Al Ain National Museum

The basics

Overlooking UNESCO-listed, palm-filled Al Ain Oasis, the Al Ain National Museum is a popular stop on day trips to Al Ain from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Most tours stop at the museum, which has four halls, to explore how Emirati ancestors lived. Two sections focus on the pre-oil era with artifacts that include jewelry, clothing, agricultural tools, and weapons. And two focus on archaeology, tracing history from the neolithic age to the petroleum age.

Other attractions typically seen on tours of the area include Al Ain camel market, Hili Archaeological Park, and the natural springs and slopes of nearby Jebel Hafit mountain. Some tours zero in on particular attractions, such as the camel market and Jebel Hafit, to appeal to families with kids and outdoor lovers.

Things to know before you go

• The Al Ain National Museum will appeal to anyone interested in UAE history and visitors to Hili Archaeological Park, where many artifacts were discovered.

• Plan to spend one to two hours exploring the displays.

• There is a small admission fee for adults and children.

• Visitors to the museum can admire the mud-brick Eastern Fort, also called the Sultan Bin Zayed Fort, which neighbors the galleries.

How to get there

The Al Ain National Museum flanks the eastern edges of Al Ain Oasis in the city center. If you’re driving, expect a roughly 1.5-hour journey via the E66 from Dubai or the E22 toll road from Abu Dhabi. E201 buses from Dubai ferry passengers to Al Ain bus station, near the museum, in about 2.5 hours. Many travelers prefer the ease of visiting Al Ain on tours that include round-trip transport.

When to get there

The Al Ain National Museum is typically open from morning through evening, except for Fridays when hours are afternoon only, and Mondays when it’s closed. Check before you go. To view the open-air Eastern Fort neighboring the galleries, arrive early to avoid the afternoon heat and the museum’s busy early afternoon period. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are usually quiet at the museum.

Must-sees at Al Ain National Museum

History buffs will love the museum’s archaeological galleries. Don’t miss the Mesopotamian pots dating from around 5,000 years ago, or the artifacts uncovered in the Bronze Age tombs of the Hili Archaeological Park—they’re about 4,000 years old. Other must-sees include vessels used in the Iron Age to build the falaj–irrigation channels that characterize Al Ain Oasis.