The Middle East has a rich ancient history dating as far back as 3500 BC. With the tremendous growth witnessed over the last decades and the vast modern architectural masterpieces scattered around the UAE, one might even argue that these cities are only a few decades old. But do not be fooled, the country has a rich cultural, religious, and even archaeological history that’s thousands of years old.
You might wonder, especially if you are a lover of ancient history and architecture, where these historical sites in UAE are. In 2021, the UAE celebrated its golden jubilee, and with the opening of the Museum of the Future, it seeks to remind the young population of its exciting past and what’s to come in the future.
As the emirates seek to explore the tales of ancient UAE, a number of sites across the region revealing some forgotten secrets and unsolved mysteries are now open to curious visitors and lovers of ancient history.
To enjoy or take a complete tour of these archaeological and ancient historical landmarks, a four-wheel vehicle such as a private car or buggy is needed. From highly efficient off-road SUVs to speedy and resilient buggy rentals, Beno has got you covered.
Let’s take a look at 4 archaeological sites within driving distance of Dubai, from bronze-age tombs to ancient trading posts, which you can easily access with cheap car hire Dubai.
Jumeirah Archaeological Site
Jumeirah is a beachside neighborhood within Dubai and in this beautiful district lies the ruins of a ninth-century city; the oldest early-Islamic-era site discovered in the UAE.
You can find several items from the dig including glazed jars, silver coins, and carnelian beads at the new Jumeirah archaeological site visitor’s center. What’s more? You get to hop on a guided buggy tour through the remains of a market, mosque, and even the city’s first hotel - a thousand-year-old caravanserai for traders from Persia, Oman, and faraway places.
There’s also an Arabian tea house onsite that’s an ideal spot to sip sweet karak chai and ponder on the mysteries of this ancient location. Archaeologists and historians are yet to find an answer to where the visitors of this location found fresh water for drinking.
Saruq Al- Hadid
Saruq Al-Hadid is believed to have been a tree-filled oasis where people hunted animals and settled. This Bronze Age settlement within the emirate’s desert tells the story of a civilization that existed from the third millennium B.C. until it was abandoned in the Iron Age.
Over 12,000 old UAE artifacts have been recovered, including gold jewellery, daggers, seals, and hundreds of metallic carvings. What remains of this ancient archaeological settlement, especially the metal works, has been a marvel. The Saruq Al-Hadid Archaeology Museum houses these and other findings.
Jebel Hafit Desert Park
The desert oasis of Al Ain situated in the emirate of Abu Dhabi has been around for millennia. It’s also the location of the tallest mountain in Abu Dhabi, Jebel Hafit, and home to the Jebel Hafit Desert Park - a newly opened park that showcases the various civilizations that have inhabited the region.
Distinguished by hiking trails which lead to 122 beehive-shaped stone tombs built by nomadic civilizations who occupied the area over 5,000 years ago during the Bronze Age.
Many of these tombs have been explored by archaeologists, and others contain hidden treasures yet to be uncovered. Mesopotamian ceramics found here clearly depict the trade potential held by Al Ain in the past.
Driving up Jebel Hafit is definitely an amazing experience as many explorers have described it to be mesmerizing and an experience of a lifetime. A daily car rental within Dubai, like Beno, provides you with an array of vehicles to choose from. You can also pack some grilling equipment or buy food from onsite food trucks.
Mleiha Archaeological Centre
Mleiha is situated in the red dunes of Sharjah, and archaeological findings in this area, including artifacts, show it might have existed over 130,000 years ago. Artifacts uncovered in Mleiha, as well as others from the later Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages, including flint tools from the 6th millennium B.C., foreign coins from the 1st century, and Bronze Age red-coral necklaces, are displayed at the Mleiha archaeological center.
A four-wheel-drive tour takes you to a stone outcrop full of fossilized marine gastropods, and then to where you can stargaze using a high-powered telescope from a private tent.
Beno offers several premium car and buggy options to match your off-road needs, as well as an easy and paperless booking system that takes only a few minutes to complete.
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