Fujairah

The easternmost of the United Arab Emirates, Fujairah is the only emirate not to have a coastline along the Persian Gulf. It is also the youngest of the emirates: it only became independent from Sharjah in 1952.

By plane
While Fujairah has an airport, it is closed to commercial aviation. Airborne visitors will arrive at one of the western emirates.

By train
Trains only operate in Dubai.

By car
Fujairah is roughly 2 hours by car from Dubai and the trip is on sealed roads throughout.

It is also quite easy to reach Fujairah from nearby Oman, as the border is very close. Visitors must have separate visas for Oman and UAE in order to move from one to the other by car or any other mode of travelling.

By bus
Buses run regularly between Dubai and Fujairah (around one every hour during the day and evening); the cost is 25 dirham one way (tickets to be bought from the ticket window before boarding).

The bus service is comfortable. Women, couples and families sit in the front two to three rows, and men in the remaining seats.

Buses leave from Union Square in Dubai, and from the old Plaza Cinema/HSBC in Fujairah (stopping at the bus station on the way out of town, where passengers need to disembark to buy their tickets before re-boarding).

By taxi
Taxis run from Fujairah (next to the old cinema) to Dubai and Sharjah. A shared taxi to downtown Dubai (Deira taxi stand) costs around US$7 and they go as soon as the car is full. An unshared one costs about US$28 but it depends on where you want to go in Dubai. Add another US$15 if you want to go the Marina area where all the tourist hotels are. Beware - metered taxis from Dubai to Fujairah are twice the price.

Get around
Fujairah city is not designed for pedestrians, being dominated by main roads. The fleet of Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry taxis are metered, and are plentiful. Fares start at 2 dirham during the day (2.50 dirham at night). Visitors attempting to walk around the city will attract horn tooting from taxi drivers, who seriously cannot believe that anyone would choose to walk.

Do
Fujairah can also be used as a base from which to go on excursions to the surrounding areas, such as Khorfakkan and Kalba. The city is growing in stature as a business destination, particularly where oil is concerned.
 * The Blue Diamond Alsalam Resort offers a plethora of water activities and is in the middle of Fujairah's coast.
 * Fujairah Corniche - Fujairah beach and coasts, good for walking and cruising around hosts many restaurants and activities such as bike renting, horse riding and mini football fields for rent and sand activities.
 * Umberalla Beach - Renovated beach restarted again and which has many recreational spots to Children and adults. It hosts a few food trucks and a place for picnic - free.

While the Indian Ocean is enticingly close, some parts of the beach would not seem to be a good option to swim at certain seasons. However, Dibba Al-Fujairah which is 30 km from Fujairah city would be a good choice, where you can enjoy the sunny beaches and you can practice any sea activity you like. One more interesting thing to do is that you can make a boat trip to one of many islands that lie in the Gulf of Oman, a good place for strolling and fishing.

Learn
Fujairah Aviation Academy is a flight school in Fujairah's airport.

Budget

 * Gulf Flower Bakery sells good falafel sandwiches and other bits and pieces.

Mid-range

 * The al-Meshwar restaurant is in the centre of the city in a whimsical-looking building and features a ground-floor "cafe" serving the regional staples (shawarma, felafel etc.) and shishas. Above that is the main restaurant, which serves good-quality Lebanese fare.


 * Sadaf - Persian Restaurant is also to be found in the city. The decor is rather startling (including a waterfall in the middle of the dining room), but the food is of a good standard.


 * Asmak AlBahar Restaurant offers a wide range of seafood that is freshly caught from the local ocean, in front of the Fujairah's fish market.
 * Tha-Tha Kadai Restaurant offers a mouthwatering dishes of Briyani, Kari Virundhu, Parotta and Idli/Dosas.

Drink
There are no local specialties as far as drink goes, which means that the usual collection of water, juices, tea, coffee and softdrinks are readily available.

Alcohol is mostly only available within top-quality hotels. Cheaper alternatives include the Fujairah Marine Club on the corniche and Fujairah Beach Motel, which also has a retail "hole-in-the-wall." You'll have to ask as it's hidden away a bit.

The best value drinks in town are to be had in the pub at the Tennis and Country Club (go on a Tuesday and you get karaoke too).

Budget

 * YHA backpackers hostel with rooms for around 75 dirham. The owner is not very friendly and doesn't speak very good English but rooms are clean and comfortable with private bathrooms.


 * Novotel Fuajirah

Mid-range

 * The Al Diar Siji Hotel (part of Abu Dhabi-based Al Diar Hotels) is generally designed for business travellers. Staff are attentive and the rooms are pleasant. There are also a number of clubs attached to the hotel, including a 10-pin bowling alley.


 * Emirates Spring Hotel Apartments

Splurge

 * Nour Arjan by Rotana


 * Blue Diamond Alsalam Resort


 * Radisson Blu Resort Hotel Fujairah


 * Concord Fujairah


 * Royal M Fujairah, 5 stars hotel adjacent to Fujairah Mall.

Stay safe
The customary cautions regarding drivers in the UAE apply in Fujairah as well. Road rules are understood to exist, but drivers will tend to take risks which would seem borderline-suicidal to many visitors. Most roads are multi-lane in each direction in the city, which may well mean that a taxi or one's own car is the best bet here. Where the taxi meter is either not present or "not working", agree on the fare before starting the trip.

Go next

 * A trip to nearby Khor Fakkan (an enclave of Sharjah) is highly recommended, as the beach is regarded as one of the best in the region.


 * A drive through the Hajar Mountains (which extend over the border into Oman) may also be enjoyable, however this will require some planning as regards the standard of car to be driven.


 * Dubai


 * Oman border is just 30 minutes away by car. You will need to check your Visa requirements in advance.