Al Ain العين
—  city  —
Al Ain
A view over Green Mubazarrah
Flag
Al Ain Location of Al Ain in the UAE
Coordinates: 24°12′27″N 55°44′41″E / 24.2075°N 55.74472°E / 24.2075; 55.74472Coordinates: 24°12′27″N 55°44′41″E / 24.2075°N 55.74472°E / 24.2075; 55.74472
Country	United Arab Emirates
Emirate	Abu Dhabi
Subdivisions	Towns and villages Al Jimi Al Qattara Al Muaiji Al Mutaredh Al Tuwayya Al Foah Al Masoudi Al Khrair Al old Sarooj
Government
• Type	Constitutional monarchy[citation needed]
• Sheikh	Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
• Crown Prince	Mohammed Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Population (2009)
• Total	374,000
Time zone	UAE Standard Time (UTC+4)

Al Ain (Arabic: العين‎, al-ʿayn, literally The Spring), also known as the Garden City due to its greenery, is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. With a population of 374,000^[1] (2009), it is located approximately 160 km east of the capital Abu Dhabi and about 120 km south of Dubai. Al Ain is the birthplace of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the United Arab Emirates, and it has the country's highest number of Emirati nationals.

View of Alain from top of Jebel Hafeet

Al Ain is located in Abu Dhabi, inland on the border with Oman. The freeways connecting Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai form a geographic triangle in the center of the country, each city being roughly 130 kilometers from the other two.

History[link]

Historically known as Tawam or al Buraimi Oasis, Al Ain, which means "the water spring", became a distinct location following independence in 1971. Al Ain has been inhabited for over 4,000 years, with archaeological sites showing human settlement at Al Hili and Jabel Hafeet. These early cultures built "beehive" tombs for their dead and engaged in hunting and gathering in the area. The oasis provided water for early farms until the modern age. The forts currently in Al Ain were built in the late 19th or early 20th century to solidify Abu Dhabi's control over the oasis.

Wilfred Thesiger visited Al Ain in the late 1940s during his travels across the Empty Quarter. He met Sheikh Zayed and stayed with him at Al Muwaiji Fort. These network of fortresses served as the trading and slaving posts for the area.

In 1952, Saudi Arabia sent raiders to capture Al Ain's fortresses and incorporate the oasis into the Saudi kingdom. Forces from the Trucial Oman Scouts as well as the army of Oman arrived to recapture the oasis. With British intervention, the Saudi forces withdrew, leaving the oasis back in the hands of Abu Dhabi and Oman.

Prior to independence, Al Ain was part of the Arabian slave trade network that extended from east Africa into the Persian Gulf. In the 1960s, Sheikh Zayed abolished formal slavery. Today, many families in both Al Ain and Buraimi are descended from these slaves.

In 1971, Queen Elizabeth II visited the Hilton Hotel, still in use, during her tour of the Persian Gulf. Following independence in 1971, Al Ain experienced rapid growth and investment as part of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, quickly becoming larger and more successful than Oman's Buraimi. In 1972, Oman and Abu Dhabi agreed on the final borders to divide Buraimi and Al Ain. Until Sheikh Zayed's death in 2004, Al Ain's municipal code forbade construction of buildings over four stories, with the exceptions of the Hilton, Intercontinental, and Rotana hotels.

Until 2006, Buraimi and Al Ain shared an open border. This border was closed in November, 2006, and passport controls were imposed.

Geography[link]

Al Ain is located in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi Emirate just south of Dubai and east of Abu Dhabi. The Eastern region covers an area of approximately 13,100 km². Oman lies to the east, Dubai and Sharjah to the north, Abu Dhabi to the west and the Empty Quarter desert and Saudi Arabia to the south. The topography of Al Ain is unique and varies as you travel to the east. Jebel Hafeet (Hafeet mountain) is considered one of the monuments of Al Ain, lying just to the southeast and rising to 1,300 meters in elevation. Sand dunes of varying texture that are tinged red with iron oxide lie to the north and east of Al Ain.

Weather[link]

In Al Ain, the mean annual rainfall is 96 mm and the average relative humidity is 60% (United Arab Emirates University, 1993). Low humidity in Al Ain, particularly during the summers, makes it a popular destination for many people at that time of year. Boer (1997) classified the UAE climate as hyper-arid and divided it into four climatic regions: the coastal zone along the Persian Gulf, the mountain areas northeast of UAE, the gravel plains around Al Ain area, and the central and southern sand desert. More rainfall and lower temperatures occur in the northeast than in the southern and western regions. The monthly average rainfall around Al Ain was (100–120 mm) from the period 1970 to 1992.^{[citation needed]}

Present-day Al Ain[link]

Al Ain has a higher proportion of Emirati nationals than elsewhere in the country, but the majority of its residents are expatriates particularly from the Indian sub-continent. Many people are from Pakistan and some from Afghanistan.^{[citation needed]} There are fewer other expatriates than in the larger centers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Al Ain is often called the 'Garden City of The Gulf' given the many oases, parks, tree-lined avenues and decorative roundabouts within the city. Strict height controls on new buildings, to no more than four floors, emphasise the greenery of the city.

