Private Al Ain tour with Emirati Guide

Al Ain's famous and family-friendly camel market is a wonderful place in which to immerse yourself in traditional, authentic Arab culture – and also take a few fantastic photographs. From young Arabian camels that might grow up to be racers to beautiful adult camels ideal for breeding, the market is a one-of-a-kind experience offering a closer look at the animal that enjoys a special place in Emirati heritage.

The market is located 15km away from downtown Al Ain, Abu Dhabi’s lush garden city and heritage heartland, and is a stark contrast from the big city, with trading taking place in the morning. However, it’s usually possible to see the herded animals all day long.

History buffs will fall in love with this charming museum that tells the story of the UAE’s ancient history. This is the oldest museum in the UAE, established in 1969 under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE and affectionately known as Father of the Nation. Built to chart the history of Al Ain from the Stone Age through to the foundation of the UAE in 1971, the museum houses artefacts recovered from the many archaeological sites scattered across the region, including flint tools and arrowheads dating back to the sixth millennium BCE.

Al Ain Oasis covers 1,200 hectares and provides a unique insight into the region's inhabitants who began taming the desert 4,000 years ago. Located in the centre of Al Ain, the oasis is a 90-minute drive away from the capital and free to enter. Here, visitors can get up close to a traditional falaj, an ancient irrigation system that today nourishes local grasslands and over 147,000 date palms and fruit trees.

Al Ain Palace is one of the best-rxeinstated museum in Abu Dhabi. and an important historical site in the UAE. It was home to the Founding Father of the UAE and the first President of the country, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who lived here with his family until the late sixties when he moved to Abu Dhabi.

The palace and private residence provide insights into the lives and culture of both the ruling family and the community until the country’s transformation after the discovery of petroleum. The oldest building in the palace dated back to 1937. The palace was renovated in 1998 and opened its doors as a tourist and cultural museum in 2001. The museum opened its doors to visitors in 2001 and continues to celebrate the UAE’s rich history, preserving its links to the present and the future.

A contrast of modern design elements and traditional Emirati influences can be seen throughout the property.

Since opening its gates in 2008, Al Jahili Fort – set in Abu Dhabi's lush garden city of Al Ain, about an hour and a half away from the capital – has been a focal point of activities associated with the philosophy, culture and heritage of Abu Dhabi. Al Jahili is one of the largest forts in the UAE, built in the 1890s on the orders of Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, also known as Zayed the First, as the home to members of the ruling Al Nahyan family.