English Teacher in Oman
Weekend in Al Ain
United Arab Emirates
20 - 22 December 2011
The Story...
Whilst working in Oman a second time around during 2011-2012, my brother got a teaching job in Al Ain in the UAE. Shortly after his arrival, we decided to pay him a visit.
We drove our rental car from Rustaq, through Ibri to Al Ain. It was a couple of days before Christmas, so I think he appreciated the fact that he got some support from family.
We visited the Al Ain palace museum and did some shopping at a mall on the Friday, and the Saturday we drove up the winding mountain pass road to Jebel Hafeet, with its stunning views, and ate a Christmas buffet at the Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet hotel, before we drove back to Oman.
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| Al Ain Palace Museum - This Land Rover similar to the one driven by Sheikh Zayed in the desert to visit Bedouin communities |
About Al Ain
Al-`Ain (Arabic literally The Spring), is known as the Garden City due to its greenery. It is the largest inland city in the United Arab Emirates, the fourth-largest overall (after Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah), and the second-largest in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
It has a population of 650,000 (as of 2013) and is located approximately 160 kilometers east of the capital Abu Dhabi and about 120 kilometers south of Dubai.
Al-`Ain is the birthplace of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the United Arab Emirates, and has the highest proportion of Emirati nationals (30.8%).
Al-`Ain is located in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, inland on the border with Oman. The freeways connecting Al-`Ain, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai form a geographic triangle in the country, each city being roughly 130 kilometers from the other two (Wikipedia).
Al Ain Palace Museum
Al Ain Palace Museum is the former home of the late UAE founder, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The Palace was once a political and social hub. Built in 1910, the building became a museum in 1998.
Al Ain Mall
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| Ski arena below with Christmas decorations dangling from the ceiling in an Al Ain Mall |
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| Ski arena below with Christmas decorations dangling from the ceiling in an Al Ain Mall |
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| Coffee-shop - Al Ain mall |
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| Luxury car on display in an Al-Ain mall |
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Sponge Bob Crocs...Sponge Bob paraphernalia is adored throughout the Gulf it seems
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| Ansu and I at Al Ain mall |
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| At a Coffee-shop - Al Ain mall |
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| Outside Al Ain mall - taken from the entrance to the mall |
Jebel Hafeet
Jabal Ḥafeeṫ (Arabic - literally "empty mountain") is a mountain located primarily in the area of Al Ain, which itself is in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the UAE.
Part of the mountain, however, straddles the border with Oman, while the summit is located wholly within United Arab Emirates (Wikipedia).
At the summit at around 915 m, is the Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet hotel with 124 rooms, a unique mountain oasis resort.
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Interesting roundabout feature as we started to exit Al Ain city driving towards Jebel Hafeet
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The winding road up to the summit
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| Halfway view |
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| Halfway view |
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| Halfway view |
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| Halfway stop up to Jebel Hafeet - Ansu at our rental car |
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| The road leading up to Jebel Hafeet |
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| The road leading up to Jebel Hafeet |
Jebel Hafeet summit
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Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet with 124 rooms is a unique mountain oasis resort,
located at 915 m on Hafeet Mountain |
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| Posing behind the fountains - Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet |
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| Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet |
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| The Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet hotel |
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| The Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet hotel swimming pool area |
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| On top of Jebel Hafeet with Al Ain countryside below |
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| My brother on top of Jebel Hafeet with Al Ain countryside below |
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| On top of Jebel Hafeet with Al Ain countryside below |
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On top of Jebel Hafeet with Al Ain countryside below
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| On top of Jebel Hafeet with Al Ain countryside below |
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| Christmas buffet |
The road back to Oman
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| Old bakkie at a petrol station - near Al Ain-Oman border on Oman side |
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| Driving back home to Rustaq - On the highway between Al Ain and Ibri |
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