Fujairah now. Open the left menu Fujairah. Communication and Wi-Fi

Swimming and diving here is much safer than in Egypt. Divers occasionally encounter blacktip reef sharks off the coast of Fujairah. They are not dangerous to humans unless they are specifically teased. Sharks swim along the coast for numerous schools of fish and turtles.

Transport

In the capital of Fujairah, as in any emirate of the UAE, there is. It is located about 3 km south of the city center, has been operating since 1987 and is the only one on the eastern coast of the Emirates. In addition to cargo transportation, it carries out business flights, and also accepts private flights.

Intercity buses run to major airports and the city from Fujairah. As such, there is no city here, tourists mainly use taxis: this service works flawlessly. The cost of services is controlled by the state, and you don’t have to worry about cheating kilometers and costs. The price is fixed everywhere.

The service in Fujairah is very developed: you can rent a car of any class (the choice is large). This gives you the opportunity to travel around the entire UAE without excessive time and financial costs, as well as visit the capital and largest city in the Emirates - Dubai. The roads here are smooth, and gasoline is much cheaper in comparison with the countries of Europe and the CIS.

How to get to Fujairah?

Despite the fact that Fujairah (UAE) has its own airport, it is used more often as a cargo terminal or for receiving charters. There are no direct flights here from the territory of the countries of the former USSR, only with a connection through Europe or a transfer in Dubai. It is not always fast and convenient.

Since the distance from Dubai to Fujairah is 128 km (1.5 hours by car), most tourists land in Dubai. From any airport in the UAE, you can order a transfer to your hotel. If this service has not been agreed or is not available, then you can use the local taxi service. Regular buses run from Dubai Airport to all the Emirates from 5:00 am to 24:00.

It is also worth considering the option of arriving at the Air Arabia airport in Shaju. The distance from Sharjah to Fujairah is 113 km, it is overcome in 1 hour by taxi.

Fujairah is one of the most beautiful and green emirates. Its shores are washed by the Indian Ocean. There is a lot of greenery, excellent diving and magnificent beaches with golden white sand. Fans of scuba diving and a serene beach holiday go to Fujairah to relax.

Beaches

The coastline of Fujairah stretches for 90 km. The sand on the beaches is white, the entrance to the water is smooth. The water in the sea is very clear, there are conditions for diving and snorkeling. Most of the beaches are owned by hotels.

Diving

Diving is one of the main "chips" of Fujairah. This is the only emirate where there are all conditions for a bright underwater trip. Near the coast of Fujairah there are coral shallows, as well as several interesting dive sites with sunken ships.

In the waters of Fujairah you can see sea turtles, sharks, bright ripples. Most often, tourists go diving to the Snoopy Islands and Dibba. Also interesting for diving will be Shark Island, Three Rocks, Martini and the cave "Abyss of the World".

Attractions

Among the popular attractions of Fujairah are the ancient forts that have been rising above the desert for hundreds of years. The most interesting are Fujairah, El Heil, El Bitna and Wadi Dafta. Also worth seeing is the Al-Badiya Mosque, which is over 500 years old. You can look into the Archaeological Museum with curious exhibits or the Heritage Village, where they will not only tell you how the Arabs lived a couple of centuries ago, but also show you in interactive performances with national dances and refreshments.

An interesting and quite unexpected entertainment is bullfighting. Unlike bullfighting, this is a completely bloodless action. You can see them on Friday evenings in the Kalba area. Fujairah also has a camel race track, the schedule of which must be specified in advance.

Outdoor enthusiasts go hiking in the Hajar Mountains. The routes are well equipped, the observation deck offers a marvelous view of the mountains and the coastline.

You can stay alone with nature on Korfakan (Khor-Fakkan) beach. This is one of the most deserted stretches of the coast, and diving or snorkeling here is just excellent.

