Peter Oleson |title=Handbook of Engineering and Technology in the Classical World |location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=290–293 |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-19-973485-6 |chapter-url=http://glirby.people.wm.edu/COLL100/Oxford-HydraulicEngineering.pdf |access-date=1 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055629/http://glirby.people.wm.edu/COLL100/Oxford-HydraulicEngineering.pdf |archive-date=7 November 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{cite journal |author=Goldsmith, Edward |title=The qanats of Iran |journal=Scientific American |volume=218 |issue=4 |pages=94–105 |url=http://www.edwardgoldsmith.org/1031/the-qanats-of-iran/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114034225/http://www.edwardgoldsmith.org/1031/the-qanats-of-iran/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 January 2012|bibcode=1968SciAm.218d..94W |year=1968 |doi=10.1038/scientificamerican0468-94 |url-access=subscription }} There are seven oases here. The largest is Al Ain Oasis,{{citation |work=VisitAbuDhabi.ae |script-title=ar:واحة العين |language=ar |url=https://visitabudhabi.ae/ar/see.and.do/attractions.and.landmarks/family.attractions/al.ain.oasis.aspx |access-date=28 March 2018 |archive-date=16 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816025237/https://visitabudhabi.ae/ar/see.and.do/attractions.and.landmarks/family.attractions/al.ain.oasis.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite news |work=Al-Khaleej |script-title=ar:واحة العين مجمع التاريخ وملتقى الجمال |language=ar |url=http://www.alkhaleej.ae/supplements/page/280699ff-130a-4485-808c-aa3ab62ca4b5 |date=4 September 2014 |access-date=12 October 2016 |archive-date=24 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524015145/http://www.alkhaleej.ae/supplements/page/280699ff-130a-4485-808c-aa3ab62ca4b5 |url-status=live }}{{citation |url=http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/An_oasis_in_the_heart_of_Al_Ain/18124.htm |title=An oasis in the heart of Al Ain |publisher=UAE Interact |date=10 October 2005 |access-date=23 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223154341/http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/An_oasis_in_the_heart_of_Al_Ain/18124.htm |archive-date=23 February 2017 |url-status=dead }} near Old Sarooj, and the smallest is Al-Jahili Oasis. The rest are Al Qattara, Al-Muʿtaredh, Al-Jimi, Al-Muwaiji, and Hili.

Examples of aflaj include Falaj Hazza, which is named after Sheikh Zayed's elder brother, Hazza bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and has a district named after it.

The city is known for its combination of modern and pre-modern buildings. The latter offer an insight into the city's and country's cultural heritage. The city used to have roundabouts in every intersection but recently these have been replaced by traffic signals.

{{See also|Education in the United Arab Emirates}}

File:Al Ain Campus.jpg in Asharej District]]

Al-Ain is home to the main federal university in the UAE, the United Arab Emirates University, and to two campuses of the Higher Colleges of Technology – Al Ain Men's College and Al Ain Women's College. Al-Ain is also the home of Horizon International flight academy, Etihad Airways's cadet pilot training centre. Private higher education institutions include the Al Ain University and campus of Abu Dhabi University.{{Cite news |last=Khan |first=Sarmad |date=2018-03-06 |title=Amanat snaps up Dh320m stake in Abu Dhabi-based education operator |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/amanat-snaps-up-dh320m-stake-in-abu-dhabi-based-education-operator-1.710734 |access-date=2023-02-24 |newspaper=The National |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Release |first=Press |title=Abu Dhabi University leads the way in training GPT-3 on its data and services |url=https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/abu-dhabi-university-leads-the-way-in-training-gpt-3-on-its-data-and-services-sks982gj |access-date=2023-02-24 |newspaper=Zawya |language=en}} Al-Ain also houses the eastern zone headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, Abu Dhabi's education authority.

