Al Ain Oasis

Al Ain Oasis covers over a thousand hectares in the middle of the city, with something like 147,000 date palms in walled plots, and it is still farmed. Shaded walkways run between the mud-walled gardens, and the aflaj, underground and open channels that bring groundwater from the mountains by gravity, still distribute water to the plots on a rotation managed by families. The system is thousands of years old and forms part of the UNESCO listing for the wider Al Ain cultural sites, which also cover the Hafit tombs, Hili archaeological park and the surrounding oases. Walking here in the shade of the palms with water running audibly in the channels is a strikingly different experience of the Emirates from the coastal cities.

What you actually see

• The falaj channels - the ancient gravity irrigation system, still in daily use.
• Shaded oasis walkways - paths between walled date plots, cool even at midday.
• The eco-centre - an exhibition on oasis farming and water management.
• Al Jahili Fort - a restored mud fort in the city with a Thesiger exhibition.

When to go

October to April; Al Ain is inland and very hot in summer, though the palm shade makes the oasis the most bearable place in the city. Early morning and late afternoon are best. Entry is free, which is unusual for the region.

Honest expectations

It is an agricultural landscape rather than a garden, so parts look workaday and some plots are fenced off. There is limited interpretation along the paths beyond the eco-centre. The oasis is large and the walkways repetitive, so an hour or two is usually enough unless you are genuinely interested in the irrigation.

Nearby

Jebel Hafeet and its mountain road rise south of the city; Hili archaeological park is north.