- Ajman embankment
- Ajman landmarks
- Religious buildings
- Shopping in Ajman
- Cafes and restaurants
- Children's entertainment
When discovering the United Arab Emirates, tourists do not always fly to Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Often they are looking for a quiet beach, where it is pleasant to spend time in the shade of green palm trees, rather than skyscrapers approaching the sea. Ajman is just such an emirate: small, calm, not claiming to be world records. At the same time, its advantageous location close to the main tourist attractions of the UAE allows the guests of the emirate not to feel cut off from the big events in the main cities of the country.
The lack of the "best" facilities and attractions is not a reason to get bored, and guests of the resort always find what to do and where to go in Ajman. The emirate is known for its museums, pretty cafes on The Corniche and mineral springs where you can spend time with health benefits.
Ajman embankment
Located in the heart of the Arabian Desert, Ajman does not boast an abundance of gardens or parks. A favorite place where tourists and residents of the emirate prefer to walk is the embankment of its capital, stretching along the coast of the Persian Gulf.
Here you will find a variety of Arabic cuisine restaurants, boutiques with souvenirs and jewelery with precious stones, children's play areas, comfortable seating benches and great sea views. The embankment is overlooked by the facades of several hotels of world famous chains.
Ajman landmarks
If you are used to combining beach holidays with a rich excursion program, Ajman may seem a little boring to you. There is not a huge number of attractions in the emirate, but the available ones are quite enough to make an interesting tourist route and get acquainted with the present and past of the city and its surrounding territories at your own pleasure.
Ajman Fort is certainly on the list of architectural and cultural attractions. Since the 18th century. and for centuries it was the seat of the Ajman Emir, until in 1967 it was handed over to the local police department. The fortress was turned into a police barracks and for several decades it served as the seat of the Ajman police. Today the fort houses the exposition of the local museum of local lore. Among the exhibits are artifacts that tell about the traditions and life of the inhabitants of the emirate. Many items were found during construction work on the laying of the oil pipeline. The builders discovered ancient manuscripts, ancient tools and medieval weapons in the ground. Police uniforms and paraphernalia are also displayed in the fort in a special room, and are displayed in wax figures, professionally made by artists from Europe.
The museum is open from 9 am to 8 pm every day except Mondays. On Friday, the exposition can be seen from 17 to 20
Ajman's second famous fort is often referred to as the Red Fort, thanks to the terracotta-colored plaster that covers its walls from the outside. The fort was built in the first third of the last century during the reign of Sheikh Humayd bin Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi. Initially, the building consisted of two watchtowers, united by a common gallery, but in 1986 a third was added to them.
The fort is also notable for the fact that during the construction of its roof, beams made of valuable sandalwood, brought by the sea from India, were used
The Manama Museum was opened in the third fort of the capital of the smallest emirate in 2012. The fort itself was erected in the 70-80s. XIX century. Then the country was ruled by Sheikh Rashid bin Humayd Al Nuaimi.
Dhow boats are another famous attraction in Ajman. They are light boats made from teak, a special kind of wood grown in India. Dhows appeared in everyday life of the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa long before the new era, gradually conquered the region and today they continue to remain a popular floating craft, despite technological progress. The main features of a dhow are a thin and extended hull profile, a sail and a small superstructure at the stern. If you are interested in shipbuilding, you can visit the local shipyard in Ajman. It is there that Arab sailing ships are still produced, although dhows are increasingly being replaced today with modern plastic ships.
The monument in honor of the Arab boat is installed on the embankment. Walking along the Persian Gulf, you will certainly see a striking sculpture depicting a dhow
Another famous landmark of the emirate is the residence of the ruler of Ajman, where solemn ceremonies for presenting awards, meetings of foreign delegations and other official events take place. In the evenings, the building is impressively illuminated, and in the daytime you can see the graceful forging of the gates and ancient cannons on either side of them.
Like everywhere in the Gulf countries, camel racing is popular in the Emirates and one of the most famous stadiums is located on the E311 highway passing through Ajman. If you love exotic and are looking for where to go to get acquainted with the national peculiarities of the country, Al Tallah is the best fit. Camel races are held in winter and autumn, because in the summer in the UAE it is too hot for such activities.
