White sands, local souks and just a handful of high-rises – discover what life is like authentic Ajman.

The smallest of the seven emirates, Ajman is just 20 miles north of Dubai but it feels a world away from the United Arab Emirates’ loud and proud poster child. Billed as ‘sincerely emirati’; it’s a place where you can wind down, enjoy more space to yourself and see a more traditional side of the Emirates – all with Dubai just half an hour away (dependent on Dubai traffic).

There are two enclaves, Al Manama and Masfout, where you can take to the mountains, follow walking trails and bask in the cooler air just like the locals do when it gets too hot in the summer. Ajman’s main area is set on the Arabian Gulf coast, where the beaches are some of the best in the country and almost everything – from quality accommodation to food – is cheaper here than in Dubai. Ajman has the same balmy weather as Dubai so it’s perfect for beach days, and there’s local history and culture to take in at the Ajman Museum and nearby souks.

The most unexpected feature in Ajman is the mangroves and lagoons of Al Zorah Nature Reserve. A playground for birdlife including flamingo and heron, you can go kayaking and see a different side to the Emirates in this unique environment. There’s even a pristine 18-hole championship golf course set within the mangroves where you can tee off away from the crowds and amid the local birdlife.

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Ajman Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Ajman

Ajman Saray, a Luxury Collection Resort

A grand hotel with an award-winning spa on Ajman’s coast.

The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah

This high-spec hideaway on palm-fringed white sands brings Oberoi’s grand standards to Ajman.

Fairmont Ajman

This glamorous beachfront resort has fine amenities and excellent dining on Ajman’s Corniche.

Get to know Ajman and those important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.

Capital
TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT +4 hours

CURRENCY

United Arab Emirates Dirham

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

7 hours

RELIGION

Islam

LANGUAGE

Arabic

Where is Ajman? Ajman is located on the west coast of the United Arab Emirates. It is the smallest of the emirates and is just 30-minutes from Dubai.

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What to do in Ajman While it's much quieter than its neighbours, Ajman is full of delightful surprises. As well as blissful relaxation on pristine beaches and shopping for international brands at the modern City Centre Ajman mall, there are plenty of unique things to do in Ajman. Go kayaking with Quest for Adventures in the mangroves and lagoons of the Al Zorah Nature Reserve – a playground for fish that jump and birdlife like flamingo and heron – or tee off at the nearby 18-hole championship golf course.

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Shopping Head to the Gold Souk for beautiful jewellery and the refurbished Saleh Souk for traditional tailoring, or experience dining that's a little different at Ajman Qubes, a concept space where shipping containers have been repurposed into restaurants and cafés.

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Ajman activities and entertainment Out on the water, you can take on watersports with Quest for Adventures including wakeboarding, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding – or charter a yacht for a luxurious day out at sea. The new Al Zorah Marina 1 is a great venue with plenty of entertainment for all ages. Take a pearl dhow excursion and learn about the region's pearl diving history in the mangroves on a traditional boat ride and take home a fresh oyster pearl as a souvenir.

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Getting around Ajman’s compact size makes walking one of the easiest ways to get around. The beachfront beaches are around 15 minutes’ walk from the main Al Bustan area where you’ll find Ajman Museum and the traditional and gold souks. Taxis are a popular and generally inexpensive way to get around, particularly for longer distances or if you’re visiting in the summer when temperatures are too hot for walking. Hotels and resorts often run complimentary shuttle services to and from Dubai via Sharjah so you can visit Sharjah’s Blue Souk and Dubai’s major sights.

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