Jebel Ali, in Al Ain, is a large commercial port town located 35 km south of Dubai. Al Maktoum International Airport has been constructed just outside the port area. Sandy Jebel Ali Beach is near the busy harbor. “Jebel” means mountain or hill in Arabic. Ali perhaps refers to the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad.
Jebel Ali Recreations
The area is home to a golf resort and dive centers. The waters of the gulf are rich in marine life and submerged wrecks. Nearby, Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club in Abu Dhabi has tournaments and events open to the public.
From here you can walk up to the absolute top of the Jebel Hafeet, the second highest summit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). There are museums, forts and tombs present in the surrounding area. Legoland and Bollywood Parks are close by.
Jebel Ali Desalination plant
Among the infrastructure projects built to support the port and town is the world’s largest desalination plant, the Jebel Ali Desalination Plant, provides an ample supply of fresh water. The power plant complex, consisting of nine individual plants, extends over a length of more than three kilometers along the coast of the Persian Gulf between the port of Jebel Ali and the Jumeirah district. The facility, provides most of Dubai’s energy and water needs. With an installed capacity of 8.6 gigawatts, it is the world’s largest gas-fired power plant. Also the world’s largest seawater desalination plant, it can desalinate 2.135 million m³ of seawater per day, which corresponds to 470 million imperial gallons per day.
Jebel Ali desalination plant
Jebel Ali Port
Jebel Ali has become the port most frequently visited by ships of the United States Navy outside the United States. Due to the depth of the harbour and size of the port facilities, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and several ships of the accompanying battle group can be accommodated in the pier. Due to the frequency of these port visits, semi-permanent shore-leave facilities (referred to by US Navy service personnel as “The Sandbox”) have been erected adjacent to the carrier berth.
US Navy Vessel at Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali Free Zone
The Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) was created in 1985 and houses an industrial area surrounding the port. International companies that relocate there enjoy the special privileges of the free zone. The privileges include exemption from corporate tax for 50 years, no personal income tax, no import or re-export duties, no restriction on currency, and easy labour recruitment. The free zone has evolved into a trade catalyst and a smart business community that offers unprecedented growth opportunities and market access. JAFZA is a dynamic base for over 8,700 businesses from some100 countries. JAFZA offers pre-built warehouses for high-quality storage and light manufacturing activities with leasing rates starting as low as AED 400 per sq m.
Jebel Ali Industrial Area
Jebel Ali Industrial Area (aka Jebel Ali Industrial) is one of Dubai’s oldest industrial districts. It is located west of the Port of Jebel Ali, south of Jebel Ali Village, east of Dubai Investments Park, and north of the Jebel Ali Free Zone Extension. Jebel Ali Industrial Area is home to several factories, manufacturing companies, warehouses and apartment buildings. It is well-connected to the central city via the emirate’s major roads, providing a hassle-free commute to neighbouring areas.
Offices in the neighbourhood spread over 580 sq. ft. to 984 sq. ft. are available for rent in flexible payment options. The facilities in the area include shared parking space, 24-hour security and free maintenance. The area also features warehouses suitable for cold storage, building material storage and other storing goods. These warehouses are equipped with modern fire fighting systems, smoke detectors and loading and unloading equipment. Other commercial properties in the area include shops, labour camps and commercial plots. There are bus and metro service connecting to the city.
A range of residential properties in Jebel Ali Industrial Area 1 is available for rent and sale. As for accommodation spaces, prospective tenants can choose from studios, 1 and 2-bedroom apartments with an area ranging between 435 sq. ft. to 1,253 sq. ft. These apartments have a living area, fitted kitchen and a bedroom with an attached bathroom and built-in wardrobe.
Jebel Hafeet (variously transcribed Jabal, Jabel or Jebal and Hafit or Hafeet) literally means “empty mountain”. This is the only mountain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and one of the highest mountains in the UAE. An extensive natural cave system winds through Jabal Hafeet. The mountain is part of a national desert park, called “Jebel Hafeet National Park”. The park includes the Hafit Graves, Mezyad Fort, and related oases.
Jebel Hafeet offers a breathtaking view of the Rub’ al-Khali, the largest sand desert in the world, and the city of Al Ain, an oasis included in the UNESCO World Heritage lists.
When to visit and where to eat
It is best to visit the Jebel Hafeet in the summer months, that is, from April to September. Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet hotel is located atop the mountain. It offers 3 restaurants and 3 swimming pools with water slides. A blend of French, Moroccan and Italian food is served at Le Belvedere and oriental food can be tasted at the Orient Café.
History from Jebel Hafeet
In UAE history, the period from 3200 to 2600 BCE (Bronze Age), is called Hafit Period, named after this mountain. A cluster of important Bronze Age beehive tombs were discovered at the foothills of this mountain. This mountain region was incorporated into the Sheikh Zayed Network of Protected Areas in 2018. The excavations found evidence for ceramic vessels and copper artifacts in these tombs. Other objects found in the tombs include ceramics from Mesopotamia, and artifacts from ancient Iran and the Indus Valley of present-day India and Pakistan, indicating the trading relationships in antiquity. Most of the archaeological finds from this area can be seen in the museums of Al Ain.
Jebel Hafeet tombs
At the foot of Jebel Hafeet lies a tourist attraction with hot springs and a lake. To the northeast is the mountain’s largest wadi(valley), Wadi Tarabat.
Hafeet Mountain Road
The Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road, built in 1980, is 11.7 km long and leads to the top of the mountain. It has 60 turns and three lanes (two climbing and one descending). Abu Dhabi Tour, an annual road cycling competition is held on this road. You will get the entire view of the Al Ain city sprawling beneath it from the top of the mountain. On top of the mountain there is a vast parking lot. Since 2018, barbecuing in the mountain area has been banned, but there are dedicated spots for barbecuing in Jebel Hafeet Park for campers.
Jebel Hafeet mountain road
Jebel Hafeet Tombs Al Ain
On the eastern side of the mountain there are several ancient burial sites of the people who are believed to have been inhabited the oasis. These tombs were built 5000 years ago at the beginning of the bronze age. The artifacts dug out from here prove the trade links with Mesopotamia and India.
The tombs found here are called ‘beehive tombs’ because of their unique hexagonal shape. A team of danish archeologists first discovered these tombs, thereafter, many more experts came to study the site from different parts of the world. Today, Jebel Hafeet tombs are one of the most visited tourist places in Al Ain.