Al-Ain's first formal school, Al Nahyaneia Model School, was founded by Sheikh Zayed in 1959.{{Cite web |title=History of Abu Dhabi |url=https://www.abudhabiresidentsoffice.gov.ae/About-Abu-Dhabi/History-Of-Abu-Dhabi |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Abu Dhabi Residents Office |language=en}} Many of Al-Ain's private schools, catering mainly to the expatriate population, are located in the Al-Manaseer area. They include Al-Ain International school (British curriculum, private school, part of the Aldar group), Al Ain English Speaking School, Al Dhafra Private School, Manor Hall School, Al-Sanawbar School, Liwa International School, Al-Madar International School, Global English School, Emirates Private School, a branch of the International School of Choueifat, and an Institute of Applied Technology campus. Other private schools include the CBSE affiliated school [https://www.indianschoolalain.com Indian School, Al-Ain], Our Own English High School, Al Adhwa Private School, Brighton College Al Ain and [http://www.alainjuniors.com/ Al Ain Juniors School]. A new British International School, Belvedere International School is located in the Al Hili district. In 1977, the Zayed Central Library was established.{{Cite journal |last=Hirsch |first=David |date=1995 |title=United Arab Emirates University Libraries Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates: SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER, 1993 and FEBRUARY-MAY 1994 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/29785613 |journal=MELA Notes |issue=62 |pages=5–14 |jstor=29785613 |issn=0364-2410 |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207074814/https://www.jstor.org/stable/29785613 |url-status=live }} Al-Khwarizmi International College has started a Campus at Al-Ain and is offering BBA programme and various other licensed, accredited and approved courses.{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}}

{{See also|Health in the United Arab Emirates}}

File:Oasis Hospital- Al-Ain - panoramio.jpg in Al Ain is the oldest hospital in the emirate of Abu Dhabi]]

The first hospital in Al-Ain was Kanad Hospital (formerly known as Oasis Hospital), established in 1960 by the American missionary couple Drs. Pat and Marian Kennedy at the invitation of Sheikh Zayed. It is the oldest hospital in Al Ain and the second oldest in the United Arab Emirates.

Al-Ain is also the home of Tawam Hospital, a training and research hospital linked with the UAE University. It was officially inaugurated on 17 December 1979. In March 2006, Johns Hopkins Hospital (Johns Hopkins Medicine International) (JHMI) took over the management of Tawam hospital.{{cite web |publisher=Johns Hopkins Medicine International |title=Tawam Hospital |url=https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/international/international_affiliations/middle_east/tawam_hospital.html |access-date=20 January 2019 |archive-date=21 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121010749/https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/international/international_affiliations/middle_east/tawam_hospital.html |url-status=live }}

[https://tawam.seha.ae/who-we-are/ Tawam Hospital] is one of the largest hospitals in the UAE with 503 beds, featuring 24 VIP suites, 78 isolation rooms, 48 ER beds, 9 operating theaters and 81 specialty clinics. Its oncology centre is the main national cancer treatment centre as well as a regional referral centre.

Al Ain Hospital (abbr: AAH, also known as Al-Jimi Hospital) is the general hospital delivering health services to all Al-Ain patients regardless of their nationality. It is centrally located in the Al-Jimi district and is linked with the UAE University. Al-Ain Hospital still occupies old 1970s buildings, but a new building is planned. AAH currently has about 450 beds and provides services in all medical disciplines. In September 2007, the Medical University of Vienna International[http://www.meduniwien.ac.at/homepage/en Medical University of Vienna] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080812231120/http://www.meduniwien.ac.at/homepage/en/ |date=12 August 2008 }}. (MUVI) took over the management of AAH.

