📖 About Al Ain

Known as the "Garden City," Al Ain is the UAE's largest inland settlement and fourth-largest city. Home to over 600,000 people, it is the birthplace of the UAE's founding father, Sheikh Zayed, and holds special cultural significance for the nation.

Al Ain became the first UAE site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011. It has been named Gulf Capital for Tourism 2025 and Capital of Arab Tourism 2026, recognizing its exceptional cultural heritage, natural oases, and adventure tourism offerings.

Tourism is booming, with hotel guest numbers reaching 228,000 in the first half of 2025—a 12% year-on-year increase. Al Ain Oasis visits grew 40% compared to 2024, demonstrating the city's rising appeal as a cultural destination.

🏛️ Top Attractions

💼 Economy & Culture

Al Ain's economy is diversifying from agriculture into tourism, education, and services. The city hosts Al Ain University and UAE University, making it an important educational center. Its proximity to Oman (the border is within the city) creates unique cross-border dynamics.

The city preserves traditional Emirati culture more than the cosmopolitan coastal cities. Traditional souks, camel markets, and cultural festivals offer authentic experiences. The seven oases with their ancient falaj irrigation systems connect modern Al Ain to thousands of years of human settlement in this desert landscape.

📜 History

Al Ain has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years, with archaeological sites dating from the Neolithic to Iron Age. The UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites of Al Ain (including Hafit, Hili, and Bidaa Bint Saud) document the transition from nomadic to settled life in the desert.

In modern history, Al Ain was the home of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan before he became the first president of the UAE in 1971. His vision of greening the desert transformed Al Ain into a garden city. Today, it balances preservation of this heritage with development as a modern tourism destination.