Today's Edition
RAJEEV CHERIAN (MASFOUT, AJMAN)
With its picturesque scenery, fertile land and cooler temperatures, a village in Ajman, cradled by the Hajar Mountains, has earned its place on the global tourism map.
Located some 260km northeast of Abu Dhabi, Masfout, an exclave of Ajman, was recognised as a Best Tourism Village (BTV) by the World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism) in October 2025.
Masfout was named on a list of 52 villages from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East that received the recognition, selected from among 270 applications from 65 UN Tourism Member States, according to UN Tourism.
The Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism initiative was launched in 2021, under the UN Tourism for Rural Development Programme. It aims to accelerate the role of tourism in rural development by valuing and safeguarding rural areas along with their associated landscapes, knowledge systems, biological diversity and cultural heritage, according to the UN Tourism website.
Outdoors Beckon
A preferred destination for hikers, outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers in the UAE, thanks to its wadis and rugged backdrop, the village is also renowned for its high-quality marble.
Apart from its scenic beauty, the village is home to historic landmarks that narrate its story to visitors.
Sitting atop a hill, the Masfout Museum offers a grand view of the village's past, its culture, heritage and way of life.
Covering an area of about 86.62 square kilometres, the village in the south of the UAE near Hatta, and the Oman border, is surrounded by tall mountains.
Archaeological excavations at the Al Muweihat burial site in Ajman indicate a connection with the Umm an-Nar Bronze Age culture, which existed in the UAE, according to an inscription at the museum.
Umm an-Nar also refers to an island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, where artefacts from this era were first discovered, shedding light on the culture and lifestyle of the UAE's Bronze Age inhabitants.
Prehistoric graves around Masfout attest to the fact that the area was inhabited by humans as early as 3000 BCE.
Petroglyphs of the Hajar
The museum also offers insights into rock art, called petroglyphs, of the Hajar Mountains.
The stone carvings show people and animals, hunting scenes, battles, and geometric designs "confirming their value as a record of the ancient ecosystem", according to the museum.
"It is believed they were mostly made in the Arabian Iron Age between 1300 and 300 BCE, though some date from later in the Islamic period," reads an inscription.
Historic Gems
Among the prominent landmarks in the village are the Bin Sultan Mosque and Al Boumah Tower.
Built in 1815, the Bin Sultan Mosque is the oldest in Masfout, built from clay and plaster.
Perched on a mountain top in the north of Masfout, Al Boumah Tower was key to the defence of the region.
The tower, built in the 19th century, was named "AI-Boumah" (Arabic for "the owl") as the guard stationed there used to make a sound similar to the hooting of an owl to warn the villagers of approaching danger.
Nature's Trail
A day trip to the village can be wrapped up with a rejuvenating stroll through the well-signboarded hiking trails that wind through the village and the Masfout Oasis.
The oasis irrigates the nearby farms from the water flowing from the Hajar mountains. A walk beneath the green canopy of the oasis offers a refreshing retreat to reconnect with the nature before returning to the urban rhythm.
