UAE 2020 Day 10: Al Ain Oasis

After a hearty brunch and a heapful of biryani, and with a mind to walk off all that calories we took the scenic route to the Al Ain Oasis. We headed in the general westerly direction past the Al Ain Cooperative Society’s Central Super Market, past Al Ain’s very own Gold Souq and changed directions south past the Masjid at Al Mutawaa Al Ain at a large roundabout before arriving at the entrance to the Oasis.

the entrance, we chatted with the friendly guard

he was pleasantly surprised that we were Malaysians

we bade him a fond farewell

Although this was not the first time that we have been here we will still filled with excitement and loved the fact that there is no entry fee to visit the Oasis. We chatted up the security personnel entrance at the entrance who was amazed that Malaysians knew about about the Oasis. 

We ambled freely into its shaded pathways and say this with conviction: if other places that we had visited were took us back in time, the Oasis gave us the distinct feeling that time stood still!

as we wandered along

to a place where time stood still

an amazing blend of history, travel, trade and culture

a cooling and calming forest like area

in the middle of the desert

haven for travellers of the desert since ancient times

really lives up to its name in every way

it still has palm plantations

and is still used for irrigation

quite close to Al Ain Museum

it does like like time stood still

This historic oasis sprawls across 3,000-acre and provides a unique insight into the region's inhabitants who began taming the desert 4,000 years ago. The Al Ain Oasis has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, but only now, with the construction of an educational Eco-Centre and an extensive system of shaded pathways that wind through some 147,000 date palms, is it open to the public.  The site houses up to 100 different varieties of vegetation that surround the impressive oasis, with widespread plantations that are also working farms.

plenty of useful signage

beduin's palm-leaf house, the 'arish'

a stop over where you can get refreshments

enjoying the afternoon sun

old rusted gates harking back to olden times

a musholla or small prayer room

despite the signage we did get a little lost

entry is restricted after sunset

so do come here during the day

irrigation system called falaj still operates

After about an hour of ambling along the pathways we reached the end, and exited near the Al Ain National Museum which was closed for renovations. We then headed back to the bus station, but not before paying the local fish market a visit.