Top Attractions & Things to Do in Fujairah UAE
Fujairah is one of the seven emirates found in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and, while it’s not as widely known as Abu Dhabi or Dubai, it is still a very popular tourist destination.
Fujairah City is the capital of the emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. It is the seventh-largest city in UAE, located on the Gulf of Oman. It is the only Emirati capital city on the UAE’s east coast.
The Emirate of Fujairah incorporates much of the eastern coast of the UAE and a swath of the country’s Hajar Mountain region. Its main center is the modern industrial town of Fujairah city, which itself has few tourist attractions.
It is the only emirate not situated along the Arabian Gulf, sitting instead on the eastern coast of the UAE; separated from the rest of the country by the Hajar Mountain’s rugged line. Despite it being one of the emirate’s main business and commercial hubs, the clean beaches, water sport activities and, at certain times of the year, appealing climate, means that Fujairah is a big pull for tourists.
The best time to visit Fujairah
The spring and autumn months on either side of summer tend to bring with them the most pleasant temperatures. At these times, the climate is hot but not unbearably so, with the temperatures generally hovering around the high-20s to mid-30s. I would say my favorite weather in Fujairah is between November to February. You do not feel the hot climate & heat during this period, if you are a beach lover then you can visit Fujairah from February throughout November or any time of the year.
Fujairah Attractions
Although you maybe won’t want to linger long in town itself, away from Fujairah city’s grid pattern of high-rise office blocks, the emirate offers plenty of things to do.
The main reason most people choose Fujairah over the other options in the region is to take advantage of the beautiful beaches and surrounding coastline.
Fujairah beaches to the north attract a steady stream of visitors looking for a quieter sun-and-sand vacation than offered in Dubai. This slice of coastline is also one of the best places to visit in the UAE for scuba diving.
Although the main tourist attraction is the sand, for adventurous travelers, the Emirate of Fujairah’s section of the Hajar Mountains offers hiking within the rugged desert mountain heartland, and scenery-laden road-tripping opportunities.
If you’re looking for something more than a beach holiday, the foothills of the Hajar Mountains offer the perfectly preserved Ain al-Madhab Hot Springs, which are located just outside the city.
Fujairah Beaches
Known for its expanses of beaches and mountains, Fujairah is an Emirati city across the Gulf of Oman. As Fujairah awaits you with its mesmerising beach experiences, I have listed out some of the top picks among the beaches in Fujairah.
- Umbrella Beach
- Fujairah Public Beach
- Snoopy Island, Fujairah
- Khor Fakkan
- Dadna Beach
Facing the Gulf of Oman and with a dramatic mountainous backdrop, the pale sand and clear waters offered by Fujairah’s beaches can lay claim to be some of the best in the whole region. You will even be able to hire sunloungers at Dibba and Al Aqah, and places to grab a bite are nearby, too.
For sun-and-sand in the Emirate of Fujairah, most people head straight to Al Aqah, with its long beach rimming the shore and the rocky outcrop of “Snoopy Island’ dominating the view of the Gulf of Oman from the sun-loungers. Just 45 kilometers north of Fujairah city, Al Aqah is one of the UAE’s lesser-developed resort areas, with only a scatter of five-star hotels lining the beachfront, though a lot more development is planned for the future.
Road Trip to Al Hajar Mountains
Stunning sand dunes, imposing rock formations, and epic summits characterise the iconic Hajar Mountains. These stately mountains stand guard over the borders of Oman and the UAE, forming an integral part of landscape for both.
The Hajar Mountains slice through the inland northern region of the UAE. The scenery of jagged mountain peaks is a world away from what most people associate with the country and is prime road-trip territory.
Officially different sections of the Hajar belong to Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Sharjah emirates and even on a short drive trip between the west coast and the east, you’ll be able to take in a slither of the majestic mountain views.
The main connecting roads running inland, such as the E18 and E87 running from Ras Al-Khaimah to the east coast, and the particularly beautiful E89 running north from Masafi to Dibba Al-Fujairah, offer a feast of panoramas.