The city is known for its relatively empty roads; this is a growing concern, however, as the population is increasing and the roads have not been able to accommodate the excess traffic

Tourism and recreation[link]

Al Ain is developing as a tourist destination. the dry desert air makes it a welcome retreat from the coastal humidity of the larger cities. Many Emirati nationals in Abu Dhabi have holiday houses in the city making it a popular weekend destination for families from the capital city. Its attractions include the Al Ain National Museum, the Al Ain Palace Museum, several restored forts and the Hili Archaeological Park site, dating back to the Bronze Age. Jebel Hafeet, a 1340-metre-high mountain, dominates the surrounding area. It is popular to visit to the mineral springs at the base and to drive to the mountaintop at sunset. Other attractions include the Al Ain Oasis in the city centre, other oases dotted around the area — all cool retreats in the middle of the summer heat — Al Ain Zoo, an amusement park named "Hili Fun City", many well-maintained parks popular with families in the summer evenings, and a heritage village. Opened in 2012, Wadi Adventure is located near Jebel Hafeet and provides a range of water-based activities including surfing, kayaking and rafting.

Al Ain has three major malls — Al Ain Mall in the town center, Al-Jimi Mall in the Al-Jimi district, and Bawadi Mall located in the Al-Khrair District. Most commercial activity is centered in and around town center.

The city is home to the successful football club, Al Ain Club.

Another popular pastime for Emiratis and expatriates alike is spending time in coffee shops and Shisha cafes. There are many cafes in Al Ain, ranging in size and quality.

Al Ain also has an International standard Go-Kart circuit. Al Ain Raceway was selected to host the 2007 Rotax Max World Karting Finals, an event which saw 220 drivers from over 55 different countries compete for the Karting world title. Al Ain Raceway opened to the general public in May 2008 and proves a popular activity for local Emiratis and tourists alike. It was announced in late 2010 that the 2011 Rotax Max World Karting Finals will be held at Al Ain Raceway, this will bring nearly 1000 tourists to the small garden city.

Like the rest of the UAE, Al Ain has strict laws governing the consumption and distribution of alcohol. Four facilities in the city currently serve alcohol, three of which are hotels. The Al Ain Rotana, Hilton, and Intercontinental hotels all have pubs, bars, or night clubs. In addition to the hotels, the Al Ain Palms Sports Resort in Al-Maqam also serves alcohol.

Currently, there are only four locations that sell alcohol for private use — Spinneys near the Al-Jimi district, an outlet to the left of the Hilton hotel (next to the hotel's staff quarters), High Spirits Bottle Shop behind Lulu Hypermarket Sanaiya and the North Africa Market in Sanaiya.

The city has two English-speaking radio stations 100.1 Star FM, which plays English-speaking hits alternating with Arabic-speaking hits, and 105.2 Abu Dhabi Classic FM, which plays classical music.

Oasis[link]

The falaj irrigation system at Al Ain Oasis.

Al Ain Oasis.

Al Ain's oases are known for their underground irrigation system "falaj" (or qanāt from Arabic قناة‎) that brings water from boreholes to water farms and palm trees. Falaj irrigation is an ancient system dating back thousands of years and is used widely in Oman, UAE, China, Iran and other countries. Al Ain has seven oases; the largest is Al Ain Oasis, near to Old Sarooj, and the smallest is Al Jahili Oasis. The rest are Qattara, Al Mutaredh, Al Jimi, Al Muaiji, and Hili.

Commerce and industry[link]

Al Ain is an important services center for a wide area extending into Oman. There are three major shopping centers, Al Ain Mall, Al Jimi Mall and Al Bawadi Mall (opened in 2009 in the Al Khrair area) as well as traditional souks for fruit and vegetables and livestock. Industry is growing, but is still on a small scale, and includes the Coca Cola bottling plant and the Al Ain Portland Cement Works. The water in Al Ain is very good. Service industries such as car sales, mechanics and other artisans are located in the area known as Sanaiya and Pattan Market.Social and governmental infrastructure includes United Arab Emirates University, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi University (Al Ain campus), well-equipped medical facilities including the teaching hospital at Tawam, military training areas and Al Ain International Airport.

Education[link]

Al Ain is home to the main federal university in the UAE, United Arab Emirates University, and to two campuses of the Higher Colleges of Technology - Al Ain Men's College and Al Ain Women's College. There are also several private higher education institutions including the Al Ain University of Science and Technology and Abu Dhabi University (Al Ain campus). Many of Al Ain's private schools, catering mainly to the expatriate population, are located in the Al Manaseer area. These include the Al Ain English Speaking School, Al Dhafra Private School, Al Sanawbar School, Liwa International School, Al Madar International School, Global English School, Emirates Private School, a branch of the International School of Choueifat, and an Institute of Applied Technology campus. Other private schools include the CBSE affiliated school Indian School Al Ain. Al Ain is also the home of Horizon International flight academy where Etihad Airways Cadet pilots undergo training.

Health[link]

The first hospital in Al Ain was Oasis Hospital, established in 1960 at the invitation of Sheikh Zayed. Oasis serves all nationalities, and provides training for medical students from UAE University. Ground has been broken for a new hospital to be completed in 2011.^{[citation needed]} Oasis Hospital is part of CURE International.

