Al `Ayn Things to Do

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Jebel Hafeet is the tallest peak in the UAE at 1340 metres. This rocky mountain overlooks the deserts around Al Ain. Nice place to spend time to marvel at the beauty of Arabia. There is also a cafeteria at the peak where you can grab a bite or a hot coffee when the weather becomes cold at night.

The only way to go up the peak is either by taxi or to drive up yourself. It is a 15-km journey on a winding road but it is well-worth the journey. Along the way there are also some parking areas where you can stop by and enjoy the scenic view.

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Smack in the middle of town is the huge expanse of green palm trees, which is the reason for Al Ain coming into being. The Al Ain oasis is a huge ‘park’ through which you can take a stroll or even drive through! It is amazing how in the middle of the desert, an oasis could spring up and bring so much life and hope to a place. If you take a closer look you would also find some water channels with cloth barricades. These are part of the ancient Falaj irrigation system which is still in use today. Apparently each date farm is watered for a fixed amount of time before its channel is dammed by sacking, stones or cloth and the water diverted to another part of the farm.

This fort is currently undergoing massive refurbishment works and does not seem to be open to the public. Although one can still visit the exterior of the fort and marvel at its beauty. It is located at one corner of the Jahli Park.

Entrance: Free
Opening hours: Sun – Thurs : 9am – 7.30pm
Fri : 3pm – 7.30pm
Sat : Closed
The Sultan Fort is located next to the Al Ain National Museum (in fact within the same walled compound). There are some photos of old Abu Dhabi and Al Ain on display. The compound of the fort is probably pretty much the same as it had looked like in the past.

Entrance: Dh3
Opening hours: Sun – Thurs : 9am – 7.30pm
Fri : 3pm – 7.30pm
Sat : Closed

The museum is divided into two main sections – ethnography and arcaheology. The ethnography section recreates the old traditional Bedouin lifestyle, depicting costumes, jewellery, household items, tools, weapons and traditional music. The archaeology section tells the story of ancient UAE with exhibits of pottery and other ancient artefacts. There is also a small section dedicated to the discovery of oil in this region as well as a gifts section which exhibits some of the gifts given to the Ruler of Abu Dhabi by foreign dignitaries.

Jabel Hafeet is an excellent place in Al Ain (150 Km from Abu Dhabi) to chill out and relax. There is a steeep 13 km drive up this mountain (jabel in arabic). On top there is a huge parking space where you can relax with cool breeze and enjoy UAE on one side and Oman on another side.

The Al Ain Zoo and Aquarium, spread over 400 hectares, is one of the largest in the Gulf region. It is home to a wide variety of species, both common and rare, and runs an ongoing breeding programme for endangered animals.

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The friend I was staying with had sent me to the zoo in a taxi to keep me occupied while she was out at work but arriving there and finding it closed with some other people (one of whom turned out to be a colleague of my friend, taking a day off!) stranded there, the taxi driver decided we should all go up Jebel Hafit in his taxi, informing us that it was the highest mountain in Abu Dhabi, rising to over 1200 m above sea level. I?ve since heard it?s the only one but can?t decide if that makes it less or more spectacular!

He stopped when we reached the foot of the mountain and pointed out what looked like a swimming pool, telling us we should go and dip our feet as the water is very good for your health. He also told me the water was very cold. The others weren?t keen but I thought I?d try it and stepped in, up to my knees at the edge. It was boiling hot! Well, certainly hot enough to make my legs immediately turn red anyway. I leapt out and the driver looked quite amused and said he?d confused the words hot and cold, as English was his second language. I?m not sure if I believed him though! He also mentioned that there was a separate screened off pool for ladies to bathe in unobserved.

We continued up a zig-zag road, we were told was built by the President (I imagine his contribution was financial rather than practical.) On the way, there were several spots for car parking and at the top a larger parking area, where several groups were having picnics. We stopped here and took pictures of the view but, as the day was quite breezy, there was too much sand blowing about for us to see all the way to the horizon.

I understand there are also circular graves dating from 3000 BC along the eastern slope of Jebel Hafit and a maze of caves known as Magharet Qasir Hafeet but I haven?t visited either of these.

Driving past the mountain at night, you can see the shape of the winding road, as its full length is lit by street lamps, which look like they are floating in the air!