Ajman

Ajman, one of the lesser-known jewels along the southern shore of the Persian Gulf, occupies a modest footprint among the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Nestled between its larger neighbor Sharjah and the emirate of Umm Al-Quwain, and lying scarcely ten kilometres from bustling Dubai, Ajman stands apart not by size but by the pace and character of its evolution. Over the past seven decades, the city of Ajman has transformed from a small creekside settlement of fewer than three hundred souls into the vibrant capital of an emirate home to more than 417,000 residents as of early 2024.

The emirate itself extends over approximately 460 square kilometres of land, its boundaries stretching from the Gulf’s shoreline inland to enclaves such as Manama, whose low-lying palm groves and arid plains recall an earlier era of oases and falaj irrigation. Along that sixteen-kilometre coastline, the waters once plied by traditional dhows now accommodate leisure craft alongside fishing vessels that continue a centuries-old trade. This juxtaposition of old and new, of modest origins and rapid expansion, defines Ajman’s character today.

The ruling Al Nuaimi family has guided Ajman’s trajectory through shifting tides of regional politics and economic change. Historically, Ajman’s central town grew around a natural inlet—referred to locally as the khor—whose sheltered waters enabled small-scale pearling, fishing, and boat repair. The Al Nuaimis, seafaring and pragmatic, oversaw a territory that for much of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries lay in the economic and political shadow of its wealthier neighbors. Following the discovery of oil in other emirates and the subsequent federation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, Ajman embarked on a more deliberate path of modernization under the aegis of its ruling court.

Within the city limits lie the administrative heart of the emirate: the Ruler’s office, alongside national and international bank branches such as Emirates NBD, Ajman Bank, Arab Bank PLC, Bank Saderat Iran, and the Commercial Bank of Dubai. These institutions underscore Ajman’s role as a modest financial hub, serving both local enterprises and expatriate communities. Over ninety percent of the emirate’s population now concentrates within the city, which has grown into a continuous urban sprawl that merges seamlessly with Sharjah to the southwest, and thence into the outer reaches of Dubai.

From a handful of fishing families in the mid-twentieth century, Ajman has witnessed an extraordinary demographic transformation. In 1950, its population hovered around 231; by 2004, official estimates placed it at roughly 230,000, and by 2024 the figure had climbed to 417,695. That increase of more than 6,200 over the preceding year alone represents an annual growth rate of just over 1.5 per cent, testament to sustained inward migration and natural growth amid expanding opportunities in commerce, industry, and real estate.

Urban development has been punctuated by phases of rapid construction and intermittent slowdowns. The global financial crisis of 2007–08 brought many projects to a standstill, but renewed investment has since resumed, heating up the real-estate market once more. Residential blocks, hospitality venues, and retail centres now share the skyline with the cranes and scaffolding that signal further expansion. In particular, the city’s coastal stretch has become home to boutique hotels, mid-range resorts, and luxury properties catering to both leisure and business travellers.

Anchoring the emirate’s economy is Ajman Port and the adjacent Free Zone, facilities whose capacities belie the emirate’s compact area. The port handles more than a thousand vessels annually, serving as a regional node for container, bulk, and general cargo movements. Within the borders of the Free Zone, space exists for up to fifteen hundred companies, of which some two hundred and fifty-six are classified as industrial units. Collectively, these enterprises account for roughly one-fifth of all industrial activity in the UAE, exporting goods to over sixty-five countries worldwide. Among the notable industrial players is Arab Heavy Industries, recognised as one of the globe’s most substantial ship-manufacturing firms, its shipyards lining the creek’s banks with steel-hulled vessels in various stages of assembly.

Complementing these sectors, Ajman supports a modest fishing industry and a network of seafood importers and exporters, extending local catch to markets throughout the Gulf. Small commercial districts host fifty international and domestic retail outlets where traders offer everything from electronics to textiles, and where traditional souqs still flourish in their labyrinthine alleys.

Ajman’s central position along the western coast of the UAE lends itself to a well-developed network of roads and transit options. The Emirates Road sweeps past its northern fringes, connecting the city northward to Umm Al-Quwain and Ras Al-Khaimah, and southward to Sharjah and Dubai. Although not yet equipped with its own international airport, Ajman residents rely on Sharjah International Airport—merely a few kilometres away—for regional and intercontinental flights, and have Dubai International within reasonable reach.

Within the city, metered and unmetered taxis circulate widely. Unofficial “Somali taxis” offer shared rides between Ajman and Dubai at a fraction of fixed-fare alternatives, though at the cost of legal ambiguity. Several taxi services permit travel to neighbouring emirates, often at flat rates: ten Dirhams to Sharjah, forty Dirhams to Dubai when catching a taxi during peak hours. Tour buses also operate out of major hotels, enabling guided excursions to Ajman’s principal attractions and beyond.

Plans for an Ajman international airport in the inland enclave of Manama have been discussed for years, but as of early 2025 remain on the drawing board. Should they proceed, the facility would alter the emirate’s accessibility and potentially stimulate yet another wave of urban and economic growth.

Tourist and leisure offerings in Ajman have diversified considerably, shifting it from a mere stopover en route to Dubai into a destination in its own right. The emirate’s coastline—sixteen kilometres of sandy beach—draws families and day-trippers. Ajman Beach, with its gentle surf and fine white sand, functions as both public thoroughfare and leisure strip. Evenings see the corniche come alive: strollers pause at coffee shops and fast-food outlets; children linger at playgrounds; couples watch the sunset beyond the Gulf’s horizon.