Al Ain is the home of Tawam Hospital, a training and research hospital linked with the UAE University. It was officially inaugurated on 17 December 1979. In March 2006, Johns Hopkins Hospital (Johns Hopkins Medicine International) (JHMI) took over the management of Tawam hospital.

Al Ain Hospital (abbr: AAH, also known as Al Jimi Hospital) is the general hospital delivering health services to all Al-Ain patients regardless of their nationality. It is centrally located in the Al Jimi district and is linked with the UAE University. Al Ain Hospital still occupies old 1970s buildings, but a new building is planned. AAH currently has about 450 beds and provides services in all medical disciplines. In September 2007, the Medical University of Vienna International^[2] (MUVI) took over the management of AAH.

Sport, culture, and the arts[link]

Al Ain is a cultural retreat for residents of Dubai and Abu Dhabi cities. It is home to a major festival of classical music.

Al Ain City is the home of Al Ain Club, which is one of the most successful football clubs in the UAE and Asia.^{[citation needed]} It has many titles and championships to its name.^{[citation needed]}

Hili Fun City hosts two ice hockey teams, the Al Ain Vipers and Ghantoot. Each team has adult and youth teams starting from age 4. The Al Ain Vipers Men's Team won the Emirates Hockey League in the 2009-10 season.

The Palm Resort to the west of the town hosts a popular rugby club with adult and youth teams, and the Al Ain International Soccer Club which has three youth teams, including one for 7-9 year olds.

References[link]

See also[link]

• Qanat water management system

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Al Ain (Abu Dhabi)

• Al Ain Expat
• Al Ain Municipality
• Al Ain: Oasis in the Desert (Photographic essay from Al Ain Women's College)
• Al Ain Bank - rakbankdirect.ae

Ain
—  Department  —
Prefecture building of the Ain department, in Bourg-en-Bresse
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Ain in France
Coordinates: 46°5′N 5°20′E / 46.083°N 5.333°E / 46.083; 5.333Coordinates: 46°5′N 5°20′E / 46.083°N 5.333°E / 46.083; 5.333
Country	France
Region	Rhône-Alpes
Prefecture	Bourg-en-Bresse
Subprefectures	Belley Gex Nantua
Government
• President of the General Council	Rachel Mazuir (PS)
Area1
• Total	5,762 km2 (2,225 sq mi)
Population (2007)[1]
• Total	574,377
• Rank	42nd
• Density	100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Department number	01
Arrondissements	4
Cantons	43
Communes	419
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

Ain (French pronunciation: [ɛ̃]; Arpitan: En) is a department named after the Ain River on the eastern edge of France. Being part of the region Rhône-Alpes and bordered by the rivers Saône and Rhône, the department of Ain enjoys a privileged geographic situation. It has an excellent transport network (TGV, highways) and benefits from the proximity to the international airports of Lyon and Geneva.

Ain is composed of four geographically different areas (Bresse, Dombes, Bugey and Pays de Gex) which – each with its own characteristics – contribute to the diversity and the dynamic economic development of the department. In the Bresse agriculture and agro-industry are dominated by the cultivation of cereals, cattle breeding, milk and cheese production as well as poultry farming. In the Dombes, pisciculture assumes greater importance as does viticulture in the Bugey. The high diversification of the department's industry is accompanied by a strong presence of the plastics sector in and around Oyonnax (so-called "Plastics Valley").

Due to its industrial character and a close-meshed tissue of small and medium enterprises, Ain ranks among the departments with the fastest growing economy in the country. Its unemployment rate lies far beneath the national and regional average. Besides the export-oriented SME's, several large enterprises with a leading position on national and international markets have settled in the department.

Although looking ahead, Ain attaches nevertheless great importance to its historical and cultural heritage as illustrate its gastronomy (restaurant of Georges Blanc in Vonnas), its annual poultry competitions in the Bresse ("the three glorious") and its tourism (346 classified monuments such as the famous church of Brou in Bourg-en-Bresse, 14 museums of France, eco-tourism and ski tourism).

History[link]

Artemare, village in the department

The first inhabitants settled in the territory of today's Ain about 15000 B.C. The menhir of Simandre-sur-Suran dates from this era.

In the year 58 B.C. Julius Caesar's military action against the Helvetians advancing towards Gaul on the territory of today's Ain marked the beginning of the Gallic Wars.

Under the Merovingians, Ain belonged to the Kingdom of Burgundy. In the beginning of the 6th century A.D. the diocese of Belley is created. Important abbeys of the order of Saint Benedict are established in the valleys.

In 843 Ain was assigned to the kingdom of Lothar I by the Treaty of Verdun. The first big fiefdoms ("Seigneuries") emerge between 895 and 900 in Bâgé-la-Ville and Coligny. Numerous castles are erected. In the 12th century the romanic architecture prospers.

In the 11th century the Counts of Savoy and Valromey settled in the region of Belley. In 1272 they receive the Bresse and – by the Treaties of Paris in 1355 – the territories Dauphiné and Gex on the right bank of the Rhône. In the beginning of the 15th century almost the whole region of Ain is united under the banner of Savoy. New monasteries are founded in the cities, churches are constructed or reshaped according to the gothic style of architecture.

