The Al Ain International Airport was opened in March 31st 1994, as Abu Dhabi 's second international airport. It is located in an area of extensive sand dunes some 20 km north west of the city centre. Originally built to serve 320,000 passengers a year, the Airport has recently undergone developments that included the expansion of the main terminal building to handle more flights, the opening of a new cargo terminal, and the installation of a catering building. The Airport has a 4,000-metre runway and a parallel 4,000 metre taxiway which can double as a runway when necessary. About Al Ain The airport provides a gateway to the famous oasis city of Al Ain , which occupies an important place in the history of the UAE. The city, the second largest in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, has a history dating back to the 4th millennium BC, but it was the late HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE, who has transformed it into the green oasis it is today. Al Ain is home to the UAE University , the country's largest museum and zoo, as well as several parks, and archaeological sites. It is also one of the UAE's leading agricultural centers.