ʿAyn, alAl-also spelled Al-ain principal town in alAin city in Al-Buraymī oasis, southeastern Abu Dhabi Abū Ẓaby emirate, United Arab Emirates. The oasis town city consists of houses of dried earth in a large palm grove; it also has a modern mosque and many gardens. Al-ʿAyn is situated in a large expanse of fertile land at the foot of Jabal (mount) Mount Ḥafīt. Grave mounds at alAl-ʿAyn have tombs with figures of animals and people carved from stone and dating to about 2700 BC BCE. Across the desert from the oasis town city stands the fort of al-ʿAyn erected by shaykh ibn-Zayd a fortress known as the Eastern Fort, erected by Sheikh Sulṭān ibn Zāyid in 1910; a museum is nearbyit is one of several forts constructed by the Āl Nahyān in Al-ʿAyn. In 1952 , the Saudis occupied a neighbouring village in alAl-Buraymī oasis. Al-ʿAyn was assigned to Abu Dhabi Abū Ẓaby emirate under an agreement with Oman in 1953. The Saudis withdrew their small force from alAl-Buraymī oasis in 1955 , after being defeated by the forces of the Sultan of Abu Dhabi Abū Ẓaby, and the dispute was settled by an agreement signed in 1974.

Agriculture is the traditional economic activity; fodder and market garden crops are produced. An experimental farm (1967) at alAl-ʿAyn concentrates on intensive stock raising, and more than 1,200 acres (480 hectares) significant portions of land have been reclaimed from the desert. Commercial poultry farming is also economically important. A network of roads radiates from alAl-ʿAyn, connecting it with Abu Dhabi, the national capital. The town city also has an airport. There are a number of industries, including a cement factory, a cable and electric-wire plant, a sheet-metal plant, a glass and ceramic factory, a flour mill, and a brickworks. A university was founded at alAl-ʿAyn in 1976; a number of museums, including the Al-ʿAyn Palace Museum and Al-ʿAyn National Museum, are also located there. Pop. (19802005 prelim.) 72,783; (1995) 225,970444,331.