Al Ain Oasis has launched a new weekend market called the Saturday Market Al Ain Oasis, which will run every week until March 25.
Set inside the peaceful surroundings of the Unesco World Heritage Site, it has been arranged as a colourful souq, with stalls, food trucks and entertainment happening within the 1,200-hectare site.
There are stalls offering a wide variety of locally designed fashion, jewellery and accessories, as well as henna painting, and children’s activities including balloon art and face painting.
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A bagpiper from Al Asayil band plays at the Saturday Market at Al Ain Oasis in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Sobia paints henna on Charlie, aged 5, at the Saturday Market at Al Ain Oasis -
The Canim Store prepares for customers at the Saturday Market -
Vanessa looks at robes at the Canim Store during the Saturday Market -
Raya, aged 4, plays with slime -
People visit the Saturday Market at Al Ain Oasis -
A bagpiper from Al Asayil band plays at the Saturday Market -
Dana, aged 4, has her face painted -
Hessa Umm Khalid with her dry yoghurt, which is traditionally made for the arid climate, at the Saturday Market -
Sand artist Yasser at work during the Saturday Market -
Muneeb creates balloon animals for guests at the Saturday Market -
Produce on show at the farmers' market -
Traditional Emirati dancing at the Saturday Market -
A young boy watches traditional Emirati dancing -
Aimee tries samples from Salma Nizam from @TheDipStop.UAE at the Saturday Market -
People visit the Saturday Market -
Jafar creates spiced mango at the Mango Mania stall -
More traditional Emirati dances at the Saturday Market
There is a farmers' market, too, selling locally produced and sourced fruits and vegetables, alongside plenty of food and drink vendors on site, peddling everything from artisanal coffee to traditional Emirati food, such as dried yoghurt.
With live entertainment and activities scheduled each week, the market is suitable for all age groups.
The market, which started on January 28, is open from 3pm to 11pm every Saturday until the end of March, making the most of the cooler winter weather.
A regularly changing rota of stall holders each week will also keep visitors engaged and support small local businesses.
This is the latest market to join the bustling UAE scene, added to the list alongside the long-running Ripe Market, which recently also started a new weekly market in Abu Dhabi's Al Maryah Island. Other popular markets in the capital include The Park Market at Umm Al Emarat Park and Manbat Farmers' Market at Deerfields Mall.
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Visitors shopping at Unwrapped, an artisanal soap and body products stall at Ripe Market Al Maryah Island. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The outdoor market is a place for home-grown businesses to sell various products, from fashion to homeware -
Ripe Market also features a variety of food and drinks stalls -
A mini animal kingdom and petting zoo featuring rescued animals are part of the event -
The market will run in the capital every weekend until April 29 next year -
Family fun awaits every Friday and Saturday at Ripe Market -
The Al Maryah location is a pop-up, with Ripe Market having a permanent winter market at the Dubai Police Academy Park -
Located on the South Plaza of the island, the Abu Dhabi pop-up is organised in partnership with Mubadala -
Ripe started as a weekly farmer’s market in 2011, but has since grown to become a favourite al fresco spot for families -
This is not the first time Ripe has brought its market to Abu Dhabi, with previous pop-ups in Masdar City and Umm Al Emarat Park
Al Ain Oasis is a unique area within the UAE. Home to 147,000 date palms, the shaded pathways also hold more than 100 different types of vegetation, helping to create a micro-climate for various animals, birds and insects. This is all made possible thanks to the falaj, the ancient irrigation system that dates back almost 4,000 years, allowing the cultivation of dates and plants throughout the year, earning Al Ain its Unesco Cultural Site status.
Al Ain Oasis is normally free to enter, however, during the Saturday Market, there is a charge of Dh20 for those aged 12 and over, and Dh10 for children aged three to 11.
More information is at abudhabiculture.ae
