Umm Al Quwain

Umm Al Quwain is the second smallest emirate of the UAE, after Ajman which is the smallest, and is situated between Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah.  It covers an area of about 800 square kilometres and is the least populated of the emirates.  Umm Al Quwain stretches from the lush green coastal belt of mangroves that are so beautiful, across the sand dunes in the desert stretch that then leas to the Falaj Al Moalla area with its fertile oasis.

The name Umm Al Quwain comes from Umm Al Quwatain or “Mother of the two powers”,  which could be a reference to the strong seafaring culture of Umm Al Quwain. Falaj Al Moalla and the inland oasis lies at a distance of about 50 kms from Umm Al Quwain City.

Life in Umm Al Quwain moves at a very gentle place with very few glimpses of modernity and an entirely different world as compared to the big city of Dubai.

Umm Al Quwain’s  at heart is still the fishing village where dhows are carved right on the beach even today.  In some ways, it is what the whole country was prior to the discovery of oil.

Some of the current attractions of Umm Al Quwain are the dreamland water park, the dhow building yard, the acquarium, the museum and the Palma Bowling club.

Among other activities that you can indulge in is Sailing, water-skiing, wind surfing, kayaking, jet skiing and even horse riding offered by the UAQ Marine Club and Riding Centre.

The UAQ Aero club provides the opportunity for flying, hot air ballooning, skydiving, parachuting and para-motoring.

The UAQ Racing club offers a unique opportunity of experiencing off road dune buggy racing and motor hiking with all the speed, exhilaration  and thrills these activities entail.

Bird watchers can have a field day watching the varied wildlife at Khor al Beidah and Al Sinniyah Island and see several species of plover and heron, Flamingo, terns and gulls. Hundreds of Great Coromorants can be sighted between November and March as they move between sand bars, flying really low above the sea.