{{See also|Religion in the United Arab Emirates}}

Formerly, the city's largest mosque was that of Shaikha Salamah.{{citation |work=APG |title=Sheikha Salama Mosque |url=https://www.apgarch.com/sheikha-salama-mosque |access-date=1 April 2018 |archive-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402035734/https://www.apgarch.com/sheikha-salama-mosque |url-status=live }} In 2021,{{cite news |work=WAM |title=Eid Al Fitr prayer times and venues announced by Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre |publisher=The National |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/eid-al-fitr-prayer-times-and-venues-announced-by-sheikh-zayed-grand-mosque-centre-1.1221838 |date=2021-05-12 |access-date=2021-05-13 |archive-date=13 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513152941/https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/eid-al-fitr-prayer-times-and-venues-announced-by-sheikh-zayed-grand-mosque-centre-1.1221838 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Al-Faham |first=Tariq |title=Tahnoun bin Mohammed performs Eid al-Fitr prayers |publisher=WAM |location=Al Ain, U.A.E. |url=https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395302934617 |date=2021-05-13 |access-date=2021-05-13 |archive-date=13 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513152943/https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395302934617 |url-status=live}} the Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque became the biggest in the city, as well as one of the largest mosques in the country.{{cite news |author=Abdul Kader, B. |title=Al Ain to have one of the largest mosques in UAE the number of mosques is 1200 mosques |newspaper=Gulf News |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/al-ain-to-have-one-of-the-largest-mosques-in-uae-1.1406553 |date=31 October 2014 |access-date=2 April 2018 |archive-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225618/http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/al-ain-to-have-one-of-the-largest-mosques-in-uae-1.1406553 |url-status=live }}

Al-Ain is connected via the Dubai–Al-Ain Road to Al Faqa' and Dubai in the north, which also connects to Al Madam in the Emirate of Sharjah via Al-Shwaib.{{cite news |work=WAM |title=Dubai-Al Ain Road renamed |publisher=Gulf News |url=https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-al-ain-road-renamed-1.2296992 |location=Al Ain |date=2 November 2018 |access-date=4 November 2018 |archive-date=4 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104020335/https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-al-ain-road-renamed-1.2296992 |url-status=live }} It is also connected to Abu Dhabi in the west, Al-Qu'a in the southeast, and Mezyad in the southwest. Bus and taxi{{cite web |last=Vijayan |first=Ranjit |title=General information |publisher=Explore Al Ain |url=http://www.explorealain.com/generalinfo.html |access-date=23 April 2019 |archive-date=23 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423123223/http://www.explorealain.com/generalinfo.html |url-status=live }} services are available between these areas.{{citation |work=Department of Transport, Government of Abu Dhabi |title=Eastern Region Bus Services |url=https://dot.abudhabi.ae/en/info/eastern_region_bus_services |access-date=4 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524112351/http://dot.abudhabi.ae/en/info/Eastern_Region_Bus_Services |archive-date=24 May 2018 |url-status=dead }} The southern border area of Mezyad lies on the road to Dhank, Ibri and Nizwa in Oman. The city's airport (Al Ain International Airport) has scheduled passenger flights to Egypt, Pakistan and India. A new railway line linking Al-Ain to Abu Dhabi and to the Port of Sohar in Oman is being planned.{{cite web |title=A new era in bilateral ties between UAE and Oman |url=https://www.oe-rail.com/ |publisher=Etihad Rail and Oman Railways |access-date=22 September 2024}}

{{See also|Mubazzara Dam|Tourism in the United Arab Emirates|List of tourist attractions in the United Arab Emirates}}

File:Al Ain Zoo - panoramio (3).jpg]]