In the beginning of the 16th century – the Duchy of Savoy was at the peak of its power – Ain was a inherited by Margaret of Habsburg, the widow of Philibert II, Duke of Savoy. In Brou she erects a church and a monastery in late-gothic style. Bourg-en-Bresse becomes a bishop's see. After Margaret's death Francis I of France, a nephew of the Dukes of Savoy, claimed the Duchy for himself and conquers it in 1536. The future department of Ain is now French. However, following a Treaty concluded in 1559 Savoy, including the territory of Ain, was restored to the Duke of Savoy who immediately starts fortifying it. Shortly after, Henry IV conquered the region again, but the citadel of Bourg remains impregnable. The Treaty of Lyon of 17 January 1601 ends finally the conflict. Ain now belonged to Burgundy.

In the 17th century sculpture, painting and literature prosper. During the 18th century streets and small industries emerge. On 28 March 1762 the Count of Eu, son of the Duke of Maine, cedes the region Dombes to Louis XV.

In 1790, during the French Revolution, the departments of Ain and Léman are created. Ain is subdivided into 9 districts, 49 cantons and 501 communes. The Revolution does not claim many victims in the department, but it destroys numerous extraordinary valuable historical monuments. During the first French Consulate (1802) the districts are abolished. The Congress of Vienna dissolves the department of Léman and assigns the arrondissement Gex to the department of Ain.

During the French Revolution and the First Empire a large number of churches were destroyed, but in 1823 the diocese of Belley is refounded. The Curé of Ars becomes famous. During the Second Empire numerous churches are reconstructed, agriculture changes profoundly, and the railway expands.

Due to its distance from the frontline the department is spared the destruction of World War I (1914–1918). However, the majority of the vineyards can no longer be cultivated and disappear. Industrialization of the department starts in Oyonnax and Bellegarde. The barrage of Genissiat is constructed in 1936.

World War II (1939–1945) vehemently strikes the department of Ain and takes its toll: 600 people are deported, half of them do not return. The monument of the Maquis in Cerdon, the memorial of the children of Izieu and the museum of the resistance and deportation in Nantua commemorate this tragic era.

In the second half of the 20th century the industrialization of the department proceeds, favored by a narrow street and railway network.

Geography and transport networks[link]

Ain is a department of geographic contrasts: In the north the plain of Bresse is bordered by the river Saône and rises slightly towards the north-east. In the south-east the territory of the Dombes has more than a thousand ponds and lakes. In the east the mountain chain of the southern Jura overlooks the plain of Bresse. The busy transport axes to Italy and Switzerland crisscross the valleys. The Gex region is separated from the rest of the department by the last eastern mountain chain of the Jura where the highest elevation in the department, the Crêt de la Neige (1720 m), can be found. Gex belongs geographically to the Lake Geneva basin.

The river Saône represents the western border of the department. It is fed by three smaller rivers: the Reyssouze (76 km), the Veyle (68 km) and the Chalaronne (52 km). The river Rhône represents the departments border in the east and the south. Its main tributaries are the Seran (50 km) and notably the river Ain (190 km) which is fed itself by 118 small rivers and creeks.

Ain is situated at the crossroads of a large national and international flow of commodities and is therefore an important transit region. More than 4000 km of transport routes serve the department. In addition to a well-developed transport network of former national roads, which were transferred to the department in 2007, the Department of Ain is crisscrossed by 220 km of highway.

For national and international flights the international airports of Lyon (Saint-Exupéry) and Geneva (Cointrin) are located within a rather short distance. The department of Ain disposes moreover of two waterways, the rivers Saône and Rhone, on which building material is shipped (gravel etc.). The most important harbour is situated in Jassans-Riottier at the river Saône.

Last but not least the railway network is of great importance, in particular the TGV-connections Paris-Geneva (with a stop in Bellegarde-sur-Valserine) and Paris-Lyon (passing by the Saône valley). A new TGV-connection through the Haut Bugey is under construction. It will reduce the actual travel time between Paris and Geneva by another 20 minutes. The regional TER (train and bus) network is important mainly as concerns the connection to Lyon.

Demographics[link]

The department of Ain is marked by very dynamic demographics. The population has grown from 471,019 inhabitants in 1990 to 515,207 in 1999 and 565,000 in 2006 (estimates of the French statistics office INSEE). This increase is primarily due to a positive migration balance testifying the department's attractiveness.

The average population density is 97 inhabitants/km² (Rhône-Alpes: 136; France: 112). While the Saône valley, the Côtière, Bourg-en-Bresse und the Gex region have a high density of population, only 16 inhabitants/km² live in the mountainous canton Brénod.

Economy[link]

General data[link]

With an unemployment rate of only 5 % (compared to 7 % in the region Rhône-Alpes and 8 % in France), a close-meshed tissue of 11,500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and a fast growing, export-oriented economy (main clients: Germany, Italy and Spain) the department of Ain is in economic terms one of the most dynamic regions of France.

