Qasr Al Muwaiji is one of Al Ain's less-visited historic sites and is better for it. The original structure dates from the late 19th century and was the family home of the Al Nahyan rulers during their time in Al Ain — it served as the birthplace of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the current President of the UAE, who was born here in 1961. The name translates roughly as "the sheltered palace," a reference to the surrounding palm groves that once enclosed it.
The building was comprehensively restored in the early 2010s and reopened as a cultural and heritage site. The architecture is traditional Gulf mud-brick — low defensive walls with corner towers, interconnected rooms around a central courtyard — and the interior has been fitted out to reflect the period of its active use in the mid-20th century. Photographs and documents trace the Al Nahyan family's history and the political development of what became the UAE.
The site sits northwest of the main cluster of museums around Al Jahili Fort, and visiting it requires a specific trip rather than a short walk. A taxi from the fort area takes about ten minutes. Worth including if you have a genuine interest in Gulf political history; easy to skip if your priorities are the oasis and the mountain.