Fascinating Day Trip to Al Ain & the UAE’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Also known as the Oasis City or the Garden City, Al Ain is the second-largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and home to a huge amount of the UAE’s culture and history, dating back some 5,000 years to the Neolithic period.

Sitting on the border with Oman, Al Ain is a great day trip location from Dubai and home to the UAE’s only current tangible UNESCO World Heritage Site – well, there are actually several of them – collectively known as the Cultural Sites of Al Ain.

We’re going to talk you through exactly what you can expect to find in Al Ain and how to organise a day trip or overnighter to the Oasis City, Al Ain from Dubai.

So why is Al Ain worth a visit?

Far more than just the UNESCO cultural sites, Al Ain has been at the crossroads of Arabian civilisation for centuries. During the hottest times of the year, the Bedouin would retreat from the coast to the desert, where the natural oasis provided a cooling reprieve.

In recent times, the city has been the birthplace of the country’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al Nahyan, his son and the county’s second ruler, HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al Nahyan and present ruler, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

It is also the border crossing point to the Sultanate of Oman, sitting to the south of the city – a popular border crossing point for visitors looking to do border runs, or head onwards to Nizwa & Muscat.

Al Ain houses many museums that seek to document the country’s past and are well worthy of being included on an Al Ain road trip; sites to consider include:

• Al Ain Palace Museum (currently closed for renovation)
• Qasr al Muwaiji
• Al Jahili Fort
• Al Ain National Museum (currently closed for renovations)
• Souk Al Qattara (Thu, Fri & Sat evenings October to May)
• Al Ain Camel Market
• Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, inside Al Ain Zoo

If you are interested to learn more about the Al Ain Zoo, amusement parks and family activities on offer in Al Ain, check out this detailed family guide to Al Ain.

Tour Suggestion: Take a Guided Tour of Al Ain from Dubai

Cultural Sites of Al Ain – A UNESCO World Heritage-listed site Ref 1343

Although consisting of only one listing, The Al Ain sites are, in fact, made up of several sites; Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas.

These sites testify to human occupation of the desert region since the Neolithic period with vestiges of many prehistoric cultures – notably the Bronze Age and The Iron Age. Remarkable vestiges include:

• Circular stone tombs (dated back to c2500 BC)
• Residential buildings, towers, palaces and administrative buildings
• Examples of the earliest falaj irrigation system

The Oasis of Al Ain

There are several Oasis in Al Ain that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site, namely:

• Al Ain Oasis
• Al Muatared Oasis
• Al Jimi Oasis
• Al Qattara Oasis
• Al Hili Oasis

The largest is Al Ain Oasis, which can be found in the city centre. Extensive restoration works took place on the site over the last decade, and it reopened to the public in 2016 and is now the city’s most popular attraction.

A tranquil forest of trees and alleyed laneways, it was nearly lost beneath the city as rapid development occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. The 3,000-acre site (1,200 hectares) contains more than 147,000 palm trees. You will also find within the grounds an old fortification and mosque.

Most visitors are intrigued by the falaj system, an ancient irrigation system that brings bore water to farms. A small Eco-Centre has been built within the Al Ain Oasis to provide more information on the falaj’s history and importance.

Just outside the oasis is the Al Ain Oasis Plaza, which offers refreshments until 9 p.m. at night.

The Oasis is open 8 am to 5 pm daily and free to enter.

Jebel Hafeet Bee Hive Tombs

Found at the foot of Abu Dhabi’s highest peak Jebel Hafeet (Jebal Hafit), the circular Bee Hive Tombs are thought to date back up to 5,000 years. The artefacts found within the tombs have helped archaeologists to substantiate claims of trade routes dating to around 3,200 to 2,700 BCE.

Since February 2020, the tombs now fall within the Jebel Hafit Desert Park. Hiking and biking are available, along with camel rides, dune buggy experiences and even overnight camping in Bedouin-style tents and eco glamping options.

Open 8 am to 6 pm or sunset, entry 5 AED activities extra.

Hili Archaeological Park

Home to the largest discovered Bronze Age settlement in the UAE, the park is a living museum of tombs, settlements, and a falaj—mostly, only foundations can be spotted today. Most significant items have been moved to the central Al Ain National Museum (which is closed for an unspecified period of time for renovations) in the centre of Al Ain, adjacent to the Al Ain Oasis.

The park is open limited hours 4 pm to 11 pm daily, entry is free.

Bidaa Bint Saud

There are several small finds near one another contributing to this archaeological site, sitting about 15kms to the north of Al Ain:

• Numerous rectangular, stone-constructed tombs from the Hafit period (3200 to 2600 BC) on top of a mountain called Gharn bint Saud
• 1,500 metres to the west is a 3,000-year-old falaj system
• A large mudbrick building with column bases was found near the falaj, thought to perhaps be a distribution point for the falaj

This site is quite isolated and not easily accessible to the public. Finds from the site are also housed in the Al Ain National Museum (which has been ‘closed for renovations’ for an extensive period of time). You can learn more about this site on abudhabiculture.ae

Open 24/7, entry is free.

Other sites of interest in Al Ain

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Mosque

The Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque is a stunning new mosque in the heart of Al Ain. It is the largest mosque in Al Ain, opened to the public in 2021, and can accommodate more than 20,000 worshippers. The magnificent dome is adorned with Quranic verses and sits between four proud minarets, which look particularly stunning at sunset. 

Whilst non-Muslims are not permitted to enter the mosque, they are free to admire the external architecture.

Al Ain Camel Market

Situated on Zayed Bin Sultan Street, not far from the Al Bawadi Mall, the camel market provides the opportunity to see hundreds of camels, sheep and goats being bought and sold. It’s the only market of its kind in the UAE and is definitely worth a visit.