Industry[link]

Despite its rural image the department of Ain is highly industrialised. In addition to a multitude of SME's several big enterprises of international reputation are situated in Ain (e.g. Roset-Cinna, Grosfillex, Volvo, Carrier, Smoby-Berchet, CIAT, Renault Trucks, Tréfileurope). With more than a third of all employees working in the industrial and public works sector Ain is holding the 6th rank of all departments as regards the degree of industrialisation and it is the most industrialised department within the region Rhône-Alpes. The small and medium enterprises contribute most to the industrial development of the department. While enterprises with more than 500 employees represent only 27 % of all industrial employment, the businesses with less than 100 employees count for 47%.

Half of the industry's employees (apart from the public works sector) are working in one of the three branches of the department:

The plastics industry, which is located mainly around the city of Oyonnax, is a highly productive branch of the economy and enjoys an excellent reputation. The "Plastics Valley" comprises 10 % of France's plastics industry which constitutes the highest concentration of plastics enterprises in Europe. The 349 enterprises which have settled here employ about 11,000 persons, more than a fourth of all employees of the tertiary sector (without public works). In the Oyonnax basin, three of four employments are directly or indirectly depending on the plastics industry.

The agricultural industry, mainly located in the Bresse, counts for more than 5,000 employees. It represents more than a fifth of the employees in the area of Bourg-en-Bresse who work in the meat industry and in tinned food factories. The pillars of the agro-industry are an efficient agriculture providing for a significant number of high quality products as well as the presence of several leading companies of this branch. The emblematic poultry industry in the Bresse employs only 350 persons.

In 1992 the City of Bourg-en-Bresse, the department of Ain and the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce founded the technology platform "Alimentec". Its tasks are, among others, applied research, technical support, technology transfer and the advanced technical education in the agro-industrial sector. The activities of Alimentec focus on three priorities: ventilation systems, plastics packing and applied hygiene.

The industrial tissue of the department of Ain is also a result of its metal processing (cables, wire drawing, electrical wires) and engineering industry (automobile industry, France's most important site for truck production) as shows the presence of several major companies in this sector (Tréfileurope, Alcatel Cables, Renault Trucks). Foundry, metal processing and electrical industry occupy approximately 8,200 employees. Due to the diversity of the activities of these industries and their dispersion over the whole department, polarisation effects similar to those in the plastics sector have not yet been observed.

Counting more than 12,900 employees, the public works sector represents a significant share of the department's economy. About a quarter of all industry employees are working in this sector. The future development of the building sector benefits from the department's economic and demographic growth.

Thanks to its vast forests (more than a third of the department's surface) the timber industry employed in September 2007 approximately 4,500 workers.

The nuclear industry represents another economic factor. The nuclear power plant in the Bugey produces about 4,2 % of French electricity, employs more than 1,350 workers and secures moreover numerous employments in the enterprises of the supply chain. Every day between 300 and 1,000 external employees are working in the power plant. Its importance for the local economy can not be underestimated.

Ain disposes finally of several industrial parks. Apart from the aforementioned Plastics Valley and numerous smaller business parks which have been founded by local initiatives the large industrial park of the plain of Ain has to be mentioned. With 700 ha this park will certainly become a centre for heavy industries in the region Rhône-Alpes.

Agriculture[link]

The diversified agriculture (cattle and poultry breeding, milk and milk products, cereals, vegetables and viticulture) generates products of national and international reputation. In particular have to be mentioned the Bresse poultries ("volaille de Bresse"), the mold cheese ("Bleu") of Gex, Grièges and the Bresse, carps and sturgeons of the Dombes region as well as the wine of the Bugey.

The total number of farms in the department amounts to 5,170, including 2,750 full-time farms. During the previous 25 years the number of farms has steadily diminished. While there were 14 600 farms in 1979, only 11,320 were counted in 1988 and 6,320 in 2000. The total farming surface of the department amounts to 268,361 ha, containing 150,917 ha arable farm land and 118,000 plant cultures (range land, viticulture, fruit meadows, tree nurseries). The value of the departments agricultural production reaches 545 million €. 52 % of this amount (274 million €) are allotted to animal products (cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, carp, milk) and 44 % (240 million €) concern crop (cereals, oil plants, wine, vegetables, flowers).

Commerce[link]

The commercial sector comprises 5,861 enterprises including 717 wholesalers and distributors (12,2 %), 539 automobile dealers and garages as well as 1,643 retailers and repair businesses (28 %) (source: Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Ain, 2006).

With a total of 22,973 employees and 9,000 self-employed persons the commercial sector contributes significantly to the overall employment in the department (source: Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Ain, 2006).

More than three thirds of the expenses of the private households amounting to 4,4 billion € per year are feeding the commercial businesses inside the department which stand their ground vis-à-vis external competition.

Services[link]

The strongly expanding services sector represents 46,6 % of all enterprises and about 55 000 employees (source: Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Ain, 2006). Since 2003 the services branch employs more people than any other economic sector. Within the sector, services for enterprises represent 32,2 % of the employees. Consulting and IT-services are of growing importance. Educational services as well as health and social services are also sought after. They represent about a quarter of all employees in the services sector.

Handcraft[link]

More than 9,000 handcraft businesses in the department of Ain highlight the particular economic importance of this sector. The handcraft, which employs approximately 29,000 persons has always been an essential element of the local economy. Within the sector, the production is of particular importance, followed by the construction, the services and the alimentary sector.