Near the city, in a beautiful green valley, there is a hot mineral spring Ain Gomur. Its waters treat diseases of the skin, nervous system, and joints.

shopping

There are several large shopping centers in Fujairah where tourists like to go shopping: Safeer Mall, Fujairah Tower Mall, Fujairah City Center and others. Safeer Mall is the largest one, here you can find literally everything your heart desires, as well as go to the cinema, the arcade or one of the many restaurants.

The Friday Market (Suq al-Jumaa) is open daily. There you can buy handicrafts, handmade carpets, jewelry, food, spices and much more. Unlike shopping centers, here you can and should bargain: sellers can drop up to half the price.

Fujairah (Al-Fujairah) is one of the emirates that make up United Arab Emirates, and the only one located on the shores of not the Persian Gulf, but of Oman, and in fact already in the Indian Ocean. The name of this area clearly goes back to poetic creativity, since the word "Fujairah" in Arabic means "dawn", and only a creatively gifted person could call a piece of the earth's surface like that. The dawn here is really beautiful, because it is born right in the waves of the bay.

But besides her, in the emirate there is something to please the eye. The whimsically curving coastline stretches for 90 kilometers, and mountains, cut by deep fertile valleys, rise almost close to the water of the bay. Mountainous capes covered with evergreen shrubs protrude far into the sea surface. A narrow strip of flat shore is one endless sandy beach generously flooded with sun. The climate in this place is so warm that even in February the water temperature in the bay does not drop below +23 ° C, and in combination with many mineral springs in mountain valleys and the picturesque beauty of gorges and shallow bays, such natural conditions make El Fujairah extremely attractive for tourists. tourists from all over the world.

Once upon a time, Portuguese colonialists ruled in these places, leaving behind several well-fortified forts built in the 17th century. Now they, however, are in a dilapidated state, but still represent a historical value. The Portuguese were replaced by the British, who colonized the local lands until the middle of the 20th century. El Fujairah became a separate emirate in 1953, and before that its territory was part of the neighboring Sharjah. The process of gaining independence turned out to be bloodless and quite civilized, and in general, wars and political upheavals bypassed this paradise. Unlike neighboring emirates and neighboring Oman, El Fujairah does not have oil fields, but the picturesque terrain, developed agriculture and marine fishing do not allow it to live in poverty against the background of oil relatives and bring not very large, but solid income from the resort and tourism business.

The tourist season in El Fujairah begins in autumn, in October, and ends in spring, in April. From May to September - one continuous summer, and too hot for our northern brother. The official language is Arabic, but many people speak English. In addition, all advertising inscriptions and even road signs are duplicated on it, although this does not bring special dividends: driving in the emirate is left-handed, and international driver's licenses are not recognized here. The local currency is called the dirham, 3.7 dirhams equals 1 US dollar.

Current time in Fujairah:
(UTC+4)

Traveling around the Emirate of Fujairah

All trips within the emirate have to be carried out either by taxi or by a rented car. Road transport is well developed here in all its modifications, fuel prices are fixed at a low level, all the emirates are interconnected by excellent four-lane highways, the main of which, starting in Ash Sham, runs along the entire coast of El Fujairah, turns left and through the wilderness goes on Sharjah , Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

A taxi ride around the city costs from 10 to 15 dirhams, it is better to choose cars of a state company, noticeable by the sand color of the body, since in the cabin of such cars there are meters, air conditioning (however, it is available in absolutely any car UAE), and a uniformed driver must know English.

Car rental is possible with a driver's license, and this pleasure costs about 200 dirhams per day. The layout of El Fujairah is so simple and convenient that it is simply impossible to go “in the wrong place”. The three main streets, named after local sheikhs, run parallel to each other along the coastline, and smaller streets cross them at right angles, so orientation problems usually do not arise. Driving in a circle has specific features: a person entering a circle must skip the entire flow on the left and be the last to join, and when leaving the circle, he already has an advantage. Drunk driving in Fujairah ends up in jail.