You can easily inquire about the schedule of the races at the receptionist of any hotel in Ajman
Religious buildings
The founder and first president of the UAE is a highly respected figure in the country. In honor of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, several outstanding architectural objects are named in the Emirates, including the mosque in Ajman. If you're looking for where to go on an excursion, this iconic structure is a prime example of contemporary Middle Eastern architecture. The mosque is located on the highway connecting the emirate with Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah. At the corners of the magnificent building of white stone, four tall minarets are installed, and the central part of the building is covered with a dome in the shape of a hemisphere. At night, the mosque is effectively illuminated.
Another religious building is located near the Karavan hotel. The Cornish Mosque amazes at the same time with its laconic form and richness of its exterior decoration. The walls are decorated with stone carvings and ornaments, minarets soar high into the sky, and the top of the building is covered by a hemisphere of the dome. The interiors are decorated very minimalist, which does not prevent the mosque from being one of the most beautiful buildings in the United Arab Emirates.
Top 10 attractions in Ajman
Shopping in Ajman
Where to go for a sophisticated shopaholic who is on vacation in the smallest of the emirates? If you plan to turn around in full and take home a couple of suitcases of new outfits or jewelry, go to Dubai. Modest Ajman is not yet able to compete with its malls and shopping centers. Although frequent visitors to the emirate claim that every year the number of shops in the resort is increasing and the emirate is becoming quite capable of competing with its closest neighbors.
The most diverse range of goods is offered by shopping centers Ajman Industrial Area, Hamdan, Safeer Ajman and The Factory Mart, and the largest in Ajman is called Ajman City Center, which sells souvenirs and jewelry, dishes and delicacies, drinks and accessories.
By the way, it is Ajman that is the only city in the country where you can freely purchase alcoholic beverages. You can find various brands and brands of alcoholic drinks in the Hole in the wall supermarket, which is open near the famous Ajman Beach Hotel.
What to bring from the UAE
Cafes and restaurants
The finest oriental cuisine can be found in the many restaurants and cafes of Ajman. Many famous establishments are concentrated on the waterfront, others are open in the shopping centers of the emirate:
- The complex of restaurants on the waterfront is dozens of establishments gathered under one roof. At Restaurants and cafe complex on the waterfront Ajman, you will find different menus and taste food prepared according to culinary traditions from around the world.
- The panoramic windows of Cafe on First at the Kempinski Hotel are not the only advantage of this elite establishment. The menu includes lamb dishes prepared in full accordance with Middle Eastern traditions, and a wide selection of desserts for coffee can overshadow the mind of any sweet tooth.
- Another popular Ajman restaurant is open in the same hotel. If you love Indian cuisine, be sure to go to "Bukhara". It is better to discuss the amount of spices in each dish with the waiter in advance, especially since the menu has a section in Russian.
- The decoration in medieval style and the unusual serving of food are the hallmarks of the Aragil restaurant on the waterfront.
Be sure to try street fast food too. In the UAE, “food on the go” is represented by mouth-watering shaverms and sandwiches, fresh juices and quick desserts to accompany coffee. The aromatic drink is prepared on the sand and served in small cups, inviting guests to set off the taste of coffee with ice water in glasses.
Top 10 dishes to try in the UAE
Children's entertainment
When staying in Ajman with children, do not rely too much on a variety of entertainment. All the most interesting for young tourists is concentrated in Dubai, and therefore you will have to choose the time for an educational excursion to the neighboring emirate.
In Ajman, kids' entertainment can be found at the playground near the China Mall. This shopping complex attracts tourists with low prices and a variety of goods. When shopping at a Chinese mall, make sure to take the time to visit the children's attractions.
You will be offered to buy baby products in Mothercare and Monalisa stores, located in the largest shopping center of the emirate - City Center Ajman. A bonus will be the entertainment area of the shopping complex, where a playground with swings and carousels and a soft "pool" filled with balls are equipped. Slot machines offer to participate in the "hunt" for toys, and a special menu for young guests is regularly updated in children's cafes.