Tourism[link]

Church and monastery of Brou

In economic terms tourism in the department of Ain means 300 million € of business volume and 10,000 direct jobs as well as another 10,000 indirect employments. In December 2006 2,9 % of the department's employment was related to the tourist sector (source: Committee for Tourism in the Department of Ain, 2006).

In 2006 700,000 tourists visited the sites of interest in the department (museums, castles, religious monuments, gardens and caves). During the winter 2006/2007 winter sports activity was strongly restrained by the lack of snow. The number of daily skiing tourists amounted to 238,000 (180,500 for alpine skiing and 57,000 for cross-country skiing). The previous average amounted to 465,000 daily tourists per winter.

The angling and cycling tourism (27 circuits with altogether more than 1,500 km) attracts numerous visitors each year. The tourist infrastructure is good and divers. The hotel and hospitality sector counts about 1,100 establishments (hotels, camping grounds, bed and breakfast (so-called "gîtes"), holiday apartments, guest rooms etc.). Their joined capacity amounts to 40,850 beds. During the season 2006 2.5 million nights have been passed in the department compared to 2.7 million in 2002 (source: Committee for Tourism in the Department of Ain, 2006). 15,000 hunters are registered in the departments, 3,000 to 4,000 of whom hunt in the Dombes, one of the best hunting regions for water birds in France.

Research and higher education[link]

Several colleges and research institutions which are situated in Bourg-en-Bresse and Bellignat have settled in the department of Ain. In the Centre for University Studies which, has been relocated from the University Jean Moulin Lyon III to Bourg-en-Bresse, 540 students pursue their studies in 6 different branches : 4 "DEUG" (diplôme d’études universitaires générales = 2 years of studies) in law, modern foreign languages (English-German; English-Spanish), economic and social administration and business administration as well as a "Licence" (= 3 years of studies) and a "Maîtrise" (= 4 years, corresponds to the masters degree) in law (the "Maîtrise" with a specialisation in commercial and trade law).

Altogether 700 students are attending courses at Alimentec, the research and technology centre for applied nutritional sciences located in Bourg-en-Bresse (faculties: biology, energy sciences, informatics and biotechnology), or are qualified by the commercial college of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Bourg-en-Bresse. Furthermore, a branch of the Lyon faculty of education is situated in Bourg-en-Bresse providing 450 places for future school teachers.

In Bellignat, in the heart of the Plastics Valley, a polytechnic university was founded in 1992 which is placed under the direct control of the Ministry of youth, education and research. The Ecole Supérieure de Plasturgie provides 140 places for future plastics engineers and disposes of a pluridisciplinary research laboratory which qualifies advanced students (notably PhD students).

Although it is headquartered just across the border in Geneva, Switzerland, most of CERN's Large Hadron Collider lies in parts of several communes in the Arrondissement of Gex in Ain.

Administration and Representatives[link]

Administrative organisation[link]

Prefecture (view from the parc)

The department of Ain consists of 4 arrondissements, 43 cantons and 419 communes.

The biggest cities are Bourg-en-Bresse (40.300 inhabitants), Oyonnax (23.200 inhabitants), Ambérieu-en-Bugey (12.600 inhabitants) and Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (11.400 inhabitants) (estimates INSEE, 2006).

List of arrondissements, cantons and communes of the department of Ain[link]

• Arrondissements of the Ain department
• Cantons of the Ain department
• Communes of the Ain department

Corps of Prefects[link]

Mayors of the largest cities[link]

57 of the department's 419 mayors (13.6 %) are women as well as 1,894 of the 5,763 members of the department's municipal councils (32.8 %). 3 out of 17 cities with more than 5,000 inhabitants (Trévoux, Miribel and Saint-Genis-Pouilly) are governed by a mayor belonging to a left-wing party.

Conseil général (General Council)[link]

The President of the General Council is the Socialist Rachel Mazuir since the French cantonal elections, 2008, when the left-wing coalition seized control of the right-wing Ain.

Representatives in the National Assembly and the Senate[link]

According to its four constituencies, the département of Ain sends four representatives to the French National Assembly. All of them are members of the right-wing UMP. Apart from former departmental President Charles de La Verpillière (2nd), the others are Xavier Breton (1st), Étienne Blanc (3rd) and Michel Voisin (4th).

The Senators from the Ain are Jacques Berthou (DVG), Sylvie Goy-Chavent (UMP), Rachel Mazuir (PS).

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ain

• (French) Prefecture website
• (French) General Council website
• (French) Ain Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• (English) Tourism site

References[link]

Asamoah Gyan

Personal information
Date of birth	(1985-11-22) 22 November 1985 (age 26)
Place of birth	Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Sunderland
Number	3
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003	Liberty Professionals	16	(11)
2003–2008	Udinese	39	(12)
2004–2006	→ Modena (loan)	53	(15)
2008–2010	Rennes	48	(14)
2010–	Sunderland	34	(10)
2011–2012	→ Al Ain (loan)	18	(22)
National team‡
2003–	Ghana	59	(28)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:15, 28 May 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:31, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

Asamoah Gyan (born 22 November 1985 in Accra) is a Ghanaian professional footballer and a part-time rapper, who plays as a striker for Sunderland of the Premier League.

Gyan shot to prominence after scoring three goals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and also missing a crucial penalty kick in the last minute of extra-time in Ghana's quarter-final defeat by Uruguay.