Open daily from 6.00 am until 7.00 pm. Entry is free. 

Souk Al Qattara

Located in the Al Qattara area of Al Ain, Souk Al Qattara offers a traditional handicraft market every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from October to May. It’s a great place to pick up some souvenirs and soak up the atmosphere. The site now includes an arts centre, as well as the restored Al Qattara Fort. 

Art centre open daily from 9.00 am until 8.00pm. 

Jebel Hafeet

The highest point in Abu Dhabi emirate (second highest point in the UAE), it is well worth the 30-minutes or so drive up the incredibly steep and winding road to the peak at 1240m for the incredible view across the city and down into neighbouring Oman.

Al Ain Zoo

Another family-friendly option whilst in Al Ain is a visit to Al Ain Zoo. Along with large enclosures featuring a range of animals from around the world, the zoo offers a safari experience and the chance to drive through the vast reserve area in the safety and comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle.

If you want to do more than observe the animals from afar, there are a number of animal experiences on offer, including giraffe feeding (an additional fee payable at the giraffe enclosure).

Children will also enjoy the range of playgrounds and interactive exhibits on site, as well as the extensive gardens and open spaces to run around in. At the height of the day, there are plenty of shady areas to escape the sun, as well as the indoor Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre.

The learning centre offers the opportunity to learn about the UAE’s unique natural environment and the animals and people that live there.

Open daily from 9.00 am until 7.00 pm (closed in July and August), entry is approximately 31 AED for adults. 

Al Ain Adventure

Al Ain Adventure Park offers a variety of adrenaline-pumping activities! Here, you can enjoy whitewater rafting, kayaking, surfing, climbing walls, and an aerial zipline. The modern facility at the base of Jebel Hafeet offers the perfect day out for active thrill seekers!

Joining the line up here will be XQ Adventure off-roading – stay tuned for more to come!

Open daily from 11.00 am until 7.00 pm, prices start at 125 AED. To find out more, click here. 

How to Get to Al Ain From Dubai

You have a few choices in driving to Al Ain – self-drive or with a tour/driver, or taking the public bus.

Although you are crossing from Dubai Emirate into Abu Dhabi Emirate, no formal border crossing is involved, just large expanses of highway through the desert.

NB all previous border restrictions brought in due to COVID have been abolished, as to have rules requiring a “Green Pass” in Abu Dhabi emirate. It is now very straightforward to plan a day trip to Al Ain in Abu Dhabi emirate.

Public Bus to Al Ain from Dubai

The bus from Dubai – Route E201 – departs from Al Ghubaiba bus station every 30 minutes and costs 25 AED one way. The bus passes through:

• Al Jafiliya Metro Station – north
• Wasl
• Wasl Club 1
• Emirates NBD – Nad Al Sheba
• Marmoom Dairy Farm 1
• Al Faqa station 1
• UAE University Mohammed bin Khalifa Street 1
• City Petrol Station 1, and
• Sheikha Salama Mosque 1

And terminates at Al Ain Central Bus Station, which is adjacent to the Al Ain Oasis. You would need a taxi or private car to see more of the outlying UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The bus then runs in return from Al Ain Central Bus Station to Dubai Al Ghubaiba Bus Station every 30 minutes, 25 AED.

The journey takes a bit over 2 hours in each direction.

Private Car to Al Ain

You can hire your own car in Dubai and drive to Al Ain if you are confident behind the wheel.

Getting out of Dubai is the challenging part if you’re not used to 6 lane freeways and very fast-moving traffic! Once you hit the E66 though, it’s easy multi-lane driving. You should get there in only around an hour from the city centre.

• We recommend you look at DiscoverCars to find the cheapest car hire options in Dubai.

• If you’d prefer to have a driver, try GetTransfer. You simply enter your destination details on their app and what sort of vehicle you need and drivers can bid for your custom. You’d be wise to take out a full-day hire to cover all the sites we’ve listed here.

Tour Companies from Dubai to Al Ain

There are surprisingly few tour operators taking guests from Dubai to Al Ain’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites daily. You will find tours normally incorporate not only the UNESCO sites but al Jahili Fort and numerous museums.

• Try this tour from Dubai to Al Ain

Staying in Al Ain – Best Accommodation

Al Ain has a reasonable range of accommodation options if you are looking to extend your trip to Al Ain. You will certainly need more than two days to capture all the highlights of the Oasis City.

Most resorts and hotels are a little dated but you can find a bargain resort retreat, our favourites are:

• Al Ain Rotana – the best central option near to Al Jahili Fort and several dining options, including Trader Vics make this a great all-rounder option for couples and groups – check prices on Booking.com

• Mecure Grand Jebel Hafeet – for a spectacular view, look to head to the top of Abu Dhabi Emirates’ highest peak Jebel Hafeet. The hotel is a little dated but has a great range of facilities – check prices on Booking.com

• Danat Al Ain Resort – an oldie but a goldie this family resort is still packed with fun and can offer some great weekend packages – check prices on Booking.com

• Aloft Al Ain – comfortable modern accommodation adjacent to the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium with several dining options – check prices on Booking.com

You can find a full selection of hotel & VRBO options for Al Ain here:

When is it best to visit Al Ain?

Like much of the country, the cooler winter months are ideal for exploring Al Ain from November through to April. In the summer months, it is still possible, and the oases do bring a refreshing reprieve from the summer heat, but be prepared. It can still be a very sweaty experience in the summer.

In the winter, Al Ain can experience quite heavy fog, which plays havoc on the highways to Al Ain from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It normally burns off before lunchtime, leaving you with glorious sunny winter afternoons and perfect sunsets from Jebel Hafeet.