AJMAN

This 18th-century fortress with sand-hued towers and high walls, was the city’s first line of defense and the ruler’s residence until 1970. Wander the grounds today for a historical glimpse into traditional life through dioramas, photographs, manuscripts and a weapons exhibit.

Time travel across thousands of years of Islamic history beneath the golden dome of a thoughtfully restored former souk. Opened in 2008, this well-curated museum has over 5,000 artifacts on display from the Islamic world including coins, pottery, wood carvings, manuscripts and scientific instruments among them.

Observe the ancient craft of shipbuilding at the world’s largest active dhow yard. These wooden Arabic vessels with long thin hulls and lateen sails are still prevalent in the Persian Gulf for transporting goods and fishing. For centuries, the word-of-mouth craft—no blueprints are used—are constructed by hand using traditional tools.

In 1986 a construction crew laying a sewage pipe stumbled upon a remarkable find: a circular tomb dating back to 2000-2,500 B.C. in the the UMM Al Nar period. Upon more digging, signs of an ancient and important civilization—ceramic vessels, beads and copper tools—were also discovered. The site itself is a draw for those with an interest in archaeology, and any of the recovered artifacts are on display at the Ajman museum.