Club career[link]

Udinese[link]

Having signed for Udinese in 2003 from Ghanaian club Liberty Professionals located in his hometown of Accra, Gyan spent two years on loan at Serie B club Modena to gain match experience. Following some excellent displays during the 2006 World Cup, he attracted interest from Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow. Gyan returned to Udinese at the start of 2006, but on 17 February 2007, Udinese pulled out of a deal to sell him in the January transfer window. The striker was on the verge of signing a 3-year deal with Russian Club Lokomotiv Moscow for US$10.5m, the fourth largest transfer fee in Russian football history. "The striker Udinese targeted to replace me did not sign for them," Gyan told BBC Sport. "I've been told I will now have to stay in Italy for the rest of the season."^[2]

On 10 August 2007, along with Fabio Quagliarella, Gyan signed an improved 5-year contract extension to stay at Udinese until 30 June 2012 as a reward for his fine form^[3] in the 2007–08 pre-season.^[4] "I have decided to stay here because it is one of the top leagues in the world," Asamoah said, "There is the possibility of me playing regular football here to make me a better player. "I am comfortable with the new deal and I know I can help Udinese achieve great things for the future".^[5] Gyan and Quagliarella marked their contract extensions with a brace each in Udinese's 7–0 friendly win later that evening.^[6]

.^[7] On 29 July 2007 following his impressive pre-season form, including a hat-trick^[8] in a friendly against Serie B outfit Spezia on 25 July, before Udinese sealed the long term deal.^[9][10] Gyan scored 10 goals in 2006–07 to help the Stadio Friuli club finish in 10th place in Serie A.

Gyan was dogged by injury during the 2007–08 season and never appeared for Udinese again after January 2008, having played only 13 Serie A matches and scored 4 times that season.

Rennes[link]

On 11 July 2008, Gyan was signed by French Ligue 1 Club Stade Rennais for 4 years on an €8 million transfer fee.^[11][12] Gyan played 48 times for Rennes, scoring 14 goals. By the end of his stay at Rennes, he became a well known goal scoring figure, scoring 13 league goals in the 2009-10 season. However, Gyan only played two games in Ligue 1 the following season, taking his total appearances to 50, before he departed for Sunderland.

Sunderland[link]

On 31 August 2010, Gyan signed for Premier League club Sunderland on a four-year deal.^[13] Gyan was later given the number 33 shirt at Sunderland. He scored on his Sunderland debut against Wigan Athletic on 11 September after coming on as a substitute for Danny Welbeck. The match ended in a 1–1 draw with Antolín Alcaraz scoring Wigan's equaliser.^[14] He marked his first start for Sunderland by netting their only goal in their League Cup exit at the hands of West Ham United.^[15] Gyan scored twice on his first Premier League start for the club in a 2–0 win against Stoke City on 6 November. His first goal came in the 9th minute when a Nedum Onuoha shot was parried by goalkeeper Asmir Begović, with Gyan on hand to tap home the rebound and his second came in the 86th minute, to secure a 2–0 victory for the Black Cats.^[16] Three days later, he followed this up by scoring the equaliser against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in a 1–1 draw as Sunderland moved up to seventh in the table.^[17] He also scored a goal in Sunderland's 3–0 victory at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.^[18] Gyan scored Sunderland's third goal in their 3–0 victory over Blackburn Rovers on 1 January 2011.^[19] On 16 January 2011, he started against local rivals Newcastle United, scoring a 94th minute equaliser, preventing Newcastle gaining their second win of the season against Sunderland.^[20] Gyan added to his impressive goalscoring tally with a goal away at Stoke City on 5 February 2011. He scored an 11th minute goal against Tottenham on 12 February 2011. Gyan's next goal came on 23 April as Sunderland beat Wigan Athletic 4-2, a match which ended prematurely for the forward as he was substituted following a hamstring injury which is expected to see him miss the remainder of the season.^[21] Gyan did recover in time to feature in Sunderland's last game of the season at West Ham but didn't add to his tally finishing his first season in English football with 10 league goals. Gyan took the number 3 shirt for the 2011/12 season, the same number he wears for Ghana.

Al Ain (loan)[link]

On 10 September 2011, it was confirmed on the Sunderland website that Gyan would leave on a season long loan to club Al Ain FC.^[22] Amid speculation of a fee of up to £6m being paid for the loan period, with Gyan receiving up to four times his previous salary,^[23] Chairman Niall Quinn emphasised the financial benefits of the deal for both Sunderland and the player. He also did claim that he left Sunderland for money, quoting that the offer he received was "too good to refuse". The Ghanaian finished the season with Al Ain by helping them capture their tenth league success. As well as being the top goalscorer in the season with twenty two league goals.

When Martin O'Neill became manager of Sunderland on 8 December he considered the possibility of recalling Asamoah from his loan spell away from the club.^[24] But on 13 April 2012, O'Neill claimed that Gyan returning to the Stadium Of Light could be unlikely.

International career[link]

Gyan made his international debut at the age of 17. Gyan scored on his senior International debut^[25] for Ghana against Somalia on 19 November 2003 in the 90th minute, he came on for Isaac Boakye in the 62nd minute in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier, three days before he turned 18 years; helping Ghana to win that game, and making him the youngest ever player to score for Ghana. He scored four times in seven matches during that successful World Cup qualifying campaign.

