Under Ajman Vision 2030, the unique cultural and artistic heritage of this corner of the UAE is fully recognised in the emirate’s plans for tourism development. Possessing a range of attractions from forts to festivals, and souqs to traditional hill villages, Ajman also has the ability to combine this heritage with modern hotels, entertainment and retail experiences – all within a short distance of one another. This is a great asset in the development of Ajman’s hospitality sector, while also providing a strong driver for local small business development and entrepreneurship.
Arts & Cultural Tourism
Across the UAE, the federal Ministry of Culture (MoC) is a key body in organising and promoting arts and cultural events nationwide. In Ajman, the MoC works in collaboration with the Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) and a variety of cultural centres and events companies. The ATDD has a specialised Culture and Arts Office, headed by Hind Al Marzooqi. The MoC operates a series of cultural centres in the UAE, with the Cultural Centre in Al Jarah its local representative. This hosts a range of events throughout the year, while also possessing a library and theatre.
Other UAE cultural centres include the Ousha Bint Hussein Cultural Centre, a driving force behind the Ajman Folklore Festival, which took place for the first time in April 2024. Festivals held in the emirate include the Red Fortress of Crafts Festival, which is organised by the Ajman Businesswomen Council and held in the Manama Museum garden of the exclave. Meanwhile, the Al Murrabbaa Arts Festival, held in December under the auspices of the ATDD, brings together artists, musicians, tourists and the general public for a week of shows, presentations and participatory events in the Ajman Heritage District. That district is now very much a centrepiece of the emirate’s arts and culture offering.
The addition of the 1.5-km Ajman Heritage Trail in February 2024 – which links the district via an interactive pathway with the house of the poet, Rashid Al Khadar, the Ajman Museum, the Saleh Souq, the Al Nakhil area and the waterfront – further adds to this portfolio. The Ajman Museum has rebounded strongly after the Covid-19 pandemic impacted attendance. According to the Ajman Statistics Centre, in 2018 some 37,404 people visited the museum, housed in the restored 18th-century Ajman Fort. However, numbers fell to 974 in 2021, as travel bans were implemented. By 2023 the number of visitors was back up to 26,613, as normal travel resumed and the museum flourished once again.
The Saleh Souq also offers a range of traditional retail experiences, with local artisans demonstrating their craftsmanship. The neighbouring Ajman Gold Souq is a centre for handcrafted jewellery, while handcrafted traditional dhows are still made in the nearby Ajman Dhow Yard. These wooden boats, typical of the Gulf region, are still manufactured using traditional methods in this living museum. Another element of tradition still found in Ajman is its Emirati cuisine, which ranges from traditional qahwa (Arabic coffee) served in old cafes to larger feasts and, nowadays, an annual food festival. The 2024 edition featured 30 exhibitors and included live cooking shows, music and competitions.
Moving Tradition Forwards
There is clearly a depth of cultural and artistic resources in the emirate, with tourism planners focusing now on how to capitalise on this to boost visitor numbers in a sustainable way. A key element is thus developing capacity, both in terms of infrastructure and human resources. This endeavour forms a central element of both the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 and is one of the eight guiding principles of Ajman Vision 2030. The ATDD has therefore initiated a number of programmes in this regard. In February 2024, for example, it ran a chef training programme ahead of Ramadan to enable high-end hotel restaurants to offer traditional Emirati dishes during the month. This capacity-building combined with enhancing Ajman’s cultural offerings through the promotion of a culinary tourism programme that integrates various elements, all align with Ajman’s tourism development strategy.
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