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HobWahid
HobWahid
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5 out of 5
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Editor Pick

al-Ain: The Real Cultural Capital

  • October 26, 2004
  • Rated 5 of 5 by HobWahid from Damascus, Syria
al-Ain: The Real Cultural Capital

Out of all the places I visited in the United Arab Emirates, the city of al-Ain has to be my favorite. Like much of the UAE, al-Ain was little more than a small oasis town until the last 30 years, when the town grew substantially, thanks to money from Abu Dhabi. These days, al-Ain is desperately trying to find its place in the UAE. Knowing that it cannot compete with Abu Dhabi in international appeal, al-Ain has tried to establish itself as a vacation destination for Emiratis, with its greatest attraction being the strikingly dry air that stands as a welcome contrast to the humidity of the coast. In its attempt to turn itself into a summer getaway, al-Ain has undergone large construction of hotels and resorts, offering everything the vacationing Emirati needs. But what makes al-Ain so attractive to the casual visitor to the UAE is that it is one of the few places that has made an extra effort to preserve its cultural sights. With a couple of forts, a nice museum and a livestock market, al-Ain may be one of the few bastions of true Emirati culture left in the UAE.

The main attractions in al-Ain are its forts, The Eastern Fort and al-Jahili fort. While the Eastern Fort itself isn’t terribly impressive, the museum housed inside it is wonderful and probably one of the best in the UAE. The main attraction of the museum is the recreation of a traditional majlis, or sitting room, where Emiratis would meet their guests. One of the biggest surprises for me in the museum was the large collection of pre-historic artifacts that give you a look into pre-historic life in the UAE, a life I had no idea existed. The artifacts here are some the oldest human artifacts in the world. Other than that the museum also has a nice selection of photographs taken in the UAE from around the 1960s that allow you to see just how much the country has changed. And perhaps the best part of the museum is that you will most likely be completely alone.

Al-Jahili Fort is a very nicely restored fort that gives you a good idea of the sort of forts that were built in this area. It is now surrounded by a public garden, and while you cannot get inside the fort, a walk around the grounds is worthwhile.

Beyond the forts, there is Round Structure, a large round stone structure that dates back to about the 3rd millennium BC, located just outside of al-Ain. It is from here that most of the artifacts in the museum come. There is also the Livestock Market inside the town, which is probably the most "cultural" of all the sights. It is best to go in the morning, when the market is bustling with camels and horses to be traded. Beware, though--it is crowded, noisy, and dirty, but an interesting experience nonetheless.

From journal Searching for Culture in the UAE

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