Al Ain’s hot water springs — Zayed’s everlasting gift to people
One of the invaluable legacies of Zayed offering succour to thousands, the springs were discovered because of his persistence
“I had many dreams. I dreamt of our land keeping pace with the growth of the modern world.” — Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan
Al Nahyan
For the 32 splendid years of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s presidency, the country witnessed tremendous changes from the pre-oil days to the new riches that laid the foundation of a contemporary country. He was the architect of a modern UAE.
Gulf News visited Al Ain to explore one of the legacies of Shaikh Zayed that still stands today. Located at the foothills of Jebel Hafeet, with hot water gushing forth in the rough and undulating plains is the Green Mubazzarah.
Al Ain’s hot springs are a natural spa facility and one of the main tourist attractions in the country. They are home to an open resort at the UAE’s highest mountain, Jebel Hafeet. Gulf News spoke with Falah Al Qubaisi, Shaikh Zayed’s former personal photographer, and Hamdan Al Darei, a respected Emirati historian about how, in 1995, Shaikh Zayed did what many deemed impossible.
“Many years ago, scientists told him that it was not possible to find water in this area. He told them that he would try and that if God so willed, with determination, he would succeed,” said Al Qubaisi.
One day in the early months of 1995, when Shaikh Zayed was visiting Al Ain, he walked around the base of Jebel Hafeet. “Zayed always liked to drive and walk around the UAE, rather than fly. He was a very down-to-earth leader, who loved to see the country the way all its residents saw it,” said Al Darei. As Shaikh Zayed was walking and looking around the foot of Jebel Hafeet, he had an instinctive feeling that the area he stood on had an abundance of groundwater in it.
“You mustn’t forget that Zayed grew up as a Bedouin. He was deeply in touch with nature and he knew there was something special about these grounds. So he flew in scientists from different countries to assess the soil, and some of them told him that there was no water in this area and that he should give up. But he never did,” explained Al Darei.
Subsequently, a German scientist advised Shaikh Zayed to bring in industrial drills and asked his workers to proceed with the drilling, as deep as they possibly could. This went on for months without success. As the drills started to break one by one, Shaikh Zayed brought in more drills and more scientists. He was persistent and patient. Then one day, there was water. A lot of water. It was July 4, 1995.
A geyser column of hot water and steam rose majestically into the sky, and until this day, keeps flowing. “We have proved the scientists wrong and the results are now visible all around us. Inshallah, we will continue the good work by protecting our environment and our wildlife, as our forefathers did,” Shaikh Zayed had said. This water is laden with natural minerals, specifically sulphur, and people consider it useful for treating certain skin infections and rheumatism.