Al Ain is the United Arab Emirates' third biggest city, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Located within the territory of Abu Dhabi, the big difference between Al Ain and the other two big ones is that Al Ain is not a coastal town. Although it is surrounded by desert, its inhabitants proudly call it "the Garden City", due to its appealing variety of public and private parks and gardens - and oases, right in the middle of the city! With a population of over 600 thousand, Al Ain is well-prepared for the competition with Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Many people see Al Ain's dry desert air as a big plus, especially in comparison with the humidity of the coast.