Al Ain Oasis: Stroll Through the Green Heart of the Desert

One of the places we had been planning to visit for a while in Al Ain was the oasis. A UNESCO World Heritage site is right in the middle of this desert city. Known for its rich palm groves, ancient falaj irrigation system and calm walking paths. We had seen photos, read stories and now it was finally our turn to walk among the prominent palms and listen to the story of history carried on the breeze. But visiting in the middle of summer meant we had to plan strategically. We get there early to whip the scorching sun. We pulled into the parking lot at 8:30 AM, only to find out the place opens at 9. So we waited in the car watching the temperature creep up.

At exactly 9:00, we moved out of the car and were promptly welcomed by a fence of humidity. It was the kind of heat that makes your clothes stick to you the moment you move. I had brought my fan thinking it would help, but it was basically blowing warm air in my face. We made our way to the entrance, already soaked in sweat. Still, I kept smiling.
As we approached the entrance, my husband asked the security guard about the entrance fee. And to our delight, he told us it was free. We just needed to register our names. My husband filled in our details, I wandered around the outer area, already snapping photos. Even the entrance to Al Ain Oasis had this tranquil and worldly charm. On the left side of the entrance, I saw a panel that shared interesting facts about the oasis. I paused to read through it, taking in the details, and made sure to capture the board in photos as well. It was a simple yet insightful introduction that added more meaning to the walk that followed.

As we walked inside Al Ain Oasis, a sense of peace embraced us. Not far from the entrance, I noticed some cozy café shops on both sides of the path. Their rustic designs and open seating areas invited visitors to sit, relax and enjoy the peaceful environment. There was a displayed oasis map. There was also a resting area where visitors could sit and relax. Before we began strolling, my husband asked me to pose for a few pictures. He said it was best to take them before our walk turned into a sweaty adventure.

Now, walking through the oasis in 47-degree weather might be crazy and it likely was, anyhow, it became part of the fun. The oasis measures over 1,200 hectares. With the sun already high and the heat pressing down, we weren’t sure if we could view it all in one go. Thankfully, we came prepared. We had our water bottle with us ready for the grind against the torrid heat. The size of the oasis was both grand and a bit awe, but our curiosity pushed us forward. We knew we’d take it slow, find shade when needed, and enjoy every bit we could manage of this beautiful, green sanctuary in the heart of the desert.

As we continued our walk, we observed that the palm trees were planted within masonry walls, giving each block a distinct, enclosed layout. This was the first block we entered. The elevation of the trees stunned us. Their slim trunks rising beautifully to the sky, proudly guarding the secrets of the oasis. Some of the leaves were dried and hanging. This area might not be actively maintained at the moment. We also noticed that the falaj irrigation channel had no water flowing through it.

We were laughing most of the time, not just because of the ridiculous amount of sweat pouring down our bodies, but also because of how unbothered my husband was. He kept saying, Enjoy the heat, it’s melting your belly fat! That one made us laugh so hard. We forgot how sweaty and uncomfortable we felt. We continued strolling, despite the scorching heat. A quiet peace surrounded us, making each step feel like a gentle escape into nature’s embrace.

The next section we entered was beautiful. Offering a revitalizing pause from our sweaty walk. A chairs and tables for visitors to take a break and enjoy the relaxing ambiance. The area was clean. We saw that the falaj was slightly wet. A reminder that the old irrigation system was still alive and functioning. Many of the palms carry a bunch of ripening dates, their fruits wrapped carefully in nets to protect them from damage. What intrigued us most were the palm trees with metal coils twirling around their trunks possibly used for climbing or support. I couldn’t hold capturing the moment. I told my hubby to pose in front of the date palms. Even though his shirt was little wet, his smile was full of life. We rested for a while. Thankful for the shade and the tranquility before continuing our walk through the green heart of the desert.

We walked along the narrow paths, amazed by the variety of date palms surrounding us. The oasis is home to around 100 different types of dates. We also noticed a few fruit trees adding variety to the oasis. There were more sections to explore, but we chose not to go deeper into them since they looked quite similar to the blocks we entered. We focused on looking for areas where we could observe the falaj irrigation system.

We entered this area and were pleased to finally come across the falaj system we had been looking for. A channel ran beside the path and water was gently flowing through it. Showing that the palm trees are still watered using this traditional method. This was our last stop, as we decided not to continue to the museum and other attractions. We were already a bit tired. Our shirts were soaked with sweat. We didn’t feel at ease to continue. We didn’t see everything, still we were happy with what we experienced. We admired the serene and beauty of the oasis.

As we walked outside the oasis and made our way to the parking lot, I took more shots of the view around us. I couldn’t withstand capturing those final moments. It was a nice way to end our visit.

Photos taken using Samsung S25 Ultra
Collage using Canva

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