Al Ain

Al Ain, which belongs to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, was originally used by the Bedouin caravans as a travel stop and is still located on the border with Oman. On the one hour drive from Dubai (1.5 hours from Abu Dhabi) you will see beautiful sand dunes until you reach the Garden City, where there are many beautiful parks and palm oases. The city has a very Arabic traditional character and the history goes back to the 4th century BC, all this you can learn very well by visiting the Al Ain National Museum. It is one of the best in the country and gives a comprehensive overview of Bedouin Arabic tradition and a historical review.

Next door is just one of the many palm groves, and if you are lucky and come during date season, you can taste directly from the tree. Dates are an important export for the Emirates and very healthy and delicious.

Also interesting is the visit to the former palace of Sheikh Zayed, the founder of the Emirates, where there are many personal exhibits and especially portraits of all his sons. Finally, we go to the camel market just outside the city, where you can watch the traders haggling and take pictures of camels up close - always nice. A visit to the Al Jahili Fort can also be arranged, also very worth seeing with an exhibition by Wilfried Thesiger, who was one of the first Europeans to cross the desert of the Empty Quarter with the Bedouins as early as 1945.