The emirate's air transport is focused entirely on international travel, and this is not surprising, since Sharjah and Dubai are only three hours away by car and there is no need to use aircraft on domestic flights. Fujairah Airport, like the rest of the airports in the UAE, is very modern, well-maintained and equipped by the national airline Emirates with maximum amenities for passengers, including carpeted floors, plasma panels for viewing satellite TV channels in every room, massage chairs and showers.

Well-developed in Fujairah and water and sea transport, however, its own fleet is small and focused mainly on cruise tours. There is no inland waterway between the ports of the emirates, and foreign sea freight is carried out on leased ships of foreign companies. Nevertheless, the port of El Fujairah has a good cargo turnover and good prospects for further development, given the unstable political situation in the Persian Gulf states.

Districts

The capital of the emirate of Fujairah bears the same name as itself - El Fujairah. Europeans often call it Fujairah incorrectly, but, oddly enough, in this version, both the emirate and its capital are better known among tour operators than in the original.

The city is small, with a little more than 50 thousand inhabitants, but exceptionally conveniently located in a cozy bay of the Gulf of Oman, which is why the local seaport is well developed and has a good cargo turnover. There is also a modern airport that receives aircraft from many international airlines.

The city itself is very bright, with wide streets and a European building layout. There is nothing typically Islamic in its architecture: high-rise buildings, paved streets, a long boulevard full of greenery along the coast, dotted with calm and cozy seaside hotels with pleasant design and excellent service.

Numerous companies along the bay organize very high quality diving and snorkelling, and many Mediterranean companies can envy their equipment.

In winter, the slopes of the Hajar mountain range, which comes close to El Fujairah, are colored with bright colors of flowering shrubs, against which the ruins of the Portuguese fort and the dilapidated buildings of the Old City surrounding it look very exotic and colorful. This part of the capital is non-residential, it is entirely a historical monument of the 17th century, on the territory of which archaeological excavations are regularly carried out, and the exhibits found as a result occupy a place on the stands of the capital's museum of antiquities.

What to see in the Emirate of Fujairah

The emirate is not as rich in sights as the ancient European cities, but here, lovers of various types of outdoor activities will be able to find something to their taste. The main aesthetic value in Fujairah is the marine area with its rich underwater flora and fauna, small cozy bays and bays, rocky capes with steep coasts and underwater caves. In a word, a real paradise for scuba diving enthusiasts.

For those interested in antiquity, right in the center of the capital are the picturesque ruins of the Portuguese fort built in 1670, and around it are the dilapidated buildings of the Old City. 12 km to the southwest is another fort of a later construction - El Heil, which is a real medieval castle. Until the middle of the last century, the residence of the Emir of El Fujairah was located in it, so the building was perfectly preserved.

Of interest are the remains of two more ancient forts - Al Bithnah and Wadi Daftah, of which the first is the easternmost of all the Portuguese military fortifications on the peninsula, and the second is located in a very picturesque valley, surrounded by palm groves, on the shore of a small lake.

Lovers of antiquities awaits and hospitable Fujairah Museum, opened in 1991, which exhibits numerous historical finds from archaeological excavations in the Old Town, as well as traditional products of local artisans from different eras. The museum's opening hours are from 7.00 to 13.00 from Saturday to Wednesday and until 12.00 on Thursday, the day off, as in all Muslim states, is Friday, as well as the holy month of Ramadan. The entrance ticket costs 10.5 dirhams.

Since 1996, another interesting museum has been operating in the metropolitan suburb of Madab - open-air museum, surrounded by a high fake stone wall with watchtowers. Among its exhibits are models of traditional Arab dwellings, craftsmen's tools and household utensils. On the territory of this museum, tourists are offered the al-ayyala folk dance and the original process of pumping well water. The museum is open at the same hours as other public institutions, the entrance costs 10 dirhams.

Of the ancient architectural structures of the emirate, the only well-preserved relic is a small, very elegant and beautiful clay mosque in Biddiya, which, unfortunately, can only be admired from a distance, since only Muslims are allowed to enter it. It was erected at the very beginning of the 17th century and is considered the oldest in all the United Emirates. The legend says that it was built by grateful fishermen in honor of a huge pearl found in the sea. It is located 30 km from the capital to the north along the seaside highway.

