A cooler, greener side of the UAE, and an easy day trip if you want a break from the coast.
Start with the Al Ain Oasis in the cooler morning hours — shaded palm groves are far more pleasant to walk before the day heats up. From there, head to Al Ain Zoo for a couple of hours, then finish the day with the drive up Jebel Hafeet for sunset views over the city and desert.
Al Ain sits roughly 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi city by car on a straightforward motorway, making it very manageable as a self-drive day trip, or bookable through an organised tour if you'd rather not drive.