He was part of the 2004 Ghana Olympic squad, who exited in the first round, having finished in third place in Group B.

Asamoah Gyan playing for Ghana at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final victory match against Nigeria.

He also scored the fastest goal of the 2006 World Cup after 68 seconds. The strike was also Ghana's first ever goal in the World Cup, coming in the game against the Czech Republic on 17 June at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany, which set the Black Stars on their way to a 2–0 victory. He missed a penalty later in the game, and received a yellow card ruling him out of the final group game for trying to take the penalty too early. In Ghana's defeat^[26] to Brazil in the Round of 16, he was sent off in the 81st minute after collecting his second booking of the match (for diving).

On 24 January 2008 during the Africa Cup of Nations Gyan and his brother Baffour decided to walk out on the Black Stars following criticism after their unconvincing 1–0 win^[27] over Namibia. The media learnt the brothers had packed their bags and were ready to leave the team hotel but were persuaded to stay by team-mates.^[28] In the 2010 African Cup of Nations, Asamoah Gyan helped a Ghana team, ravaged by injuries to the finals. Gyan scored three out of the four Ghana goals during the tournament.

Gyan scored with a penalty in the 85th minute of Ghana's first match of the 2010 World Cup against Serbia, in a 1–0 win. He hit the post in the 92nd minute before being substituted to a standing ovation just before the final whistle.^[29] In Ghana's second game, he scored a penalty in the 26th minute to level the scores and earn his team a 1–1 draw against Australia.^[30]

In the round of 16 match against the USA, he scored a goal in extra time allowing Ghana to win by a score of 2 to 1 and hence become the third African team in history to qualify to the tournament's quarter final, after Cameroon and Senegal.^[31] In the quarter final tie against Uruguay, following Luis Suárez's handling of the ball on the goal-line, he missed a penalty kick with no time remaining at end of extra time, hitting the crossbar and necessitating a penalty shootout to decide the game. He converted his penalty in the subsequent penalty shootout, but Uruguay went on to win the shootout 4–2.^[32] Gyan scored Ghana's equaliser against England at Wembley in the international friendly on 29 March 2011.

For the second time in his career, Gyan missed a crucial penalty kick in a major tournament when he missed a penalty kick in the 2012 African Cup of Nations semi-final. Ghana went on to lose 1-0. After missing that penalty kick, Gyan decided to take an "indefinite break" from International football.^[33][34]

International goals[link]

Gyan – goals for Ghana
#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	19 November 2003	Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra	Somalia	2–0	2–0	2006 World Cup qualifier
2.	25 June 2004	Estádio da Machava, Maputo	Mozambique	1–0	1–0	Friendly
3.	3 July 2004	National Stadium, Kampala	Uganda	1–1	1–1	2006 World Cup qualifier
4.	23 March 2005	Nairobi	Kenya	1–0	2–2	Friendly
5.	27 March 2005	Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa	Congo DR	1–0	1–1	2006 World Cup qualifier
6.	8 October 2005	Estádio da Várzea, Praia	Cape Verde	3–0	4–0	2006 World Cup qualifier
7.	14 November 2005	King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh	Saudi Arabia	2–1	3–1	Friendly
8.				3–1
9.	4 June 2006	Easter Road, Edinburgh	South Korea	1–0	3–1	Friendly
10.	17 June 2006	RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne	Czech Republic	1–0	2–0	2006 World Cup
11.	8 October 2006	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul	South Korea	1–0	3–1	Friendly
12.				3–1
13.	21 August 2007	The Den, London	Senegal	1–0	1–1	Friendly
14.	20 January 2008	Accra Sports Stadium, Accra	Guinea	1–0	2–1	2008 Africa Cup of Nations
15.	9 September 2009	Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht	Japan	1–0	3–4	Friendly
16.				2–0
17.	15 January 2010	Estádio Nacional do Chiazi, Cabinda	Côte d'Ivoire	1–3	1–3	2010 Africa Cup of Nations
18.	24 January 2010	Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda	Angola	1–0	1–0	2010 Africa Cup of Nations
19.	28 January 2010	Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda	Nigeria	1–0	1–0	2010 Africa Cup of Nations
20.	1 June 2010	De Kuip, Rotterdam	Netherlands	1–2	1–4	Friendly
21.	13 June 2010	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria	Serbia	1–0	1–0	2010 World Cup
22.	19 June 2010	Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg	Australia	1–1	1–1	2010 World Cup
23.	26 June 2010	Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg	United States	2–1	2–1	2010 World Cup
24.	29 March 2011	Wembley Stadium, London	England	1–1	1–1	Friendly
25.	7 June 2011	Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju	South Korea	1–1	1–2	Friendly
26.	2 September 2011	Accra Sports Stadium, Accra	Swaziland	1–0	2–0	2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier
27.	8 October 2011	Al-Hilal Stadium, Khartoum	Sudan	1–0	2–0	2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier
28.	28 January 2012	Stade de Franceville, Franceville	Mali	1–0	2–0	2012 Africa Cup of Nations
Correct as of 11 February 2012