The Cultural Sites of Al Ain

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After an hour and a half drive from Dubai, one arrives in Al Ain, a small but vibrant city which is a part of Abu Dhabi, one of the the seven emirates. 
 
It borders Oman so a few more steps and you are in another country.  Tourist beware though of taking pictures near the border because the Omanis are strict and you can be reprimanded. I never told my wife I was detained for almost l an hour (that's another story) for questioning in UAE-Oman border for taking pictures near a military installation. A  word of advise - always bring your passport wherever you lug around UAE because you might be crossing borders without being aware of it.  
 
The serial property of The Cultural Sites of Al Ain, with its various component parts and the regional context in which it is situated, provides testimony to ancient sedentary human occupation in a desert region. Occupied continuously since the Neolithic, the region presents vestiges of numerous prehistoric cultures, notably from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.

Al Ain is situated at the crossroads of the ancient land routes between Oman, the Arabian Peninsula, the Persian Gulf and Mesopotamia. Very diverse in nature, the tangible elements of the property include remains of circular stone tombs and settlements from the Hafit and Hili periods, wells and partially underground aflaj irrigation systems, oases and mud brick constructions assigned to a wide range of defensive, domestic and economic purposes. 
 
This expertise in construction and water management enabled the early development of agriculture for five millennia, up until the present day.
Location: Al Ain - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates

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