Top places to Visit in Al Ain
Updated January 2025
Al Ain is known as the Garden City, come and find out why by visiting the best places to visit in Al Ain.
I first visited Al Ain back in 1999, but whenever I visit, I find many of the places haven’t really changed much. It still has the feel of being a relaxed town with lots of greenery and culture.
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Top Places to Visit in Al Ain
Al Ain Oasis
The joy of the oasis is being surrounded by lush greenery, something so many of us yearn for, especially in recent times. It has nearly 150,000 palm trees, over 100 varieties of dates and many other trees such as banana, mango, oranges, figs, papaya and sidr.
You can enter the farm area but, of course, be careful not to damage plants on the ground. Some areas have cleared ground, others tall green grasses and yet others a lush green carpet. You’ll forget you’re in a city surrounded by desert!
The Falaj system, the local irrigation system made up of channels, runs throughout the oasis and you will find different parts having water in the channels at different times of the day.
Al Ain Oasis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with other nearby locations, some of which are covered below.
In one of the photos, you’ll see an art exhibit by artists Dr Najat Makki and Mehrez Ellouz. At night time the sculptures are lit from within. At different times, you might find other art exhibits.
There is an Emirati restaurant at the entrance, but we had drinks, ice cream and mini pancakes at the cafe inside the oasis. It was such a relaxing spot to just sit and listen to the birds in the trees, enjoy the shade of the trees and the light breeze and forget we were actually in the middle of a city.
Bicycles are available for rent for AED20 per hour and a family bike for AED50. Payment is cash only and it’s easiest to have the right money to avoid waiting for change.
Cycling through the lanes surrounded by greenery is a lovely experience when living in the desert the rest of the year and what better way to explore this wonderful hidden oasis? You’ll soon see why it’s one of the favourite places to visit in Al Ain.
Entrance to the oasis is free and opening times are 9am to 5pm.
See more photos and videos here
Al Ain Palace
Now, let’s move next door to the wonderfully elegant Al Ain Palace Museum, which is not a palace with gold and domes and the like. It’s very simple and yet beautiful in its simplicity, its quietly ornate elements of design and the sense of tranquillity.
The unusual arches and symmetrical designs of the entrance entice you to enter to discover more. Within the first gate, there are several art pieces on the walls around the first small courtyard and the second inner wall. Be sure not to miss them.
The palace was the family home of Sheikh Zayed until the late 1960s and you can visit the rooms of Sheikha Fatima, among many others.
The rooms are on two levels and set around several courtyards and two ponds which are connected by a water channel. They include bedrooms, guest rooms, majlises (reception rooms) kitchen, store, etc.
In the kitchen, you’ll see an enormous cooking pot that would hold enough to feed more than a whole village and that’s probably exactly what it did.
Looking at the small, simple bed that Sheikh Zayed and his wife slept in, I couldn’t help but wonder at the stark contrast between the simple life of a ruler then and that of even an average office worker now, never mind a ruler.
The Palace is just a couple of minutes from the oasis. You can walk around or drive. Entrance is free, hours are Saturday to Thursday 10am – 6 pm, Friday 2-6pm.
Qasr Al Muwaiji
Qasr Al Muwaiji was built in the second half of the 19th century and was the birthplace of the current ruler HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The fort now houses an exhibition telling the story of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi and also of the fort itself and the adjoining oasis. The exhibition is set within a glass structure blending modern and traditional architecture.
You can tour the fort and explore the North East Tower which was the home of Sheikh Zayed for some time. Although the original tower was demolished, it was rebuilt with the same materials and the same design.
You can also visit the oasis outside. If the weather allows, you can sit in the courtyard and enjoy the surroundings.
Al Qasr Al Muwaiji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with other sites of importance in Al Ain. Entrance is free and it is open daily 10-6, Fri 2-6.
Al Ain Zoo
Al Ain Zoo is the largest zoo in the region and is home to more than 4,000 animals and 200 species, including endangered ones like the Arabian oryx and the rare white lions and more common ones like hippos and penguins. The aviary has many birds and an elevated walkway for a better view.
At the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, you can learn more about the zoo’s conservation efforts and the UAE’s natural environment, while outside experiences include feeding the giraffes and camel-riding. The zoo also provides interactive experiences like the Lemur Walk and the Wings of the Sahara bird show.
For an immersive adventure, Al Ain Safari takes you through 217 hectares of land, where you can look out for African lions, white rhinos and other wildlife. As this isn’t cheap, look out for deals online. At the time of writing, there was a great deal on Cobone for AED 79, including the zoo entrance fee.
