Ajman Museum and Fort
Ajman Museum
First published on 11 Jan 2020, rewritten on 22 Sept 2023 with all photos replaced.
Ajman Museum is located in Ajman Fort, a historic landmark in the heart of Ajman and often overlooked, but it’s well worth a visit. I often enjoy wandering around and then relaxing in the courtyard, pondering how life was not so very long ago.
Ajman Fort
Built in the 18th century as a stronghold to defend the emirate, Ajman Fort later became the ruler’s residence. In 1970, it took on a new role as the police headquarters for eight years. Below is an exhibit of a prisoner being punished.
Since 1981, it has been a museum showcasing the history of the emirate, in particular the city of Ajman. (In case you didn’t know, Ajman has two inland enclaves, Masfout and Al Manama.)
The fort of Ajman is made of coral stone and gypsum, with some distinctive architectural elements revealing influences from both Islamic and traditional Emirati designs.
The wind tower, or barjeel, seen in the last photo above was an essential feature in local buildings before electricity became commonplace. It was one of several architectural features used to provide natural air-conditioning. You can go inside the wind tower and feel the effect for yourself.
The fort layout is the traditional courtyard style, with most exhibits in the individual rooms around the sides. Each room has a different theme, such as traditional medicine, weapons, farming, Ajman Police, Ajman’s first radio station, traditional games, documents and manuscripts and even pottery and funerary jewellery found at the archaeological site in Moweihat, which dates back to 3000 BC.
Recently, Ajman Museum has undergone another refurbishment and the curators have done a fabulous job. The new exhibits narrate the history of Ajman clearly and engagingly.
The souq depicts traders and artisans at work with sound effects, so you feel you are really wandering through an old souq.
Take time to sit in the courtyard, imagining what happened there many years ago and how life was. Remember that much of what you see in the exhibits reflects life in much of the last century.
As you approach the tower, look out for the parrots often around and in the nearby palm trees.
Ajman Tourism sometimes hosts events at the fort, such as the annual Ajman Art Festival, Al Murabbaa. The photos below show scenes from Al Murabbaa 2021.
After you visit Ajman Museum, relax with a drink or have a meal in the many new cafes and restaurants in Ajman Heritage District. Once refreshed, take a tour of the murals depicting traditional life. See more of Ajman Heritage District. Stop first to admire the sculpture by the renowned artist El Seed in front of the fort.
Ajman Fort and Museum offers visitors an excellent insight into Ajman’s past and present and is a must-visit for history enthusiasts and curious travellers alike. Make sure to include this on your Ajman itinerary!
Ajman Museum Opening times: Sat-Thurs 8am-8pm, Fri 2:30pm-8pm
Ajman Museum Entry fee: AED 5
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If you liked this post, you might also like my posts on 19 Best Things to Do in Ajman, Ajman Heritage District, Masfout Museum and Falaj Al Mualla Fort and Al Dhaid Fort. Or see more of Ajman – Al Zorah, Ajman Heritage District, Al Marsa Ajman
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