If you drive a little further along it, then in the small fishing village of Dibba you can see an old Muslim cemetery of the 7th century AD. e., on which the first Islamic warriors rest. Nearby are two very picturesque valleys: Al Wariya Valley, with mineral springs gushing from rocky soil and beautiful waterfalls on rocky ledges, and Al Siji, whose fertile land is cultivated for agricultural land and is a huge plantation of flowers and fruit bushes.

If you drive further along the highway towards Sharjah, then in the mountainous part of Fujairah you can get to the traditional "Friday" market(although it is open on ordinary days), spontaneously arising right next to the roadway. Here you can buy a magnificent handmade carpet of local nomadic tribes or pottery crafts of local artisans, and, of course, enjoy plenty of harsh nomadic exoticism.

People with various skin and musculoskeletal ailments are invariably attracted a couple of tens of kilometers southwest of the capital. Its water has healing properties, and in combination with the beautiful surrounding landscape, this place gives great pleasure and a lasting impression.

Well, in the capital itself you can find a very unusual attraction that causes an involuntary association with Spain - this Friday bullfights near the bridge at the exit from the city towards Kalba. Only, unlike the Spanish bullfight, the local bullfights are completely bloodless and not cruel. The bulls rest against each other with their horns and try to force the opponent's head to the ground under the exclamations of the audience. The losing bull simply runs away from the "battlefield" in shame, so even children can watch the spectacle.

Where to go in the Emirate of Fujairah

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Where to eat and drink

Entertainment

Transport

Shops and markets

Private guides in the Emirate of Fujairah

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with the Emirate of Fujairah in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Shopping in Fujairah

El Fujairah is primarily famous for its excellent beaches, high-quality hotel service and modern diving, but shopping here is not as well developed as in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. However, there are plenty of places to shop here too. First of all, these are markets where, as usual in the East, you can buy almost everything. The most famous of them is Souq Al Jumaa, or the so-called "Friday", which is organized right next to the highway from Fujairah to Sharjah, on the border of these two emirates, in the town of Masafi. Once, a very long time ago, it may have functioned only on Fridays, but now it can be visited daily, except for religious holidays, from 8 am to 8 pm. They sell beautiful handmade carpets brought here from all over the emirates, as well as various pottery, handicrafts, souvenirs and dishes made by local artisans.

For gold jewelry, it is better to go to gold market. Here you can buy gold rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces made by local jewelers at a very attractive price - $ 8 per gram.

Huge mall safer Mall accommodated under its roof more than a hundred boutiques and shops, many food courts, cafes, cinemas and even 8 department stores. It is one of the main places of "pilgrimage" for foreign tourists, and even in full family composition, since there is also a slot machine hall and a good entertainment family center.

Hypermarket Lulu is one of the stores of this trade brand, distributed throughout the Persian Gulf. A large mixed store that sells both groceries and related industrial products.

Shopping center Fujairah Trade Center is located on the first floor of a luxurious high-rise residential complex with the same name on an area of about 6.5 thousand square meters. meters. A real paradise for shopaholics, it will take at least three hours to get around it completely. Everything is presented - from a banana to Malaysian video equipment.

Fujairah City Center Mall recently opened in April 2012. It is located at the intersection of the Fujairah-Sharjah highway and the road to Masafi in the western part of the capital. Currently, it is the largest of all shopping centers in the capital. More than 100 stores of manufacturers of the world's leading brands, including the largest Carrefour hypermarket in the entire Principality. Very good Magic Planet family entertainment center and 11-screen VOX Cinemas.

Food and drink

Before trying to eat something outside the hotel of residence, it would not be superfluous to at least in general terms familiarize yourself with the national Arabic cuisine. Of course, as in any civilized country, there are well-known McDonald's here, but European food is not served in traditional cafes and coffee houses.

