Historic siteFree entry

Umm Al Quwain Old Town

A quiet historic peninsula: watchtowers, old houses and a fort by the water.

Address: Old Town peninsula, Umm Al Quwain
Time to allow: 75 min

What's special

★Watchtowers and stretches of the old wall
★Coral-stone houses
★Al Ali fort and museum at its heart
★Quiet, almost free of tourists

The old town occupies a narrow peninsula between the sea and the lagoon, one of the least altered historic quarters in the UAE. Watchtowers survive, along with stretches of the old wall, coral-stone houses and lanes you can wander without tickets or queues. At its heart is Al Ali fort, home to the National Museum. The mood is calm, almost free of tourists; an hour to ninety minutes on foot.

Tips

Early morning or the hour before sunset is best; midday is hot with little shade. Wear comfortable shoes for the sandy lanes. Pair it with the National Museum in the fort.