Ajman: why you should visit this rising star

If you’re looking for a more authentic experience in the UAE, Ajman is a real gem. You’ll find culture, you can kayak through exotic mangroves and relax on some of the region’s best beaches. With high-end hotels and better value food and drink than neighbouring Dubai, which is around half an hour away, this is a great value option. Here are our top 10 reasons for visiting Ajman…

The beaches

Ajman is the smallest of the seven emirates, but it has some of the best beaches. Our hand-picked luxury hotels offer a private stretch of beach but there are also public sections you can use. You’ll find pristine white sands and clear waters in Ajman, making this a great choice for a beach holiday or a stopover on the way to destinations such as the Maldives. It’s often a more affordable choice than neighbouring Dubai and Abu Dhabi, too.

You can stay in total luxury

There are some big-named luxury hotels in the city, so you can relax knowing you’ll get renowned service and quality. Enter the Ajman Saray, A Luxury Collection Resort, and you’ll feel like you’re staying in a palace. During your holiday, you can book a treatment at the resort’s award-winning spa, which is draped in chiffon curtains and has floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the ocean. Pool service is also on point here, with waiters summoned at a push of a button. The Fairmont Ajman has its own tea sommelier, and don’t miss cocktails on the beach or belly dancing and drumming at the hotel’s Turkish restaurant. If you’re looking for ultra-modern décor and villas with the wow factor, complete with butler service, The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah is the choice for you.

You can kayak through the mangroves

Al Zorah Nature Reserve is home to vast mangrove forests and lagoons, where an incredible variety of marine and plant life live, plus around 58 species of birds. It’s a calm place to relax, surrounded by nature, and best explored on a guided kayak tour. Keep your camera handy, as you may spot pink flamingos en route.

Stroll along the corniche

The Ajman Corniche is a four-kilometre long esplanade overlooking the Arabian Gulf and beach. During the day, it’s where people come for a picnic on the beach, take a walk along the coastline or enjoy a swim in the sea. It’s lined with cafes and restaurants and the area springs to life in the evenings and at weekends, which falls on a Friday and Saturday in the UAE.

A short walk from the end of the Corniche is Marsa Ajman, a shopping development featuring a beautiful view of the Marina. The project is due to be completed at the beginning of 2019 and will feature a mix including cafes and restaurants, department stores and entertainment. You can also explore Al Zorah Marina 1, a 100,000 square metre creek-side development with a park, lots of places to eat and drink and entertainment, including a championship golf course.

Have dinner in a QUBE

Ajman has a very vibrant and eclectic foodie scene – with some seriously cool options. Ajman QUBES is a pioneering project in sustainable architecture that transforms shipping containers into unique, ultra-modern restaurants, cafes and shops.

Learn about pearl diving

The Ajman Pearl Experience is a chance to discover the history of pearl diving in the Arabian Gulf region. You’ll learn about the divers who collected thousands of shells in the hopes of finding a single pearl. You’ll sail on a traditional Jalbot boat to the Al Zorah Ajman Mangroves and the crew will give you insights a into the tradition of pearl diving. See how an oyster shell is opened with a maflag, an authentic oyster knife, and peek inside to see if there is a pearl.

Enjoy a floating dinner cruise

Board the Marsa Ajman Floating Restaurant for a two-hour cruise through Ajman Marina, travelling to Al Zorah. You can help yourself to the buffet, gaze out over the lights in the marina and enjoy the live entertainment on board.

Discover the history of Ajman

We know the best places to go to discover Ajman’s heritage and gain an understanding of the local culture. Head to Ajman Museum, an 18th century fort where you can explore historic artefacts and exhibits such as weapons, manuscripts and treasured archaeological finds. Souq Saleh is the place to go for traditional clothing, and the Gold Souq sells both gold and silver jewellery. The Ajman Fish Market is also worth a visit to see the local tradition of fishing up. Watch the fishermen bring in their catch of the day and sell it at a lively auction.

Explore the Hajar Mountains

Ajman is the smallest of the seven emirates. Despite being only 20 miles north of Dubai, it feels a million miles away. The pace is far more relaxed in Ajman and, when the temperatures get too hot, locals head for the enclave of Masfout in the Hajar Mountains, around two hours away. Here you can follow walking trails and enjoy the cooler air.

Discover a world of dinosaurs

Dino Live – one of the world’s largest indoor dinosaur exhibitions – can be found at Alzorah Marina 1 and features over 30 life-sized animated dinosaurs, a planetarium and a 9D cinema.

This feature was published on 23 October 2018. The information within this feature is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of print.