Date: April 2024

City: Al Ain, "The Garden City of the Golf," United Arab Emirates 

Location: Al Jahili Fort

The literal translation of Al Ain is "the spring," and once there, it is easy to see why. Home to six oases, Al Ain was a city of great historical significance both for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the region. Located at the edge of the Al Rub' Al Khali - the Empty Quarter - it became a place of respite for travelers. 

In order to protect the oases, watchtowers were built near several of the oases and Al Jahili Fort was among the largest. The construction of this important fort was competed within 7 years during Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa's reign. Today Al Jahili Fort houses a beautiful permanent exhibit about explorer, photographer, and travel writer Wilfred Thesiger (a.k.a Mubarak Bin London ) titled Wilfred Thesiger and the Freedom of the Desert. Following the crossing of the Empty Quarter, Thesiger remained in Abu Dhabi as a guest to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, often joining his daily majlis. The exhibit is free and a worthwhile stop in any visit to Al Ain.