Al-Ain is developing as a tourist destination. The dry desert air makes it a welcome retreat from the coastal humidity of the larger cities. Many Emirati nationals in Abu Dhabi have holiday houses in the city making it a popular weekend destination for families from the capital city. Its attractions include the Al Ain National Museum,{{cite web |work=VisitAbuDhabi.ae |title=Al Ain National Museum |url=https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/see.and.do/attractions.and.landmarks/cultural.attractions/al.ain.national.museum.aspx |access-date=6 August 2017 |archive-date=3 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903082157/https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/see.and.do/attractions.and.landmarks/cultural.attractions/al.ain.national.museum.aspx |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |work=Past Horizons |title=Museum and archaeological park for Abu Dhabi |url=http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/02/2012/museum-and-archaeological-park-for-abu-dhabi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306220830/http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/02/2012/museum-and-archaeological-park-for-abu-dhabi |archive-date=6 March 2012 |access-date=21 December 2013}} the Al Ain Palace Museum, several restored forts and the Hili Archaeological Park site, dating back to the Bronze Age. Jebel Hafeet dominates the surrounding area. It is popular to visit to the mineral springs at Green Mubazzarah at the base of the mountain,{{cite news |last=Al Ghalib |first=Essam |title=Park is a welcome haven of green |newspaper=The National |location=Al-Ain |url=https://www.thenational.ae/uae/park-is-a-welcome-haven-of-green-1.423073 |date=17 March 2011 |access-date=19 November 2018 |archive-date=19 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214303/https://www.thenational.ae/uae/park-is-a-welcome-haven-of-green-1.423073 |url-status=live }} and to drive to the mountaintop at sunset. Other attractions include Al Ain Zoo, an amusement park named "Hili Fun City", many well-maintained parks popular with families in the summer evenings, and a heritage village. Opened in 2012, Al Ain Adventure park is located near Jebel Hafeet and provides a range of water-based activities including surfing, kayaking and rafting. On top of Jabel Hafeet is the Mercure Hotel.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} Mount Hafeet and the nearby 'beehive' tombs are part of what is known as "Jebel Hafeet Desert Park"{{citation |work=Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi |title=Annual Report 2018 – Culture |volume=1 |page=117 |url=https://tcaabudhabi.ae/datafolder/files/2018-annual-reports/Culture_English-compressed.pdf |year=2018 |access-date=6 May 2019 |archive-date=6 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506074429/https://tcaabudhabi.ae/datafolder/files/2018-annual-reports/Culture_English-compressed.pdf |url-status=live }} or "Mezyad Desert Park", which is meant to preserve the nature and geology of the area, besides attracting tourists.{{cite web |publisher=Gustafson Porter + Bowman |title=Mezyad Desert Park |url=http://www.gp-b.com/mezyad-desert-park |date=2007–2012 |access-date=6 May 2019 |archive-date=6 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506074423/http://www.gp-b.com/mezyad-desert-park |url-status=live }}

Al-Ain has five major malls – Al Ain Mall in the town centre, Al-Jimi Mall in Al-Jimi District, Bawadi Mall in Al-Khrair District, Remal Mall located in the Sanaiya district, and Hili Mall located in the Hili District. Most commercial activity is centred in and around town centre.

Another popular pastime for Emiratis and expatriates alike is spending time in coffee shops and shisha cafes. Like the rest of the UAE, Al-Ain has strict laws governing the consumption and distribution of alcohol. Five facilities in the city currently serve alcohol, four of which are hotels. There are many café's in Al-Ain, ranging in size and quality. The city also has an International standard go-kart circuit.

The city has two English-language radio stations – 100.1 Star FM, which plays English-speaking hits alternating with Arabic-speaking hits, and 105.2 Abu Dhabi Classic FM, which plays classical music, and Arabic Radio Station, which is Abu Dhabi FM 94.9.

In 2024 the city broke three Guinness World Record. Once in January as an 8 minute firework and drone display took place, breaking the record for 'Longest straight-line drones display’. The second took place on the country's 53rd National Day celebrations, as the firework show reached a distance of 11.1 km.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024 |title=Al Ain breaks world record for longest chain of fireworks on UAE National Day |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/eid-al-etihad/watch-al-ain-breaks-world-record-for-longest-chain-of-fireworks-on-uae-national-day |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=khaleej times |language=en}}