Overlooking the corniche, the Ajman Museum occupies a restored 18th-century fort that once served as the ruler’s palace. Within its whitewashed walls, visitors encounter artifacts of traditional life—silver dallahs (coffee pots), farming implements, and pearl-diving gear—and dioramas that reconstruct scenes of domestic and communal existence from a bygone era. Nearby stands the Red Fort, its brick and plaster façades offering a stark counterpoint to the beige walls of its older neighbour.

Further inland, the enclave of Manama preserves an quieter, more pastoral atmosphere. A small heritage museum there presents local customs and agricultural methods, while shaded date-palm groves line cobbled lanes. It serves as a reminder that the emirate’s history is not confined to coastal commerce but encompasses inland livelihoods shaped by scant water and the ingenuity of falaj irrigation.

City Centre Ajman, the emirate’s largest mall, provides a contemporary architectural statement. Its vaulted atrium, punctuated by geometric skylights, shelters a host of international fashion brands, electronics retailers, and confectioneries. Families shop beneath soaring ceilings; teenagers congregate in cafés; cinemas screen regional and international films in air-conditioned comfort.

A newer addition to the emirate’s portfolio of attractions is the Al Zorah development, an inland lagoon framed by mangroves. Here, open-air pursuits range from kayaking through shaded waterways to teeing off on an 18-hole championship golf course. Children’s play areas and picnic lawns nestle beside luxury residences and boutique hotels, forging a leisure district that contrasts with the urban grid of Ajman city.

In the annual rankings compiled by Numbeo, a crowd-sourced database of global urban indices, Ajman placed fourth among the world’s safest cities in 2023. Only Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai outscored it within the United Arab Emirates; the distinction bolsters the emirate’s appeal to expatriate families and foreign investors alike. Low crime rates, dependable public services, and a cohesive community fabric contribute to residents’ sense of security.

Ajman’s dining scene spans traditional souq stalls to thematic restaurants. In the Iranian Souq, vendors peddle pottery and household wares amid aromatic passages of saffron and dried fruits. City Centre Ajman hosts upscale cafés and global franchises, while independent venues within the city serve South Asian, Arab, and Western fare.

Among established eateries, India House on Sheikh Humaid bin Abdul Al-Aziz Street offers curries and tandoori specialties at modest prices. The Lulu Hypermarket café, adjacent to the vast retail complex, attracts shoppers with generous portions of regional dishes and fruit smoothies. Along the beachfront, simple kiosks dispense doner-kebab wraps and fresh juices, combining economy with seaside ambience.

For a more theatrical evening, the Viking Restaurant in the Heritage Area stages live music and fire-dance performances within a medieval-inspired setting. Its high TripAdvisor ratings—ranked number one in early 2024 and recipient of the World Culinary Awards—attest to its popularity among both local residents and tourists.

The Ajman Fish Market remains an enduring institution. Each dawn, fishermen unload their catch along the creek, where middlemen and shopkeepers bid in rapid succession. Nearby stalls will grill or fry freshly purchased fish on demand, offering patrons a taste of maritime flavor that bridges past and present.

Alcoholic beverages are available in licensed hotels, bars, and a handful of specialised liquor outlets. The “Hole In The Wall,” now relocated near the Beach Resort, was for years one of the emirate’s few government-sanctioned liquor shops. Meanwhile, tap water—supplied by coastal desalination—bears a faint salinity yet is considered safe for brushing teeth and making tea. Bottled water fills shelves in every convenience store.

Lodging options in Ajman cater to diverse budgets. Mid-range properties such as Dana Beach Resort, fronting the Arabian Gulf, provide rooms and suites that include kitchenettes for extended stays. Across town, the Emirates Plaza Hotel offers clean, straightforward rooms just steps from the shore, with rates that remain among the most competitive in the northern emirates.

At the upper end of the spectrum stands Kempinski Hotel Ajman, its five-star complex sprawling along half a kilometre of private beach. White-sand shores and clear waters characterise its coastal lawns, while multiple restaurants, swimming pools, and banquet halls serve discerning guests. Under current pricing, standard rooms begin above 500 Dirhams per night, with suites commanding higher rates in light of panoramic sea views.

As Ajman moves further into the third decade of the twenty-first century, it balances the imperatives of growth with a desire to preserve its scaled-down atmosphere. Foreign investment in real estate, tourism, and light industry has resumed apace, fueling a construction boom that advances alongside long-term plans for waterfront development and inland expansion. The proposed airport at Manama, if realised, would mark a new chapter in the emirate’s opening to international visitors; for now, residents and travellers continue to rely on neighbouring Sharjah and Dubai for aerial connections.

Ajman’s story is one of adaptive progress. From its origins as a creek-side fishing outpost overseen by the Al Nuaimi sheikhs, it has matured into a cosmopolitan city, home to hundreds of thousands and intertwined with the fate of its larger neighbors. Yet even amid glass-fronted towers and modern free-zone warehouses, the emirate retains traces of its humble past: the nagging saltiness of its tap water, the swirl of nets on the beach at dawn, the red-plastered walls of its ancient forts. It is in those particulars—simple, enduring details—that Ajman’s essence resides: an emirate small in landmass but rich in transformation, where every new high-rise and highway recalls the single winding creek where the story began.