Al Ain in UAE to become capital of Arab tourism in 2026

Al Ain, a major city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (UAE), has been selected as the capital of Arab tourism for 2026. This was reported by Emirates News Agency (WAM), a partner of TV BRICS.

Known as the “Garden City”, Al Ain is located 160 kilometres from the UAE capital. Large reserves of fresh water underground have turned the area into a green oasis, while mineral springs are found at the foothills of Jebel Hafeet mountain.

Al Ain also attracts tourists with its historical sights. Its key landmarks – including Jebel Hafeet, the Hili and Bidaa Bint Saud archaeological parks, and the city’s oases – are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The 19th-century Al Jahili Fort is also located here. The city has the largest zoo in the UAE, an amusement park and a water park.

The city was chosen as the capital of Arab tourism on the recommendation of the Executive Office of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism during the 28th session of the council in Baghdad (Iraq).

According to the source, the city's new status will contribute to the implementation of the national tourism strategy, which aims to attract 40 million guests to hotels annually and increase tourism's contribution to GDP to US$122.5 million by 2031.

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