In 622 AD Islam became well known in Arabia. The people of the UAE and Oman were the first people to adapt Islam voluntarily after the people of Yemen. Despite the absence of early Islamic sites, Arab historians mention Dibba, north of Fujairah, as a region that witnessed a big battle soon after the death of Mohammed the Prophet.

The archaeological evidence however indicates that Jumairah in Dubai was an important place in early Islam. The present archaeological site at Jumairah represents an early Islamic town that must have played an important role in the trade between the lower and the upper Gulf.

Objects from one of the largest sites that Al Ain Museum is housing are from the remains of the city of Julfar. The present remains cover an area extending more than two kilometers along the coast to the north of Ras Al Khaima. Finds from the city, came from an area called Darbahaniyah, are displayed in the museum (case 162). These finds belong to the ninth and tenth century Hijra (i.e., 15th and 16th century AD). They were, uncovered by an Iraqi team in the 1970s. More finds were left with the Department of Information in the emirate and they were later displayed in Ras Al Khaima Museum.

The Julfar finds at the Al Ain Museum are comprised of a small collection of pottery vessels and a glass jar in addition to fragments of a glass bracelet. There are also fragments of porcelain and celadon. Julfar was well known city from the 4th century Hijra (10th century AD). It was known for its trade with China and other area in the Far East, and continued so until the 17th century AD when its role died out.

After the opening of Ras Al -Khaima museum in 1987 excavation permits were granted to four teams to dig at Julfar. These teams from Japan, Britain, France and Germany carried out several seasons of excavations. They have uncovered houses and a number of mosques that were built in successively layers on top of each other. Remains of early Julfar were not discovered at Darbahaniyah as the earliest excavated layers date to the 12th or 13th century AD. The recent excavations carried out at the site of Kush indicate that this site was the centre of early Julfar before it removed to Darbahaniyah. Pre-Islamic and early Islamic occupations have been identified at the site. The latest occupation identified at kush belong to the 12th or 13th century.

The Islamic relics at the al Ain Museum end with a case (163) that shows some pots and bowls from the village of Qidfa, north of Fujairah. These finds belong to the sixteenth century AD. Finally, we should mention that there are several other sites belonging to the late Islamic period. These sites are scattered over large areas of the UAE. They can be seen in other oases, on the coasts and in the desert proper as well. Although most have no architectural remains, the extensive finds, which can be seen on the surface of some can sometimes indicate a semi- permanent habitation. The majority of these sites, however, especially those in the desert, are seasonal.