Fujairah travel guide

Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Fujairah

Introduction

Fujairah City is the capital of the Emirate of Fujairah and the only Emirati capital on the UAE's east coast, facing the Gulf of Oman. It sits at the foothills of the Hajar Mountains, and it functions as an industrial and commercial hub.

Before you go

Fujairah rewards a little preparation before you arrive. The customary cautions about drivers in the UAE apply here too: road rules are understood to exist, but drivers tend to take risks that many visitors find alarming. Most roads in the city are multi-lane in each direction, so getting around by taxi or your own car is likely your best bet.

If you take a taxi, check that the meter is present and working; where it isn't, agree on the fare before you set off.

Getting there

Fujairah International Airport (FJR) serves a few destinations, making it a viable option if your origin is one of them. By rail, Fujairah is the eastern terminus of the Etihad Rail network: three trains run each way daily from Mohamed bin Zayed City on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, with intermediate stations in Dubai (Jumeirah Golf Estates) and Sharjah (University City) expected to open later, along with extensions toward Liwa and Sila. The journey takes a couple of hours, and the railway station is your arrival point in the city.

Driving is straightforward: Fujairah is roughly two hours by car from Dubai on sealed roads throughout, and the Omani border is very close if you're coming from that side — but you must hold separate visas for Oman and the UAE to cross by car or any other means. Buses run regularly between Dubai and Fujairah, roughly hourly through the day and evening, taking about two hours; they leave from the e& (etisalat) metro station in Dubai and from the old Plaza Cinema/HSBC in Fujairah, stopping at the bus station on the way out of town where passengers disembark to buy tickets before re-boarding. On board, women, couples and families sit in the front two to three rows, men in the remaining seats. Shared taxis from Fujairah (next to the old cinema) run to Dubai and Sharjah and depart once the car is full, while an unshared taxi costs more depending on your destination in Dubai; metered taxis from Dubai to Fujairah, by contrast, are twice the price.

Getting around

Fujairah is built around main roads rather than footpaths, so treat walking as a way to cover short hops between nearby spots rather than as a way to cross the city. Many of the places you are likely to want — hotels, the corniche, the fort and museum — cluster along or near Hamad Bin Abdulla Road and Al Corniche Road, so a short walk works well once you are in the right area. Attempt a longer stroll and you will attract horn tooting from taxi drivers, who seriously cannot believe that anyone would choose to walk.

For anything longer, plan on a vehicle. Metered taxis — Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry cars — are plentiful and the default option for most trips within the city, and they are also the practical way to cover the final leg from Fujairah International Airport, which sits just south of the city and mostly handles cargo traffic. For longer journeys, taxis run from Fujairah (next to the old cinema) to Dubai and Sharjah, with shared cars departing once full; metered taxis in the opposite direction cost twice as much, so it pays to arrange travel in the cheaper direction. Buses run regularly between Dubai and Fujairah from the bus station, leaving from the etisalat metro station in Dubai and from the old Plaza Cinema/HSBC in Fujairah, with women, couples and families seated in the front rows and men in the remaining seats. Fujairah has no metro or tram, but it is the eastern terminus of the Etihad Rail network, with trains from Mohamed bin Zayed City on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi and a railway station in the city.

Where to stay

Fujairah's sleeping options are spread across the price spectrum, though the budget end is thin. The main budget choice is a YHA backpackers hostel with clean, comfortable rooms and private bathrooms; the owner speaks limited English and isn't especially friendly, so arrive expecting a functional rather than warm welcome. A Novotel is also listed among the budget options.

For mid-range stays, the Al Diar Siji Hotel is pitched at business travellers, with attentive staff and pleasant rooms, plus several clubs attached to the hotel, including a 10-pin bowling alley. The Emirates Spring Hotel Apartments are another mid-range option. At the top end, the Royal M Fujairah is a five-star hotel adjacent to Fujairah Mall, and the splurge bracket also includes Nour Arjan by Rotana, Blue Diamond Alsalam Resort, Radisson Blu Resort Hotel Fujairah and Concord Fujairah.

