Masfut, Ajman - Timings, Accessibility, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 126 km from Ajman, Masfut or Masfout is a village that forms part of the eponymous exclave of Masfout in Ajman, one of the seven emirates forming the United Arab Emirates. It is one of the well-known places to visit in Ajman.

Known for its fertile agricultural land and high-quality marble, Masfout is in the south of the UAE near Hatta and is surrounded by Ras Al Khaimah, the Dubai exclave of Hatta and Oman (Mahdha Wilayat of Al Buraimi Governorate). It is only accessible from Ajman itself by crossing territories of Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Oman. Cradled by the Hajar Mountains, the tiny landlocked enclave of Masfout is a hiker's dream and makes for a refreshing escape from the summer city heat.

This picturesque enclave is home to Masfut Castle. Perched on a mountaintop, the 19th-century Masfout Castle was once the first line of defence against bandits heading to neighbouring Oman. Built with stones, mud and local timber, Masfout Castle consists of two rooms and a gate. The tower-shaped castle was restored in the late 1940s at the behest of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi. The village is also home to the 1815 Bin Sultan Mosque.

The rocky countryside surrounding the town is ideal for walking, mountain biking, picnics and wadi exploration. The landscape hides resilient flora and fauna and was once home to a menagerie that includes leopards, gazelles and foxes. There are plans to attract more visitors to Masfout's beautiful natural surroundings with the development of hotels, parks and Ajman's own international airport.

The road to Masfut, with the scenery changing from dunes to the Hajar foothills, is one of the biggest attractions of a trip here, as is the temperature, which is always cooler than the coast. Non-GCC nationals should take the Sharjah-Kalba Road, as the Dubai-Hatta Road (E44) passes through an Oman border post that is currently open to GCC nationals only. Both routes pass through some fantastic rolling dunes before reaching the foothills of the mountains.