Day 48 - Abu Dhabi to Al Ain: History, Heritage & A Very Full Day

Today required an early start, as we needed to be off the ship just after 8am to clear immigration and board our coach for the journey inland to Al Ain, a drive of around two hours.

Our tour guide was excellent — warm, knowledgeable, and wonderfully patient. By a stroke of luck (and good seat selection), Joe and I were seated directly behind her, which meant Joe could hear everything clearly and, of course, ask plenty of questions — including some fairly challenging ones! She answered thoughtfully whenever she could and never seemed flustered.

During the drive, she gave us a fascinating overview of the history of Abu Dhabi, the UAE, and the wider Gulf States. She explained the meanings of Arabic words, shared stories of tradition and culture, and spoke about the customs that shape daily life here. One thing that really stood out was how safe the country is — she told us she never locks her house or car, even when out all day.

The city of Abu Dhabi itself feels very different from Dubai or Doha — less densely built-up, more spacious, with a calmer, more understated elegance. It also happens to be home to the Guinness World Record–holding farthest-leaning man-made tower, which was pointed out to us along the way.



Discovering Al Ain

Al Ain is the second most important city in Abu Dhabi and has deep historical significance. It was once home to the ruling Sheikh’s family and played a central role in shaping many of the decisions that influenced the country’s development. Unlike the modern cityscapes we’ve seen recently, Al Ain is lush, green, and steeped in heritage.



Our first stop was the impressive Al Jahili Fort, followed by a visit to the Al Ain Museum, both of which offered valuable insight into the region’s history and way of life.



We then headed to the Danat Hotel for a generous buffet lunch. Joe was particularly delighted to discover that the hotel had a traditional English pub, which meant he could enjoy a beer before lunch — a definite highlight for him!

Oasis, Forts & Traditional Welcomes

After lunch, we visited the Al Ain Oasis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its ancient irrigation systems and shaded pathways — a true green heart in the middle of the desert.

Our final stop was Qasr Al Muwaiji Fort, another important historical site linked closely to the ruling family.

At each location, we were warmly welcomed with a cup of Arabic coffee and dates, a traditional gesture of hospitality. The kindness, generosity, and pride people take in welcoming guests was deeply touching. Everywhere we went was immaculately clean, thoughtfully designed, and strikingly modern while still honouring its past.

The Journey Back

On the return journey, a series of alarms suddenly sounded on the bus, which momentarily caught everyone’s attention. The guide calmly explained that it was a government alert system, warning of an accident or traffic build-up ahead.

The road infrastructure here is outstanding — wide, smooth highways — and for those who enjoy speed, the limit reaches 160 km/h (though it felt like some drivers may have exceeded that!). As we neared Abu Dhabi, we did encounter rush-hour traffic, but thanks to our driver’s excellent skills, we avoided several very close encounters with some particularly cheeky taxi drivers.

Joe couldn’t get over how clean everything was — roads, pavements, buildings — it really left an impression.



Evening Onboard

By the time we returned to the ship, Joe had unfortunately missed the quiz, but he was in time to shower and attend the Chanukah service, which was a lovely way to close such a full day.

We then went to Compass Rose for dinner, though I have to say it wasn’t our best experience there. Even the very best places have off days, and it felt as though they were short-staffed. Service was unusually slow, and my normally excellent tomato soup arrived lukewarm and tasteless, which was disappointing.

Still, tomorrow is another day — and I’m sure it will be better.

Daily Reflection:

Today reminded me how deeply history, culture, and kindness shape a place.
From ancient forts to modern highways, the UAE balances tradition and progress with remarkable grace.

Highlight of the Day:
✨ The warmth of the traditional welcomes — coffee and dates offered with such genuine generosity at every stop.

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