Food & drink

For a quick bite, Gulf Flower Bakery turns out good falafel sandwiches along with other bits and pieces. In the centre of the city, al-Meshwar occupies a whimsical-looking building: the ground-floor cafe serves the regional staples — shawarma, felafel and the like — along with shishas, while the main restaurant above it offers good-quality Lebanese fare. Sadaf - Persian Restaurant has rather startling decor, including a waterfall in the middle of the dining room, but the food is of a good standard. Asmak AlBahar Restaurant serves a wide range of seafood freshly caught from the local ocean, in front of Fujairah's fish market, and Tha-Tha Kadai Restaurant offers Briyani, Kari Virundhu, Parotta and Idli/Dosas.

There are no local specialties as far as drink goes, so the usual 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.

What to see and do

Start inland with the city's history. Fujairah Fort sits in the middle of town, a short distance from the coast, built to defend the city and kept in the state centuries of weathering left it, with towers and turrets you can explore on your own; staff on site hand out free guidebooks. Next door, the Fujairah Museum displays finds from excavations in and around the area, including coins, farm instruments, weapons and pottery. The Sheikh Zayed Mosque follows the structure and construction of Abu Dhabi's Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque on a smaller scale, and the city also has a heritage village and the remains of Sakamkam Fort.

Outside the city, Al Bidya Mosque is the oldest existing mosque in the country, built of mud and brick at the foot of a small hill with an ancient watchtower; it lies on the road from Fujairah to Dibba, past Khorfakkan. Non-Muslims may go inside, and staff provide appropriate clothing and headscarves for women and for men in shorts. The watchtowers are worth climbing for the view. In the Hajar mountains, Wadi Wurayah is a world-heritage-listed riverbed that runs wet only in the rainy season, when the desert blooms, and it supports a wide range of plant and animal species. Closer to town, the Corniche and the beaches are good for walking and cruising, with restaurants, bike rental, horse riding, mini football fields and sand activities; Umbrella Beach has recreational spots for children and adults, food trucks and picnic areas. Some stretches of beach are not good for swimming in certain seasons, so head to Dibba Al-Fujairah for sunny beaches and sea activities, or take a boat trip to one of the islands in the Gulf of Oman for strolling and fishing. The city also makes a base for excursions to Khorfakkan and Kalba.

When to go

Fujairah has a hot desert climate, so timing your visit matters. Winter and early spring are the mildest stretch of the year, with very warm rather than scorching conditions, and this is also when most of the region's sparse rainfall arrives — rain is still limited overall, but this is the likeliest time to encounter wet weather, mostly between December and March.

Summer brings punishing heat and high humidity that makes the temperatures feel even more intense, so expect extremely hot, humid days and plan around them if you visit then.

Three days in Fujairah

Day one: Start in Fujairah City, the capital of the emirate, and get your bearings along Hamad Bin Abdulla Road, where the city's commercial life runs past the Plaza Cinema and the HSBC. Continue to Al Corniche Road for the waterfront and the sweep of the Gulf. If you have arrived at Fujairah International Airport (FJR), metered taxis such as a Nissan Altima or Toyota Camry are the straightforward way into town; shared and metered taxis are the main way around, and buses serve the emirate too.

Day two: Turn inland to the Hajar Mountains, the rugged spine that gives the emirate its character. Driving is the practical way to reach the mountain country, and the roads also link Fujairah with the rest of the UAE, including Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Keep the day unhurried and let the landscape set the pace.

Day three: Look outward along the coast and toward the border with Oman, with Sila and Liwa among the places that frame the emirate's wider setting. Omani influence is part of the texture here, and the Gulf is never far away. If you are continuing by rail, Etihad Rail is part of the wider transport picture, with Mohamed Zayed City, Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Sharjah and University City among the stops on the network.

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