Al Ain Region

This article is about the Eastern Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. For the city, see Al Ain.
"Eastern Region Municipality" redirects here. For other uses, see Ash Sharqiyah. For other uses of "Eastern Region", see Eastern Region.
Al Ain Region[1]
Minṭaqat Al-ʿAyn (مِنْطَقَة ٱلْعَيْن)
Al Sharqia
Eastern Region
Al-Minṭaqah Aš-Šarqiyyah (ٱلْمِنْطَقَة ٱلشَّرْقِيَّة)
The desert with limited vegetation near Al-Khaznah, between the cities of Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, roughly in the region of Ar-Rub' Al-Khali (The Empty Quarter)
The desert with limited vegetation near Al-Khaznah, between the cities of Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, roughly in the region of Ar-Rub' Al-Khali (The Empty Quarter)
Flag of Al Ain Region[1]
Flag
Coat of arms of Al Ain Region[1]
Coat of arms
Location of the Eastern Region in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi[2]
Location of the Eastern Region in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi[2]
Coordinates: 24°12′27″N 55°44′41″E / 24.20750°N 55.74472°E / 24.20750; 55.74472
Country United Arab Emirates
Emirate Abu Dhabi
SeatAl Ain
Government
 • TypeAbsolute monarchy
 • EmirMohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
 • Ruler's Representative of the Eastern Region of the Emirate of Abu DhabiHazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Time zoneUTC+4 (UAE standard time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+4

The Eastern Region (Arabic: ٱلْمِنْطَقَة ٱلشَّرْقِيَّة, romanized: Al-Minṭaqah Aš-Šarqiyyah), officially known as Al Ain Region (Arabic: مِنْطَقَة ٱلْعَيْن, romanized: Minṭaqat al-ʿAyn),[1][2][3] is one of three Municipal Regions in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It forms the southeastern part of the United Arab Emirates.[4] Its main settlement is the eponymous city of Al Ain, located on the country's border with Oman, about 160 km (99 miles) from the city of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Emirate and country.[5] Compared to the Western Region, it is also a rather remote region of the Emirate,[6] but smaller by area, and is not known to hold reserves of gas or petroleum,[7] but is agriculturally important.[8]

History and prehistory

See also: Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates, Bidaa Bint Saud, Buraimi Dispute, Hafit Period, List of Ancient Settlements in the UAE, List of cultural property of national significance in the United Arab Emirates, and Umm al-Nar Culture
Al-'Ankah Fort in the village of Remah, between the cities of Al-Ain and Abu Dhabi

The city of Al-Ain, part of a historical region which also includes the adjacent Omani town of Al-Buraimi,[9] is noted for its forts, oases, aflāj (underground water channels), and archaeological sites such as those of Hili and Rumailah. Sites outside the city include Jebel Hafeet[10][11][12] and Al-A'ankah Fort.[13] Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan had been the Ruler's Representative in this region, before becoming the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates.[9][14] In March 2017, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan renamed the region as Al Ain Region.[1][3]

Demographics and settlements

A sign on the E66 highway between Al-Ain and Dubai near Al-Faqa', with the names of Al-Hayer, Al-Ain and Ash-Shwaib within the region, besides Al-Dhaid and Al-Fujairah outside the Emirate

As of 2009, the population of the region was estimated at 890,000.[15]

Aside from the main city, there are about 20 settlements which are governed by the region's municipal body, that is Al Ain Municipality. Most of them are estimated to have populations of no more than 10,000. They include:[7][3][16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Khalifa renames Eastern and Western Regions". WAM. Gulf News. 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
  2. ^ a b Statistical Yearbook of Abu Dhabi 2018, Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, 2018, p. 171, archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-21, retrieved 2019-05-15
  3. ^ a b c "Sheikh Khalifa renames Abu Dhabi regions". The National. 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  4. ^ Lieth, Helmut; Al Masoom, A. A., eds. (2012-12-06). "Reclamation potentials of saline degraded lands in Abu Dhabi eastern region using high salinity-tolerant woody plants and some salt marsh species". Towards the rational use of high salinity tolerant plants: Vol 2: Agriculture and forestry under marginal soil water conditions. Vol. 2: Agriculture and forestry under marginal soil water conditions. Springer Science+Business Media. pp. 271–274. ISBN 978-9-4011-1860-6.
  5. ^ "Al Ain". The Report Abu Dhabi 2010. Oxford Business Group. 2010. pp. 171–176. ISBN 978-1-9070-6521-7.
  6. ^ "Regional location maps (eastern and western regions of Abu Dhabi emirate)". Ask Explorer. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  7. ^ a b Unnikrishnan, Deepthi (2009-12-11). "Abu Dhabi's Eastern Region: few people, bountiful nature". The National. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  8. ^ The Report Abu Dhabi 2016. Oxford Business Group. 2016-05-09. pp. 14–16. ISBN 978-1-9100-6858-8.
  9. ^ a b Al-Hosani, Hamad Ali (2012). The Political Thought of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (PhD Thesis) (Thesis). Durham University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  10. ^ Salama, Samir (2011-12-30). "Al Ain bears evidence of a culture's ability to adapt". Gulf News. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  11. ^ Potts, Daniel T.; Nābūdah, Ḥasan Muḥammad; Hellyer, Peter (2003). Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates. London: Trident Press. pp. 174–177. ISBN 1-9007-2488-X. OCLC 54405078.
  12. ^ "Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  13. ^ "Al Ain Forts and Castles". Abu Dhabi Digital Government. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  14. ^ El Reyes, Dr. Abdulla, ed. (December 2014). Liwa Journal of the National Archives (PDF). United Arab Emirates: Emirati National Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  15. ^ "Ruler's Representative Court - Eastern Region (RRCER)". Abu Dhabi Digital Government. Retrieved 2018-11-03.
  16. ^ "Eastern Region Bus Services", Department of Transport, Government of Abu Dhabi, archived from the original on 2018-05-24, retrieved 2018-11-04
  17. ^ "Dubai: Crime and accidents down in Al Faqa". Gulf News. 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  18. ^ "Population Bulletin" (PDF). Dubai Statistics Center, Government of Dubai. 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Dubai-Al Ain Road renamed". WAM. Al Ain: Gulf News. 2018-11-02. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  20. ^ Al Wasmi, Naser (2018-05-16). "Special report: Al Ain farm tackles food and water security by pairing fish with watermelons". The National. Retrieved 2019-05-15.