Ajman Museum not only speaks of the UAE's history, but is part of it – in pictures

With a mix of archaeological artefacts, old weapons and manuscripts, this storied site provides much insight into the emirate’s past

The Ajman Museum is housed in one of the oldest functioning buildings in the UAE, with its origins dating back to the late 18th-century. Visitors can find a hodgepodge of artefacts, weaponry, royal memorabilia, manuscripts, and even the site of Ajman's earliest human settlements. Reem Mohammed / The National

Located in Ajman's central Al Bustan area, the museum exemplifies the UAE's traditional architecture, featuring wind towers and watchtowers made of materials such as fossilised coral and stone. Reem Mohammed / The National

Dioramas at the Ajman Museum reveal the Bedouin way of life in the emirate, which was formerly a fishing and pearl diving town before the discovery of oil. Reem Mohammed / The National

Formerly a fortress, royal residence and police headquarters, the site of the Ajman Museum has been through many uses over a span of centuries. Featuring archaeological relics, manuscripts and artefacts, some of which date back to 3000 BC, it offers a peek into the emirate's ancient history and heritage. Reem Mohammed / The National m

Cannons flank the entrance gate, a nod to the complex's initial use as a fortress, beginning the late 1700s. Reem Mohammed / The National

Dioramas at the Ajman Museum reveal the Bedouin way of life in the emirate, which was formerly a fishing and pearl diving town, before the discovery of oil. Reem Mohammed / The National

The front gate of the museum. Photo: Reem Mohammed / The National

A diorama

A classic car at the museum. Photo: Reem Mohammed / The National

A view from the museum

Dioramas show every day life from Ajman.

A view from the museum. Photo: Reem Mohammed/The National

A diorama.

A cannon by the front entrance.

Before the Ajman Museum came to be in 1981, the building and its surrounding complex shuffled through a series of identities and uses.

Built as a fort in the 18th-century, it became the residence of Ajman’s then-ruler, the late Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi and his family until 1970, when it was converted into the emirate’s police headquarters until 1978.

Today, it stands as one of the UAE’s oldest functional buildings, located in the city’s Al Bustan area. Its traditional architecture reveals much of the country’s early use of building materials, specifically coral stone and gypsum, and the ingenious barjeels, or wind towers, show how residents coped with the desert heat.

Inside, the museum houses a variety of exhibits featuring archaeological relics, including clay jars and funeral jewellery dating back to 3000 BC, along with elements from Bedouin life such as pearling and fishing tools.

A series of dioramas take visitors back in time, depicting everyday life – marketplaces, weddings, and craftsmen at work.

Dioramas in Ajman Museum. Photo: Reem Mohammed / The National

One of the museum’s highlights can be found right after the entrance (where visitors are greeted by two canons) – and that is the site of Ajman’s earliest human settlement. This discovery was made serendipitously in 1986; workers were excavating the earth for some construction work and found shards of pottery, beads, copper and other artefacts that were found to be of Ajman’s Bronze Age, or around 2500 BC.