Ajman and Umm Al Quwain lie north of Dubai and Sharjah, and you can reach them in about an hour or a little more. They are calm emirates without skyscrapers: long beaches, old quarters, a fish market and mangroves. A taxi for the whole day is expensive and awkward, while a rental car lets you build the day around your own pace. Car prices in this article are as of October 2026, and the current price is on each car page.
Distances and roads
From central Dubai to Ajman it is roughly 35 to 45 kilometres, and to Umm Al Quwain about 50 to 60. Without traffic that is 40 to 60 minutes each way. The main routes are Emirates Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and the coastal highway through Sharjah. Your navigation app will pick the fastest option for the current traffic.
The hard part is not the road itself but leaving Dubai and crossing Sharjah at peak times: weekday mornings and the evening return. Leaving after 10:00 works well, and for the way back either beat the evening flow or wait until it thins out. You may pass a Salik gate on the Dubai side; Salik is paid by the renter at actual cost, and our separate article explains how it works.
A return trip covering Ajman and Umm Al Quwain normally fits within the 250 km per day included with most of our cars. If you also want to add Ras Al Khaimah, count the distance beforehand or ask us.
Ajman: the beachfront, the museum and the dhow yards
Ajman is the smallest emirate in the country. The main place for a stroll is the Corniche, with a wide sandy beach. In the evening it fills with families, and there are cafes and play areas. In the old part of town a fort houses the Ajman Museum. Along the creek, workshops still build traditional wooden dhows by hand, and you can watch from outside.
Parking by the seafront is paid in many places, so follow the signs and notices in the car parks. Speed limits on city streets are lower than on the roads between emirates, so read the signs rather than relying on habits from Dubai.
Umm Al Quwain: mangroves, lagoon and Dreamland
Umm Al Quwain is even quieter. The old town with its fort and museum and the fish market are worth a stop. The main natural highlight is the Khor Al Beidah lagoon with its mangroves: people come here to kayak or take boat trips, and in the cooler months you can often spot birds on the shallows, including flamingos. Al Sinniyah island nearby is a protected area, so check access details with local tour operators.
For families, the Dreamland aqua park is one of the most popular places in this part of the country and can fill a whole day with children. Opening hours and tickets change, so check the park's official information before you set out.
A sample day
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | Leave Dubai, drive to Ajman |
| 11:00 | Corniche walk, coffee, museum in the fort |
| 13:00 | Lunch in Ajman, then on to Umm Al Quwain |
| 14:30 | Khor Al Beidah mangroves or Dreamland |
| 17:00 | Sunset on the beach, fish market |
| 18:30 | Drive back to Dubai after the main rush |
Which car suits this trip
The roads in both emirates are good and smooth, so you do not need a 4x4. Any comfortable car with good air conditioning will do. A few options from our fleet:
| Model | Day, AED | Week, AED | Month, AED | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla Cross 2025 | 170 | 1,100 | 3,750 | Family, beach gear |
| Kia Sportage 2025 | 190 | 1,240 | 4,200 | Higher seating, relaxed ride |
| Hyundai Tucson 2023 | 139 | 890 | 2,890 | Economical crossover |
| Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible 2024 | 300 | 1,800 | 6,000 | Top-down coastal drive, 4 seats |
| Nissan Patrol Titanium 2021 | 259 | 1,690 | 6,790 | Large group, 7 seats |
Cars supplied by our partner company have their own terms: the deposit and minimum period are on the car page. Because of the minimum period they rarely suit a one-day trip. Most of our other cars need no deposit and include insurance.
Practical tips
- Bring water, a hat and sun cream. The sun on the Ajman beach and on a kayak in the lagoon is strong.
- Refuel before you leave Dubai, although there are plenty of stations along the way.
- Watch the speed limits and cameras on the roads between emirates. Fines are paid by the renter at actual cost.
- Delivery and return in Dubai are free on rentals from 7 days; on shorter rentals delivery and return together cost 210 AED.
- Our office is in Princess Tower, Dubai Marina, open daily 10:00 to 19:00, with Russian-speaking support.
If you want to combine several emirates in one trip, our article on distances between the emirates by car is a useful companion.