Bithnah Fujairah
Bithnah Fort on the way to Fujairah is a great place to visit. Bithnah is a village in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, long occupying a strategic location in the Wadi Ham, which is the only natural link to the interior of the UAE and the Persian Gulf from the East Coast city, and Emirate of Fujairah.
If you’re heading into the Hajar Mountains to explore, make sure to stop off at Bithnah.
This small settlement in Wadi Ham, just 13 kilometers west from Fujairah city, was a strategic stop on the trade routes between the west and east coast for centuries.
The main sight here is Bithnah Fort, built in 1735, which was considered of vital importance to the defense of this section of the Arabian Peninsula’s eastern coastline.
The fort’s bulky frame of thick golden-stoned walls, edged by a chunky circular watch tower, makes it particularly photogenic, while the views from the ramparts over the countryside of palm groves and jagged mountains behind are spectacular.
Bithnah Fort
From my personal experience, I would say you can finish the site seeing within 20mins max. It is a small fort in Fujairah. You can access by bus or car to this place. No entrance fee is required. Visit anytime between 8am until 5pm except friday (2.30pm until 4.30pm)! restrooms are available outside the fort. No food stalls are there.
Dining in Fujairah
During your visit to Fujairah, enjoy a meal or snack in one of our restaurants on-site if you didn’t get enough of the beach during the daytime. The good news is that you can enjoy a striking beachside dining experience in one of the many eateries that flank the shores, such as Gonu Bar & Grill or Bahari Beach Bar.
To check out the local cuisine, Al Meshwar Restaurant comes highly recommended.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Fujairah
The Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Fujairah, is the main mosque in the Emirate of Fujairah, and the second largest in the United Arab Emirates after the mosque with the same name in Abu Dhabi.
Fujairah’s modern Sheikh Zayed Mosque covers a site the size of three football pitches and boasts six minarets 100 meters high. The mammoth prayer hall has space for 32,000 worshipers.
Since its opening in 2015, the traditional Ottoman-style mosque has become one of the city’s major landmarks, and it ranks as the second biggest mosque in the United Arab Emirates after the more famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Non-Muslim visitors can enter the mosque to view the ornate interior, which features grand chandeliers and Moorish-style arches, between 9am and noon Saturday to Thursday. The mosque offers free tours to visitors during this time.
If you would like to visit make sure to dress appropriately, wearing long-sleeved tops and long trousers or skirts, and female visitors should bring a head scarf.
Address: Al Ittihad Road, Fujairah City
Entertainment in Fujairah
An Irish pub is popular no matter where you are in the world, and McGettigan’s is no different. It offers a happy hour, quiz nights and open mic.
If you’re looking for something that suits the scenery a little more appropriately, you may want to check out Tropicana Bar or Zorba Lounge.
Visit Fujairah Fort
Built in 1670, Fujairah Fort was badly damaged by a British attack in the early 20th century.
Considered the oldest fort in the United Arab Emirates, it has served previously as both a defensive building and a home for the ruling family. For many centuries, it was the only stone building along the Fujairah coast.
The fort has three major sections, several halls, one square tower, and two round towers. In recent years, it has been fully restored to its former glory.
The area surrounding the fort is part of a small Heritage Village set up by Fujairah’s Department of Archaeology and Heritage.
Here, you can see restored old houses, exhibits about traditional life, and a display of the Al Yazrah irrigation system that Emirati farmers used in their fields.
I would say this is an incredibly beautiful structure, well worth a visit and the address is Madhab Road, Fujairah city.
Stop by Al-Bidyah Mosque (Masjid Al-Bidyah)
Al Bidyah Mosque in Fujairah is considered one of the oldest mosques in the country and is also a tentative entry for the UNESCO heritage sites in UAE. One of the most interesting facts about Al Bidyah Mosque is that even today, centuries after it was first built, the mosque hosts daily prayer congregations for locals and tourists alike.
About 35 kilometers north of Fujairah city, the mud-brick Al-Bidyah Mosque is the oldest in the United Arab Emirates and was named after the town that once surrounded it.
