A spot of tranquility in Al Ain

Al Ain: Al Ain Oasis is now open to visitors from daybreak until 6.30pm every day but there are some things first-time visitors should bear in mind.

The oasis is a complex maze of intricate pathways and the uninitiated may easily lose their way despite the directions provided.

The marks of car tyres on the main streets can be a handy lead should a visitor lose track. No visitors are allowed in after sunset.

The ideal way to explore the oasis and appreciate its tranquil setting is on foot. Tourists, however, are allowed to take their cars inside. Al Ain Police have deployed patrols in and around the oasis.

Visitors are not advised to jump over the five-foot high walls along the pathways. A duty police officer said this is to ensure the safety of tourists from animals inhabiting the woods.

Al Ain Oasis is located in the heart of the city and has been a huge draw for tourists over the years. It has eight entrances, some with arched gates that reflect the UAE's Bedouin heritage. Dwellings inside the gates that reflect traditional architectural styles are being used as storage areas or accommodations for farm workers. There are also mosques, restaurants and rest points.

"It is fascinating to see such a large date palm jungle right in the middle of the city," said J. Walter, a visitor.

Walid Mukaram, a Syrian expatriate who has often visited the oasis with his family and friends, said he found each visit extremely gratifying. "We form teams and set targets for each team to reach a certain spot through the maze," he said. "It is very enjoyable," he said.

The oasis is divided into sections for date farmers and Emiratis who own certain tracts of the land. All the date palm trees are protected by walls and irrigated by falaj, an ancient system of narrow waterways which have origins stretching back to 1000BC. The water comes from the mountains, 30km away.

Some Emiratis believe dates are more important than oil. UAE has more than 40 million date palms, of which Al Ain alone accounts for 8.5 million. The trees give the UAE a prominent position among the top date producing countries with a six per cent share of the world's total date production.

The city, due to its fertility and date palm oasis, was an important crossroad on the ancient trading routes and its importance prompted the building of three majestic forts at the eastern and western edges of the oasis.