The invention relates to an axial fan (1) for conveying cooling air for a cooling device of a motor vehicle, wherein the axial fan (1) has axial vanes (4) each having a front edge (4a) and a rear edge (4b), a van tip (4c) and a circumferential ring (5) which is connected to the vane tips (4c) and has an approach edge (5a) and a dispersing edge (5b). It is proposed that the approach edge (5a) of the circumferential rind (5) is set back in the flow direction (L) in relation to the front edges (4a) of the axial vanes (4).