The engineering features are a major accomplishment for the period of construction.
The mosque consists of a prayer hall, decorated with arches and featuring ventilation openings and a mihrab (prayer niche pointing to Mecca). A central pillar divides the internal space into four squares of similar dimensions, covered by domed ceilings.
The Al Bidyah Mosque also has a walled rectangular courtyard for prayer congregations. There is an ancient water well nearby that must have served as the water source for performing wudu (ablution) in ancient times. The mosque’s courtyard is home to a sidr tree, which is said to be as old as the mosque itself.
The site surrounding the mosque has been excavated to reveal that it has been inhabited for 4,000 years.
A large Islamic graveyard just to the north contains a massive tomb dating back to the Iron Age, which when unearthed revealed fragments of pottery, metal arrowheads, and other artifacts dating back to at least 1000 BC.
Much about Al Bidyah Mosque’s history still remains unknown. It is not clear who built the mosque, but it is believed that the Ottoman mosque is named after the person who built it. The Ottoman in the name, however, has nothing to do with the Ottoman Empire.
Fujairah’s culture and history
Emirati culture is a blend of Arabian, Islamic, and Persian cultures, with influences from the cultures of East Africa and Indian Subcontinent. For those of you wishing to make cultural attractions the focal point of your visit, the Al-Bidyah Mosque is the oldest in the UAE, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the second largest in the UAE – boasting no less than six minarets – and the Fujairah Fort is the oldest stone castle in Arabia, dating back to 1670. The city also has several markets including a gold and fish souk, and visiting them gives a fascinating look at day-to-day life.
Fujairah’s modern history began in 1808 when Sheikh Mohammed bin Mattar, leader of the Al Sharqi tribe built his castle and the old city surrounding it. The current Ruler of Fujairah is H. H. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi.
Set along the seafront, the corniche (the tourist souk) is also definitely worth checking out, especially if you are there during Ramadan and Eid when the souks come to life after sunset and stay open well into the early hours.
Fujairah Museum
Fujairah Museum is an archaeology and local history museum located in Fujairah City, Emirate of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
Just south of Fujairah Fort, the Fujairah Museum has an excellent collection of artifacts, dating from the early Bronze Age, that were unearthed during archaeological digs at Qidfa and Bithnah.
Exhibits include Bronze and Iron Age weaponry, painted pottery, carved soapstone vessels, and pre-Islamic silver coins.
One of the museum’s prized pieces, discovered at Qidfa, is a bowl made from ostrich egg dating back 2,200 years. There is also a good ethnography section, with displays of traditional Emirati daily life and craft work.
Fujairah Museum is having collection of most of the Heritage related items currency, arms, dressings and old sites. The museum is in a excellent condition and there is good historical items to identify and understand the history of the population.
Fujairah’s Adventure and Sports
The Fujairah coast is particularly good for exploring the enormous schools of fish and other sea life via scuba diving or snorkelling. You could go it alone with a simple snorkel set, or head to a dive centre like that found at Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort.
Or, for something more traditional for locals, you could stop by the Fujairah corniche on any given Friday and join the hundreds of spectators watching the ancient sport of bull-butting (yes, it is exactly as it sounds!)
Fujairah Adventures Park
If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and views of rocky mountains from all sides sounds like your cup of tea, a new UAE attraction is sure to pique interest.
Fujairah Adventure Park, like other similar projects, was established by the UAE government to promote tourism in the emirate of Fujairah. The project is run by the Fujairah Adventure Center, which has financial and administrative independence. Fujairah’s natural landscape helps it stand out from the other emirates.
Fujairah Adventure Park, under Fujairah Adventure Centre, has recently reopened after a months-long hiatus, and it has introduced a series of activities to lure in adventure enthusiasts and families alike.
The park is also home to a climbing wall and a children’s play area for skilled young cyclists.
Other facilities include washrooms, a bike rental, a first aid room and a coffee shop with indoor and outdoor seating.
