Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, November 8th, 2016: Al Ain Oasis features a full programme of curated activities and exhibitions following its opening to the public as part of the UAE’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site on November 3rd, providing an enhanced and culturally enriched experience for visitors and residents in Al Ain.
The interpretation of Al Ain Oasis has been undertaken by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) as part of its on-going initiatives to preserve the UAE’s rich history and heritage. In 2011, The Cultural Sites of Al Ain were the first property in the UAE to be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. The property is comprised of four assemblages: the Bronze-Age Hafit Tombs, the archaeological settlements at Hili, the prehistoric vestiges at Bidaa Bint Saud, and the six lush oases of Al Ain, including Al Ain Oasis.
Situated in the heart of the ancient city, Al Ain Oasis is the largest oasis in Al Ain. It is one of the world’s oldest permanently inhabited settlements that dates back to more than 2,000 years. It covers over 1,200 hectares and contains more than 147,000 date palm trees, of up to 100 different varieties. Adjacent to Al Ain National Museum to the East and Al Ain Palace Museum to the West, the oasis is known for its unique aflaj irrigation system of narrow waterways that convey fresh spring water from the nearby Hajjar Mountains, to nurture the date farms.
Committed to respecting the natural and communal significance of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, TCA Abu Dhabi has ensured that opening the oasis to visitation entails a low environmental impact that enables visitors to learn, observe and interact while engaging with the site. This commitment is cultivated by the considerable historic and cultural importance of the oases previously emphasized by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who decreed that the heritage of Oases should be preserved and developed for future generations.
The interpretation philosophy of Al Ain Oasis is based on the concept of presenting this millennial cultural landscape as a living and complex ecosystem that has thrived thanks to the continued tradition of water management and cultivation. Through the interactive experience of the falaj network in the Miniature Oasis and viewing the three-tiered agricultural landscape of groves, ground crops and orchards in the Oasis Garden, visitors will be able to understand the self-sufficient ingenuity of the local community to overcome the harsh conditions of the surrounding desert climate.
The natural beauty visible across Al Ain can be experienced from Nagfa Ridge Viewpoint metaphor in the Miniature Oasis, revealing an inspiring desert environment that captures the authentic integrity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This experience is completed by the West Gate Exhibition, where the ancient traditions associated with water are poetically shown as a projection into the flowing waters of a Shari’a cistern.
A selection of food and beverage outlets can be enjoyed along the nearby Al Ain Oasis Plaza where local produce and traditional products from the oasis can be purchased. The minimalistic Plaza buildings are meant to blend into the oasis landscape.
The Eco-Centre provides a fully immersive experience with didactic installations and educational games, sharing the story of the genesis of the desert oasis and the life of Al Ain Oasis which has been declared universally important by UNESCO. The Eco-Centre is not only meant to highlight the unique ecological environment of Al Ain Oasis, but is also an example of a thoughtfully designed “green” building meant to reflect the organic composition of plots within the Oasis. With its central cladding that mimics interlocking palm branches and its use of eco-friendly materials, the Eco-Centre sensitively pays homage to the palm canopy of the Oasis.
Today, TCA Abu Dhabi has improved Al Ain Oasis visitor experience and accessibility, introducing interpretive tools to better understand the oasis’ ecosystem, its historic evolution, and its significance for the rest of the World Heritage site of Al Ain. Engaging all future visitors, UAE residents and international tourists, Al Ain Oasis will be fully activated for them to enjoy one of the UAE’s most distinctive cultural landscapes, which has sustained civilisation in the area since the start of the second millennium BCE, and perhaps even earlier.
Al Ain oasis is open daily from 9am to 6pm, with the restaurants, cafes and shops remaining open until 9pm.
