The UAE’s smallest and least traversed emirate, Ajman is making big strides when it comes to developing its tourism offering. From sporting events to stunning stretches of coastline, the tiny seaside town, spread over only 259 square kilometres, has undergone major development in the past decade and in spite of its size, offers a wealth of hidden gems. Here are 10 things to do and see in the emirate.
Kayaking at Al Zorah Nature Reserve
The best way to soak up the beauty of Al Zorah Nature Reserve is via kayak. The calm waters around the lush green mangroves also make it an ideal spot for beginners. Home to an abundance of flora and fauna, the area hosts 58 species of birds, including flamingos, egrets and herons. Aqdar Adventures invites visitors to take part in its mangrove planting initiative, which is a great way to experience the area's rich biodiversity, as well as a fun way to teach the little ones about the importance of wetlands to the local ecosystem.
www.questforadventure.net
Floating water park
The floating water park at Fairmont Ajman is a fun activity for the family, with a mix of bouncy domes, balancing beams and slides set along an obstacle course on the corniche. The park is open to hotel residents as well as non-residents and operates from 10am to 5pm.
www.fairmont.com
Cycling
Back for its fifth year this year, Ride Ajman takes place in December and is the emirate’s first competitive cycling race, with distances of either 58km or 115km. Looping around the smooth terrain of Al Zorah Marina, the race has helped put the emirate on the sporting map, attracting competitors from around the country. The Masfout Mountain Bike Challenge is another favourite for those preferring to compete on more rugged terrain out in the emirate’s rocky mountainous region.
www.hopasports.com
Golf
One of the UAE's most picturesque golf courses, Al Zorah Golf Club’s flowing green dunes are surrounded by beautiful coastline and mangroves. Designed by Nicklaus Design, the company founded by 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus, and managed by Troon Golf, the course has an 18-hole championship layout with a breathtaking backdrop to match. The par-72 course features two lakes and 88 bunkers.
www.alzorahgolfclub.ae
Hiking at Masfout
In the tiny enclave of Masfout, famous for its fertile agricultural lands, visitors can expect some impressive scenery. Surrounded by the emirates of Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, as well as neighbouring Oman, Masfout offers the perfect escape from the city. Masfout Canyon is only 90 minutes from Dubai and is located close to Hatta, which boasts higher altitudes and cooler climes. A trek up to Masfout Castle is also well worth the effort.
Heritage at Masfout Castle
The picturesque Masfout Castle, a mountain-top fort 120km south-east of Ajman city, is one of the few historical sites in the emirate. The 19th-century structure was restored in the late 1940s and reflects the architecture and construction methods of the time, which favoured stone, mud and timber. The small castle has just two rooms and a gate, and offers fantastic views from its defensive lookout.
Watersports
A new watersports centre will open soon at Al Zorah, one of the best spots from which to enjoy the beautiful waters around Ajman’s eastern coastline. Whether you are stand-up paddle boarding or windsurfing, the emirate’s turquoise waters are one of its biggest assets. The local hotels along the corniche and on Al Zorah beach also offer a range of watersports options, even for non-residents.
Glamping
Caravana Beach Resort Al Zorah is the emirate’s popular campsite by the sea, and veers towards the glamping side of things. Quaint little caravans of different sizes mean visitors can leave the sleeping bags at home. Facilities include barbecue areas, activities such as horse riding and an outdoor cinema. Also on Al Zorah is Bianky Beach Camp, another purpose-built site with facilities that include a swimming pool and activities such as fishing and diving, as well as live music. Bianky offers visitors chalets, villas and tents. The beauty of both is they are fully catered, with restaurants on site, making the stay totally hassle-free.
www.caravana.ae and www.biankybeachcamp.com
Fishing
Licensed fishing fans can head to one of the best spots for the sport, near Ajman Hotel (former Kempinski) at the far end of the Corniche. Early mornings and a few hours before dusk are known to be the best times to try your luck. For a more adventurous excursion, deep sea fishing is also available through local vendors around Ajman with snapper, grouper and barracuda among the big catch to be found.
Ajman Museum
Serving as the ruler’s palace until 1970, the museum, also known as Ajman Fort, is now open to the public and displays a range of historical artefacts, from jewellery and ancient manuscripts to tombs and weaponry. There are also archaeological finds dating as far back as 3,000 BC. The 18th-century fort, located on the east side of the central square in the Al Bustan area, is testament to the small emirate’s big history. Cultural displays such as Emirati dance are also on offer at the museum, offering a window into the country’s Bedouin roots.
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More coverage from the Future Forum
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Unresolved crisis
Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.
Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.
The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Frida%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarla%20Gutierrez%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Frida%20Kahlo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff
By Sean Penn
Simon & Schuster
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