Fujairah Adventures Park Location
Fujairah Adventure Park is centrally located, just a two minute drive away from City Centre Fujairah. However, it can be difficult to locatefind, as the entrance is along a dirt road leading into the mountains. While driving, if you reach the Tennis & Country Club, you’ve gone too far. Simply take an about-turn and you should find it on the same side as the Tennis & Country Club.
Before visiting please take note that Fujairah Adventure Park is open from 10am-8pm on weekdays and 7am-8pm on weekends.
Fujairah Arabian Horse Beauty Championship 2021
The Arabian Horse World Championship represents the highest achievement for all Arabian Horses’ lovers. It is definitely the place to admire the most beautiful purebred Arabian Horses of the World.
The “Fujairah Arabian Horse Championship” was held between 16th to 18th December 2021. I was lucky enough to capture this amazing horse beauty championship, enjoy watching my video below and do not forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel. You can get back here and watch this video after reading the complete blog first 🙂
Fujairah Port (Port of Fujairah)
Port of Fujairah, also called Fujairah Port, is a deep port located in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. It is the largest port on the eastern seaboard of the United Arab Emirates and the world second largest bunkering hub.
Fujairah Port is one of the most important ports in the UAE and the only port on the Eastern seaboard.
Port of Fujairah is the only multi-purpose port on the Eastern seaboard of the United Arab Emirates, approximately 70 nautical miles from the Straits of Hormuz.
Initial Construction of the Port started in 1978 as part of the economic development of the UAE. Full operations commenced in 1983. Since then the Port has embarked on a continuing process of enhancement to both its facilities and its comprehensive range of functions.
Where to Stay in Fujairah
Most visitors to Fujairah stay at the coast’s beach resorts rather than in the city itself. Most of the resorts are in the luxury category while Fujairah city offers more business-style hotels.
Fujairah transport in my opinion
Fujairah is a small city, in the downtown you can walk around or get a taxi to reach anywhere you want within the city. When inside the city, taxis are plentiful and it’s quite likely that you won’t be able to take a few steps in the street without attracting the horns of passing taxis trying to acquire your custom. There is no bus service within the city.
Fujairah Airport
How come we can forget about the airport if anyone wants to arrive Fujairah by air 🙂
Fujairah International Airport is located 1 nautical mile south of central Fujairah City.
Fujairah International Airport is undergoing a substantial development programme that includes a second runway, 900m extension to the existing runway, rehabilitation of the existing runway, a new iconic ATC Tower and a new Fire and Rescue Sub-station.
Upon completion of the runway extension, the connecting taxiways, renewal of existing runway and taxiway lighting systems and signage as well as the new rescue and firefighting service sub-station will enhance the operational efficiency and safety of the airport runway system enabling runway access for aircraft without having to back track the runway by using the new parallel runway as a taxiway.
And all throughout all these important infrastructure development works, the runway and all the supporting services of the airport remain open and available for all private, business, training, cargo and passenger flights where a warm and friendly welcome is assured to all.
For international passengers, right now PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) has launched flights as per the below table;-
Airlines and destinations
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Pakistan International Airlines | Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar[2] |
| S7 Airlines | Seasonal: Moscow–Domodedovo,[3] Novosibirsk[3] |
My final thoughts about Fujairah
Majority of the tourists visiting United Arab Emirates stay in Dubai and/or Abu Dhabi, the most famous and wealthiest emirates. However, there are altogether seven different emirates in UAE, all of them open for visitors. Whereas the smaller emirates don’t have as many shiny skyscrapers, giant-malls and luxury hotels, they can show you more realistic way of living in this country where over 80 percent of the residents are in fact from abroad.
I tried to put together everything in this blog to introduce Fujairah and do not forget to leave your feedback in the comment section if I have missed anything or you wish me to include 🙂
Check out my video and enjoy the 4K views of Fujairah.
Fujairah city at night (4K) United Arab Emirates الفجيرة في الليل (الإمارات العربية المتحدة)
Check These Drone Aerial Views of FUJAIRAH beach day & night (4K Footage DJI Mini 3 Pro)
Traveling with the green ( ?? ) passport ?
Take only memories✈️leave only footprints?
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