Essentials
- City
- Ajman, Emirate of Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- Population
- Approximately 505,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-250 Mbps (Fiber); 5G widely available via Etisalat and Du
- Currency & Banking
- UAE Dirham (AED). 1 USD ≈ 3.67 AED (Fixed Peg)
- Tap Water
- Safe for washing; bottled or filtered water recommended for drinking
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (British style three-pin)
- SIM Card
- Etisalat and Du (Tourist SIMs approx. 55-200 AED depending on data)
- Banking for Expats
- Mashreq Neo, ADCB Hayyak (Digital onboarding), Wio Bank
- Accommodation
- Furnished apartments via Bayut, Property Finder, or hotel apartments like Ramada by Wyndham
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Apple Pay and Cards accepted at 90% of shops
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Blueground (Monthly), and local serviced apartments
- Budget Accommodation
- Al Smou Hotel Apartments (approx. 150 AED/night); Mermaid Beach Hotel
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Ajman Corniche (Beachfront, luxury hotels, and restaurants)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Al Rawda or Al Mowaihat (Quiet, affordable, close to cafes and supermarkets)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Ajman Free Zone Business Center (Shared desks available starting from 500 AED/month)
- Best Cafe for Work
- The Chocolate Ship (Corniche) or Starbucks (City Centre Ajman) - strong WiFi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Ajman Chamber of Commerce Business Forums; Internations Dubai/Sharjah (30 mins drive)
- Social Events for Expats
- Ajman Expats Facebook Group; Meetups usually take place in nearby Dubai Marina/Downtown
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Careem (works for Ajman Taxis) and Uber
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Limited; mostly private ownership. Some scooters near Ajman Corniche walkway
- Best Beach Nearby
- Ajman Public Beach (Free) or Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah (Private access)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Arabia (based in Sharjah, 15 mins away)
- Top International Airline
- Emirates (Dubai International DXB is 25-30 mins away)
- Highway Access
- Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) and Emirates Road (E611)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed St. Bus Terminal (Inter-emirate buses to Dubai and Sharjah)
- Public Transport Passes
- Masaar Card (for local Ajman buses) and Nol Card (for buses to Dubai)
- Regional Travel
- Inter-city bus E400 to Union Metro Station, Dubai (approx. 12-15 AED)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Sheikh Khalifa Hospital or Thumbay University Hospital (Al Jurf)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Body and Soul Health Club & Spa (Al Jurf)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Gold's Gym (Ajman Corniche) or Fitness Time
- Laundry Services
- Clean & Glow Laundry; various 24/7 dry cleaners in residential buildings
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Talabat, Noon Food, and Careem Food
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Machboos (Spiced rice with meat) at Al Fanar Seafood Market
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Healthy Shop; various Indian restaurants in Al Bustan offering veg thali
- Best Dessert Spots
- Feras Aldiyafa Sweets (for Kunafa); Baskin Robbins
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Lulu Hypermarket; Ajman China Mall (Extremely cheap goods)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ae and Noon.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Instashop or Kibsons (Fresh produce)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Outside Inn (Ajman Hotel) or McGettigan's (Ajman Saray)
- Local Brewery
- None (Alcohol production not permitted, but available in licensed hotels/bars)
- Wine Bars
- Bab Al Bahr (Ajman Saray) - high-end lounge setting
- Street Food Stalls
- Ajman Marina area (Food trucks and kiosks)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Sultan Saray (Turkish) and Gazebo (Indian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Ajman Museum (Old Fort), Sheikh Zayed Ajman Mosque
- Museums & Art Venues
- Ajman Museum (Entry approx. 5 AED)
- Historical Sites
- Al Nuaimiya Castle, Heritage District
- Religious Sites
- Amin Bin Ghalib Al-Kholy Mosque
- Annual Events
- Ajman Philatelic & Numismatic Exhibition; UAE National Day (Dec 2nd)
- Cultural Districts
- Ajman Heritage District (Souqs and traditional architecture)
- Theater Venues
- Cultural Center Ajman
- Local Markets
- Ajman Fish Market (Auction experience), Souq Saleh
- Music Scene
- Mostly hotel lounges and seasonal festivals at the Corniche
- Street Art
- Ajman Murals project (various locations in Al Bustan)
- Cooking Classes
- Occasional workshops at high-end resorts like Fairmont Ajman
- Art Galleries
- Ajman University Art Exhibitions
- Historic Buildings
- The Red Fort (Al Manama enclave)
- Local Heritage
- Dhow building traditions at the waterfront
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Al Zorah Mangrove Forest (Kayaking available)
- National Parks Nearby
- Wasit Wetland Centre (Sharjah border, 10 mins away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Ajman Corniche 4km track
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Al Zorah Marina at Sunset
- Birdwatching Locations
- Al Zorah Nature Reserve (Flamingos and over 60 bird species)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Al Zorah Beach (permitted areas only)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex, Emirates Post, DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- Al Jurf Industrial Area (Various shops); City Centre Ajman Apple authorized resellers
- Table Tennis Spots
- Thumbay Sports Club
- Language Classes
- Berlitz Ajman (Arabic and English)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Ajman Public Library
- Community Centers
- Ajman Society for Social Development
- Gaming Lounges
- Cue Club; various internet cafes in Al Nakheel
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Gambling is prohibited in the UAE)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 7,000 AED per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 280,000 AED)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 5,000 AED per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 200,000 AED)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 6,500 AED per m² (e.g., 70 m² = 455,000 AED)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 4,500 AED per m² (e.g., 70 m² = 315,000 AED)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 6,000 AED per m² (e.g., 100 m² = 600,000 AED)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 4,200 AED per m² (e.g., 100 m² = 420,000 AED)
- Corporate Tax
- 9% on taxable income exceeding 375,000 AED; 0% for qualified Free Zone entities
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0%
- Tax System
- No Personal Income Tax; Territorial/Residence-based Corporate Tax
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0%
- VAT
- 5%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules, but new Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) apply
- Property Tax
- No annual property tax; Municipality fee (usually 5% of annual rent) applies
- Property Transaction Tax
- 2% Ajman Land Department registration fee
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Excellent; UAE Remote Work Visa offers 0% personal income tax