{{See also|Cultural policy in Abu Dhabi|Hazza bin Zayed Stadium|Rock Stadium}}

File:Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium night.jpg

Al-Ain is a cultural retreat for residents of the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is home to a major festival of classical music,{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} and is the home of Al Ain Football Club, which is one of the most successful football clubs in the UAE and Asia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.soccer24.com/asia/afc-champions-league-2002-2003/|title=AFC Champions League 2002/2003 Results – Asia Soccer|website=www.soccer24.com|access-date=21 April 2016|archive-date=8 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908201655/http://www.soccer24.com/asia/afc-champions-league-2002-2003/|url-status=live}} It has many titles and championships to its name.{{Cite web|url=http://www.emaratalyoum.com/sports/local/2014-04-09-1.665451|script-title=ar:الأهلي يستعيد أمجاد العـــقد الأول.. والعين "زعيم" بـ 58 لقباً|date=9 April 2014|website=الإمارات اليوم|language=ar-AR|access-date=21 April 2016|archive-date=27 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127064525/http://www.emaratalyoum.com/sports/local/2014-04-09-1.665451|url-status=live}} Al-Ain Club contains also eight other games which are: handball, volleyball, basketball, swimming, Table Tennis, Athletics, Jiu jitsu, and Taekwondo. The Al Ain Amblers are a well known rugby club with a long history fielding men's, women's and junior rugby teams in the UAE and Gulf competitions, based at the Al Ain Club.

Hili Fun City hosts two ice hockey teams, the Al Ain Vipers{{citation |url=http://www.alainvipers.com |work=alainvipers.com |title=Al Ain Vipers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017085249/http://www.alainvipers.com/ |archive-date=17 October 2015}} and Ghantoot. Each team has adult and youth teams starting from age 4. The Al-Ain Vipers Men's Team won the Emirates Hockey League in the 2009–10 season.

The Palm Resort to the west of the town hosts a popular rugby club with adult and youth teams, and the Al-Ain International Soccer Club which has three youth teams, including one for 7-9-year-old's. There is a water sports centre called "Al Ain Adventure", with a wave pool and surf instructors. Additionally, the park has facilities for kayaking and rafting on an artificial river.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

File:Al Mutawaa - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates - panoramio (16).jpg|A garden in Al Ain Palace Museum

File:Camels in Al Ain.jpg|Dromedaries at the city's Camel Market. The camel is important to the cultures of Arabia, the Middle East, and elsewhere.{{cite book |last=Mukasa-Mugerwa |first=E. |title=The Camel (Camelus dromedarius): A Bibliographical Review |year=1981 |publisher=International Livestock Centre for Africa |location=Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |url=http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAP013.pdf |pages=1–147 |access-date=2016-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202032116/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAP013.pdf |archive-date=2016-02-02 |url-status=dead}} {{open access}}

File:Mercury Hotel - Al Ain Jebel Hafeet Top - By Eng. Fadi Fayyadh Al Toubeh - panoramio.jpg|Mercure Hotel, built near the top of Jebel Hafeet

• Mohammed bin Musallam bin Ham al-Ameri
• Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
• Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

{{Portal|United Arab Emirates}}

• Eastern Arabia
• Archaeological Sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn in Oman
• Madinat Zayed, administrative centre of the Western Region
• Swaihan
• Wadi

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikivoyage}}

{{Commons category}}

• Article in Arabic
• [http://am.abudhabi.ae/ Al Ain City Municipality]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813042823/http://am.abudhabi.ae/ |date=13 August 2014 }}.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130820192235/http://www.awpr.ae/home/about/welcome.aspx Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130820195000/http://www.awpr.ae/home/about/preventing-desert-wh/1.aspx Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort. Preserving desert wildlife & habitats]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130810063252/http://awpr.ae/home/about/expansion-project.aspx Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort. Expansion project]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120503021748/http://aaw.hct.ac.ae/english/al_ain/al_ain_main.htm Al Ain: Oasis in the Desert (Photographic essay from Al Ain Women's College)]
• [https://aau.ac.ae/en/ Al Ain University of Science and Technology]

{{Abu Dhabi}}

{{UAE cities}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Oman–United Arab Emirates border crossings

Category:Populated places in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi

Category:World Heritage Sites in the United Arab Emirates

Category:Eastern Region, Abu Dhabi

Category:Cities in the United Arab Emirates