With a population of around 36000 Umm al-Qaiwain is the least populous of the seven emirates. Like Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain is seeking to bring in money from the wealthier emirates through domestic tourism.

A wonderful waterpark attracts thousands of visitors to this little emirate every day and has added a new facet to the economy of the emirate whose main industries were fishing and agriculture. More than any other place in the UAE, Umm al Qaiwain provides a glimpse of what life throughout the UAE was like not so long ago. There are no high rise buildings in the city centre and the pace of life is still unhurried.