Overview

Al Ain, or “the spring” in Arabic, is fed by natural springs originating from the surrounding rocky heights. Also known as the “Oasis City,” Al Ain is enclosed by magnificent red sand dunes and punctuated by an impressive mountain range.

The abundance of water from the oasis allows the city to bloom, especially its numerous parks and gardens. “Garden City of the Gulf” is another name given to Al Ain, a city that is a favorite destination for thousands of overseas tourists.

Al Ain is approximately 160 kilometers from Abu Dhabi, and borders with the Sultanate of Oman and its town Buraimi. Al Ain is around a two hours’ drive from Abu Dhabi or an hour and a half from Dubai.

Al-Ain is the ancestral home and birth place of the late President and Ruler of the Abu Dhabi Emirate, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan. Al Ain seamlessly combines heritage with modernity with the presence of its well-preserved forts, palaces and settlements alongside modern roads, hospitals, residential areas, schools and academic institutions, malls, theme park, ice rink, and the largest wildlife preserve in the Middle East.

Visitors to the city can choose from a large number of facilities and attractions, and will find an atmosphere and culture that feel more traditionally Arabic than can be found in the coastal cities in the UAE.

Time Zone

The UAE follows Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus 4 hours. Daylight savings time is not observed in the UAE.

Weather

Temperature: Throughout the month of December daytime temperatures will generally reach highs of around 27°C that's about 80°F. At night the average minimum temperature drops down to around 15°C, that's 59°F.

Relative Humidity: The average daily relative humidity for April is around 33%.

Weekend

Weekend is Friday and Saturday, and the first day back to work (for most companies) is Sunday. There are, however, certain offices including many banks open on Saturday too.

Working Hours

Government offices are generally open from 7am to 3pm or from 8am to 4pm Sunday to Thursday. Some might end their working days at 5pm, if the staff take a full one hour lunch break. Private companies normally operate between 9am and 5pm (6pm), and some of them also work on Saturday.