The Al Ain Oasis lies on the UAE side of the border, a short taxi from central Buraimi, but it is the single most rewarding sight in the wider area and the obvious reason to come up here. The oasis is a thousand hectares of date plantations criss-crossed by traditional falaj irrigation channels, with shaded walking paths winding between the palms.
The plantation is still actively farmed by local families and there are over 100,000 date palms inside the walls. A small ecocentre at the southern entrance explains the falaj system. The oasis is open from morning to evening and is free; weekday mornings are coolest and quietest. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the larger Al Ain cultural landscape.