The first and foremost that crosses the mind of the traveler when one thinks about Umm Al Quwain are the pristine beaches. It is one of the least populous emirate in the United Arab Emirates and is wrapped around an island dotted lagoon. Small, quiet. quaint and has the feel and look of a retro town. one feels the sharp contrast in comparison to the more glamorous emirate of Dubai.
Umm Al Quwain covers and area of 800 sq kilometers and stretches from the beautiful. lush green coastal mangroves lining the shores of the Persian Gulf. inland across the rolling sand dunes to the fertile oasis surrounding Falaj Al Moatla. Across the creek. lies the uninhabited Al Sinniyah Island. which is a protected marine environment. noted for its mangrove swamp and large colony of Socotra cormorants. It is also a stopover for migrating birds, including flamingos. gulls and terns.