Ticket prices start at AED 31.50 for adults and AED 10.50 for children but look out for cheaper tickets online. (This was the cheapest ticket at the time of writing.) The zoo is open daily from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. For more info, visit the official website of Al Ain Zoo.
Jebel Hafeet Desert Park
Jebel Hafeet Desert Park sits at the foothills of Abu Dhabi’s only mountain, within the Jebel Hafeet National Park. It’s a great spot to explore archaeological sites, enjoy scenic walk trails, engage in outdoor activities, camp and dine at the outdoor lounge.
One of the highlights is the Beehive Tombs, dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE. These tombs are a UNESCO World Heritage site, with several restored tombs located on the shortest trail and more unrestored ones situated about 3-4 km away. You can either walk to these tombs or drive to them.
At the main area, start by visiting the panoramic viewing area, read the information boards, then set off on one of the trails. Activities available at the park include electronic skateboarding, short camel rides, long guided camel rides and guided hikes. There is also a shaded play area at the Activity Hub.
For a relaxing experience, enjoy afternoon tea at the outdoor lounge, which opens at 4:30 pm. Reservations are required at least one hour in advance, with prices starting at AED 69 for adults, AED 49 for children, AED 99 for two, and AED 189 for a family of four. This includes admission to the park if you book ahead (according to the staff there.)
Further away from the Activity Hub is a public camping area, as well as heritage tents and glamping domes available for a unique stay. In the mornings, you might also spot falconers training their falcons.
Entrance to the Desert Park is AED 15 for adults, AED 7 for children up to 12 and AED 35 for a family ticket for two adults and two children. The gate opens daily from 8am to around 6pm, depending on sunset time. It’s not well signposted but you can use Google Maps or Waze.
❇️ Book a glamping dome and enjoy a serene stay at Jebel Hafeet Desert Park ✨
Jebel Hafeet
To get the best views of Al Ain, drive the winding road up Jebel Hafeet. While the views at the top are impressive, I enjoy the views along the way up as they’re more striking.
At the top, there is a large car park, benches, restrooms, a play area and shelters for picnics. On the way up, there are several parking bays where you can stop and enjoy the view. They have picnic benches and toilets and most have shelters. Some have play areas and one has a cafe and restaurant. Near the top is the Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet Hotel, where you can book an overnight stay or a meal in the restaurant.
Green Mubazzarah
At Green Mubazzarah, at the bottom of Jebel Hafeet, you’ll find a large green park with a lake, hot springs, picnic areas, barbecue zones,cafes and restaurants, restrooms, camping area and chalets to rent. This spot is especially popular on weekends and evenings and is a great place for families and friends to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Jahili Fort and Museum
Next on our list of places to visit in Al Ain is Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain was built at the end of the 19th century as a summer residence for the ruler of Abu Dhabi at the time, Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan.
The cylindrical four-storey tower was the first feature to be built (initially as a simple tower). You can climb up to the second storey. Next, the fort with four watchtowers was built and a wall enclosing the whole area to create a large courtyard. The fort also has its own courtyard.
Outside the walled area is Jahili Mosque built in the same period. It has the traditional open style as was common at the time. A similar but older mosque is the bin Sultan Mosque in Masfoot.
The fort holds temporary exhibitions (currently ‘Building with Earth’) and is home to the permanent exhibition dedicated to Mubarak bin London, aka Wilfred Thesiger.
The displays include many photos taken by Thesiger, one of the last great explorers, during his journey from Salalah to Abu Dhabi and many within Al Ain and Abu Dhabi itself.
It also exhibits some of his personal items used on the trip as well as many inspiring quotes. Before visiting, you may want to read his book documenting his Salalah-Abu Dhabi trip through the Empty Quarter, Arabian Sands.
Thesiger was given the name Mubarak bin London in Abu Dhabi and he continued to have close connections to the UAE and friendships with Shaikh Zayed and many others over the years. He was awarded the Order of Independence by the UAE for his contributions.
You can see more photos of Jahili Fort and the exhibition on the Facebook post here.
Jahili Fort sits within Al Jahili park. Jahili Fort opening times are daily 10-6, Friday 2-6. The park has many lush green areas for sitting, play areas and facilities.
Other places to visit in Al Ain include Green Mabazzareh and Hili Archaeological and Fun Parks.
See more city posts at
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- Best things to do in Sharjah
- Best things to do in Ras al Khaimah
- Best things to do in Kalba
- Best places to visit in Fujairah
- Best Places to Visit in Al Dhaid
- Khor Fakkan
- Qasr al Watan, Abu Dhabi
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