Cheap Flights to Al Ain Jazeera Airways Tickets
Travel to Al Ain
Discover Al Ain
This historic city sits on the UAE's border with Oman, and is the fourth-largest city in the region. It's known as the Garden City, thanks to its many parks, gardens and oases, giving it a lush, tranquil feel. It's a historically important centre, and home to around 770,000 people.
Al-Ain relishes its reputation as the 'Garden City', and is a lush, green metropolis where busy city streets are interspersed with green, flower-filled gardens. With buildings restricted to no more than seven floors, it's a very different city-scape compared to some of the more ultra-modern locations elsewhere within the UAE.
The oases that surround Al-Ain are regarded as some of the most important environmental regions in the whole of the Arabian Peninsula. In the city itself, the thoughtful development means that existing historically important buildings are preserved alongside sympathetically designed newer constructions.
Essential Facts
Things To Do
Jebel Hafeet
This mountain towers over the surrounding plains, giving intrepid hikers one of the most spectacular sunsets in the UAE.
Al Ain Oasis
The region is renowned for its natural oases, of which Al Ain is one of the largest, and is, surprisingly, right in the heart of the city itself next to the main souq.
Museum and Fort
Al Ain's fort was built to protect the precious date palms in the oasis from raiders. Today, it's home to the city's museum, which documents life though the centuries in this part of the UAE.
Shopping
Al Ain has good shopping facilities, including three large malls, the biggest of which is the Al Ain Mall in the town centre. Here, you'll find plenty of retail stores as well as an ice skating rink and a cinema, making it a good destination for families. The Al Jimi Mall is an excellent and completely renovated mall, while the Al Bawadi Mall is the newest, where you'll also find the Gold Souq for top quality jewellery. If you want to see a slice of traditional life, the camel market is nearby and is well worth a visit (although we don't recommend buying any of the merchandise!)
For traditional women's Arabic clothing the Arabia Center is a speciality shop for ladies, while throughout the city you'll also find plenty of boutiques and independent stores selling everything from fashion to handicrafts.
Food And Drink
Lebanese and Arabic food is the most popular and cheapest food around in Al Ain, and you'll find it to be excellent quality with large portions and fresh ingredients. There are plenty of vegetarian options on offer too, and the range of international cuisine on offer makes eating out a real pleasure.
You'll also find all the usual fast food outlets in the city, including McDonald's and Hardees. Cafe culture is popular too, especially in the trendy area of Al Ain Sq, to the west of the city centre. The coffee is hot and very strong, and you'll also have the chance to try sweet pastries and light snacks at these cafes while you indulge in a bit of people-watching.
Things To Know
Visa Requirements
- Entry into the UAE varies from country to country. Check the section on the UAE page for visa and customs regulations. This page will have a list of countries and their visa requirements.
- If your country of nationality appears on the list of 'no advance visa arrangements required' to visit the UAE, you can get a visa on arrival. In this case you get a 30-days visit visa free of charge
- Nationals of countries requiring a prearranged UAE visa can now apply and pay for their visas online through emirates.com. As of 29 April 2016, GCC residence permit holders will need to apply for a UAE visa before arriving in Dubai.
Getting around
- Take the Metro to avoid traffic. A day pass gives you unlimited rides that cover metro and buses. There are two main lines, the Red and the Green which cover the length and breadth of the city, stopping at all convenient stations.
- The Dubai Tram links Dubai Marina with Burj Al Arab and the JBR area.
- Dubai also has a superb public bus network which is cheap and connects you with several districts in Dubai.
- Taxis are plentiful, and the best way to get one is at the taxi queue at one of the malls or outside a hotel. Taxis are metered, and rates of the different companies are almost the same.
- Book a Rent-A-Car.