Camel Market

It’s dusty, noisy, pungent and chaotic, but never mind: Al-Ain’s famous camel market is a wonderful immersion in ancient Arabic culture that’s so hard to find in the UAE today. All sorts of camels are holed up in pens, from babies that might grow up to be racers to studs kept for breeding. The intense haggling is fun to watch, but you’ll also quickly realise that you’re as much an attraction to the traders as they are to you (especially if you’re a woman!). Some may try to make you pay for a tour but you’re free to walk around on your own. If you take photos of the animals or their owners (always ask first, of course) it’s nice to give a small tip. Note that the trading takes place in the morning, but it’s usually possible to see the corralled animals all day long.