(CNN) — The UAE could have handiest simply celebrated its fiftieth anniversary of independence however Abu Dhabi has a centuries-old previous.
The most important of the emirates boasts an array of UNESCO International Heritage websites in addition to one of the nation’s maximum well-preserved forts which exhibit its key geographical location over the centuries, telling the tale of the Emirati folks’s connection to each land and sea.
A brief pressure to the oasis the town of Al Ain is the place one of the maximum magical gem stones of the bygone generations come to lifestyles, a residing museum reminiscent of the rustic’s Bedouin roots.
The birthplace of the rustic’s founder and primary president, the overdue Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, Al Ain is a should for guests to the UAE for a real style of its original tradition and heritage.
Referred to as the Lawn Town, Al Ain used to be as soon as an important inexperienced oasis at the caravan course from the UAE to Oman and is now house to a number of UNESCO safe websites.
Listed below are a few of Abu Dhabi’s key archaeological and historic treasures.
Qasr Al Hosn
The 18th-century Hosn Palace, or Qasr al Hosn, started as a unmarried watch tower within the 18th century and, because the advanced grew, in the end become the seat of energy till the overdue Sixties.
“There are gorgeous tales concerning the palace informed by means of people who used to are living round this position,” says Nataly Leslie, a excursion information within the emirate. “The palace door used to be very a lot open for folks to speak to the sheiks and inform them their issues.”
These days, the palace stays a key enchantment no longer just for vacationers however Emiratis alike, who come and sit down within the palace espresso store to savor where they have got heard their ancestors discuss of so fondly.
The palace additionally showcases native tradition with common exhibitions and occasions.
Al Ain Oasis
Al Ain is house to 100 types of date palm.
Barry Neild/CNN
The primary of the UAE’s UNESCO websites used to be the dramatic Al Ain Oasis.
Set within the middle of where referred to as The Lawn Town, the web page dates again greater than 4,000 years and is proof of one of the crucial first irrigation programs of recent instances.
The machine, referred to as “falaj,” took water from the within reach Hajar Mountains by way of a chain of slim waterways nonetheless visual as of late.
Guests can take curated strolling trails even though the web page which covers over 1,200 hectares and incorporates greater than 147,000 date palm bushes and 100 types of date.
The centuries-old falaj machine used to be handiest up to date within the Twentieth century with the creation of pumps. An eco-center could also be to be had for guests to achieve a deeper figuring out of the traditional Bedouin irrigation programs.
Bidaa Bint Saud
A treasure trove for archaeology fanatics, Bidaa Bint Saud, an historical caravan web page, is situated 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of Al Ain.
The interesting house which as soon as had an enormous group of farmers extending the entire option to the northern emirates, all using the world’s community of falaj irrigation programs, includes a uncommon Iron Age construction and 5,000-year-old Bronze Age tombs in addition to the towering Gharn Bint Saud.
This 40-meter-tall rock rises above the panorama with a number of historical stone tombs on the best. A number of of the discoveries from the world comparable to pottery, dagger blades, jewellery and bronze arrowheads, at the moment are on show on the Al Ain Nationwide Museum.
Hili Archaeological Park
Courting again to the Bronze Age (3200 BCE to 1300 BCE) and Iron Age (1300 BCE to 300 BCE), this house displays proof of the traditional lifestyles as soon as residing within the house’s deserts.
Archaeologists have found out villages, burial grounds and agricultural infrastructure from what’s now known as the Umm an-Nar duration, named after the island off the coast of Abu Dhabi the place the stays of the tradition had been first found out.
Additionally it is house to the UAE’s biggest number of tombs and constructions from this era.
Jebel Hafit Tombs
The Jebel Hafit tombs expose the significance of maritime business around the Arabian Gulf.
David Steele/Adobe Inventory
Along with being Abu Dhabi’s easiest top, Jebel Hafit (Hafit mountain) could also be house to round 500 5,000-year-old tombs which mark the beginning of the Bronze Age within the UAE.
First found out via excavations again in 1959, archaeologists discovered ceramic vessels and copper artifacts within the igloo-like tombs which confirmed the significance of maritime business around the Arabian Gulf.
The one chamber tombs are a dramatic web page providing a window right into a time long past by means of.
Excursion information Leslie calls this one in every of Abu Dhabi’s “hidden gem stones.”
“The general public have no idea about a lot of these discoveries on this house,” she says. “Despite the fact that the UAE is a somewhat younger nation, it has historical findings that end up that this house used to be as soon as a hectic position the place historical past used to be made.”
Maqta Citadel
This small however vital citadel on the gateway to Abu Dhabi’s major island used to be erected within the overdue 18th century the usage of fundamental fabrics comparable to coral stones, seashore rock and sand and its tower would guard and give protection to Abu Dhabi for many future years.
“Whilst Qasr al Hosn advanced into a spot of serious significance for the local community, Maqta citadel become a relaxation prevent for folks getting into Abu Dhabi,” says Leslie.
Al Ain Palace Museum
Al Ain Palace used to be as soon as the house of the UAE’s ruling circle of relatives.
dudlajzov/Adobe Inventory
As soon as the house of the overdue Sheikh Zayed, the primary president of the UAE, Al Ain Palace used to be lived in by means of the ruling circle of relatives till the Sixties sooner than they made the emirate’s town their everlasting house as Abu Dhabi’s major island transitioned right into a political and financial capital.
Guests can get a glimpse of lifestyles within the place of abode which stands as a reminiscence of the time sooner than oil used to be found out within the mid-Twentieth century.
Despite the fact that no longer “previous” in comparison to different websites within the emirate — the oldest construction on the advanced is from 1937 — it’s product of the normal fabrics of the generation, dotted with the normal courtyards which characterised such houses within the area all over that duration.
Now a museum, guests can see the vital hyperlinks between previous and provide and admire Abu Dhabi’s speedy transformation from Bedouin lifestyles to trendy affluence.
“If you’re keen on historical past and need to be informed concerning the royal circle of relatives and standard structure of this time, that is the very best position to move, says Shamsa Al Naqbi, an Emirati excursion information.
“It is an perception into the lifetime of the royal circle of relatives, their rooms, the way of structure, pieces they might use, so it is a actually great position to discuss with to peer the real historical past of the UAE. It additionally actually displays the transition our ancestors made to the fashionable UAE we have now as of late.”
Sir Baniyas Island Church and Monastery
Slightly off the overwhelmed monitor is Sir Baniyas Island within the Western Area which can also be reached by means of boat or flight from Abu Dhabi throughout the Anantara lodge, which manages the far flung island’s tourism.
Came upon within the early Nineties, the church and monastery is the one pre-Islamic Christian web page present in UAE, defined Leslie. It is the supply of masses of artifacts providing a captivating perception into lifestyles all over this era.
“Like lifestyles within the UAE sooner than the invention of oil, the population of this agreement used the ocean as their supply of meals,” she stated. “Additionally they saved animals like sheep and farm animals and traded around the Arabian gulf and into the Indian ocean.”
Sir Baniyas Island is now a flora and fauna reserve, house to a variety of safe animals from Arabian oryx to gazelle which guests can witness first-hand on safaris.
