Al Ain (UAE), Sep 26 (DPA) Travellers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who hope to taste the most delicious dates see the country’s largest football stadium and observe the most beautiful camels should head for the oasis city of al-Ain.
The inland city is situated on the UAE’s eastern border with Oman, about 130 km from Dubai and 160 km from Abu Dhabi City. Al Ain is surrounded by red sand dunes and a mountain range, but it is anything but isolated and monotone. With a population of more than 400,000, al-Ain has become the second largest city in the Abu Dhabi emirate.
Al Ain is also the birthplace of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nayhan, the founder and long-time president of the UAE who died in 2004. Born in 1918 in a palace that still stands near the city’s Central Gardens, Sheikh Zayed wanted patches of green in the UAE and above all in al-Ain.
He had thousands of palm trees planted and there are fountains all over the city – so many that the oasis city is called the city of fountains. It is also nicknamed “city of flowers”.
“It is unbelievable how fast the oasis has grown,” said Mohammed Ali, who like Sheikh Zayed was born in al-Ain. “However, the city does not yet have skyscrapers like the ones found in the capital.”
The city has numerous parks that are green thanks to sprinkler systems that release mists of water. This is perhaps one reason why the city has the highest per capita water usage in the world. Many of the gardeners come from Pakistan, Mohammed said.
Lemons, oranges, figs, mangoes and dates are among the fruits that grow in al-Ain. The dates are especially tasty, according to Mohammed, adding that one tree can produce up to 150 kg in a year and grow to be 50 years old. In addition, palm leaves are used to make bags and mats.
Apart from its fountains and gardens, al-Ain has a few other noteworthy features. Among them is the zoo, which is the largest on the entire Arabian Peninsula. Another is the university, the first in the UAE. No fees are charged, said Mohammed, and many students drive to campus. Students can be identified by their large cars while instructors tend to drive small rickety cars, he said.
Another landmark in the city is Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium, the largest in the emirates. Football has many followers in the UAE, and al-Ain’s team enjoys as much popularity at home as Bayern Munich in Bavaria, Mohammed said.
A must for visitors to al-Ain is a stop at the camel market, which is open 365 days a year. A camel stays there until it is sold. There are dozens of camels at the market. When a handler slaps one on its backside, the animal turns around, and Mohammed estimates its age as eight to 12 months, which he considers an ideal.
Female camels are generally more expensive because they supply milk. As for the male camels, they are valued for racing and when one is particularly fast, it can fetch a price equal to that of a small car. Slower camels face a less glamorous fate in a stew or on a skewer.