Zoë Sheng

Chinese-Canadian - 06-Mar-19 -

I visited the Mleiha Archaeological Museum in winter last year. It is on the way from Al Ain to the northern areas of the UAE. You can spot the high mountains with the red dune splashed up against it a mile high from far far away. I really wished it would be THAT I was visiting. The staff greeted me at the museum but said everything was booked up. What?! Fact is, most people come here for dune bashing. Well, I didn't but still probably would have seeing the dune I am going to! The museum is brand new and has a lot of interesting things not only about the culture in the area and Umm an-Nar, but also camel migration over the millennia. The rest of the site is free but you need your own car to access some of it.

First stop is the roof of the museum. A nice view of the Umm an-Nar tomb below. The more interesting tombs are at the base of the mountain, the less interesting one just along the side road.

Incidentally as the Umm an-Nar Island is currenly off-limits to visitors this is the best alternative to know about Umm an-Nar culture. I actually think they should combine both into a more general "Umm an-Nar Cultural Landscape" instead and I think it would have a good chance to get inscribed.