Ajman

Smallest UAE emirate, a quieter Gulf base with a public corniche, old fort, and working dhow yard.

Ajman is the smallest of the seven UAE emirates, squeezed between Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain along the Gulf coast. It has a fraction of the glitz of Dubai — no towering skyscrapers or mega-malls — and that is precisely its appeal for visitors looking for a quieter, more affordable base.

The seafront corniche has a long public beach, and the old quarter around the Ajman Museum — housed in an 18th-century fort — has a few atmospheric streets and a working dhow yard on the creek. Ajman is also one of the few emirates where alcohol is relatively easy to buy, which has made it a popular shopping destination for residents of neighbouring dry emirates. North of the city, the Al Zorah Nature Reserve is the best mangrove and flamingo spot for an easy day's birdwatching out of Dubai.

Guide

Things to Do

Ajman is a half-day proposition by UAE standards. The historic core sits between the Ajman Museum — the 18th-century fort that used to be the emir's residence and police station — and the working dhow yard on the creek, where wooden boats are still built by hand. The corniche runs north of that to a long public beach.

For a quieter contrast, the Al Zorah Nature Reserve is one of the better mangrove and flamingo-watching spots in the country, and a sign that Ajman has at least one piece of low-key, well-managed nature on its doorstep.