Almost everyone in the world knows that Muslims do not eat pork, so lovers of this type of meat will have to switch to beef, veal, poultry, fish and, of course, lamb. Arabs prepare meat in a special way, frying it in a pan without fat, which is why its taste becomes special.

Of the meat dishes, the Europeans will surely like the already familiar “shawarma / shawarma”, fried lamb meat with rice and nuts “guzi” and the traditional Arabic kebab “tikka”. There are several types of kebabs here, including the famous marinated beef kebabs and lamb shish kebabs. Quite decent in taste and satisfying are lamb cutlets with spices “kustileta”, fried meat balls “kebbe” and minced meat kebab “kofta”.

Of the dishes with side dishes in Arabic cuisine, “makbous” meat with rice and spices, roast from various types of meat “meshui-mushakkal” with vegetables, bell peppers stuffed with young lamb and the Muslim analogue of pizza - “rice” are common.

Fans of dietary meat will not go hungry either - there are traditionally a lot of chicken dishes in El Fujairah, ranging from steamed chicken with al-mandi honey to tikka-dajaj chicken skewers. As side dishes for meat, rice is mainly used with the addition of vegetable salad.

Soups among the Arabs are almost all meaty, thick, with a variety of vegetable components - from potatoes to beans. As bread for a meal, kubbe pies made from wholemeal wheat flour with meat or the world-famous triangular sambusa pies with all kinds of fillings are used - vegetables, meat, cheese or spinach. There is also bread in the emirates: it is called “fatush” and is baked in clay tandoor ovens, but it is served mainly with salads and vegetable dishes.

Of the vegetable dishes, the well-known "dolma" is in use - an analogue of our cabbage rolls, only in a grape leaf - "kuzhet" zucchini stuffed with meat and cheese and "mutabbal" eggplant caviar. Fish is traditionally good in the Emirates. It is cooked on coals here, and there are more than enough dishes from it. Arabs manage to make even pilaf out of fish. Desserts include Umm Ali raisin milk pudding, Esh Asaya cream cheese cake, Ligemat honey donuts, and the well-known sherbet. Well, a special kind of being at the table - drinking coffee. Coffee for Arabs is a traditional drink for a leisurely conversation, and brewing it correctly is a whole art, very honorable and respected in the emirates. No coffee machines are used here at all, coffee is prepared only “live” and poured from national long-nosed “dalla” coffee pots into small bowls.

Before you go in search of a suitable institution, you need to remember that in traditional Arab restaurants and cafes, there is nothing stronger than grape wine from alcohol. Such drinks can only be bought and consumed in licensed restaurants within the hotel.

Connection

The communication system in Fujairah is modern and well-established. Any locality in the world can be called from any pay phone on the streets, not to mention telephones in hotel rooms. True, a call from a room will cost 3-5 times more than from the street, since the machines work with plastic magnetic phone cards with a tariff of 10 dirhams per minute. Such cards are sold in any store, postal kiosk and at any gas station. If you purchase a special prepaid card, then all calls, including calls from hotel rooms, will be subject to a reduced rate. Calling the police or a number starting with 800 is free of charge in any case.

Mobile communication on the territory of the emirate supports the GSM 900 standard, so there are usually no problems with adapting the “handset”. If you are not ready to spend a lot of money on roaming, you only need to purchase a local Sim-card, which will require a copy of your passport. The card is valid for a year. When calling a mobile number, the area code is not dialed, instead the numbers 050 are dialed. If there is no money on the card, outgoing calls are not made until the account is replenished. You can top up through special machines located everywhere in crowded places, or by purchasing and activating mobile cards with a face value of 30 dirhams, which are sold in any store. If you call 122, you can subscribe to GPRS and get access to mobile Internet for 10 dirhams per month.

There is only one Internet provider in all the emirates - this is Etisalat. Wi-Fi entry points are available in the airport building, in the rooms of all hotels without exception, and in some restaurants and cafes. For those who take a laptop with them on the trip, it is even easier: you just need to buy a prepaid card at any postal kiosk, join the network, activate the card and enjoy online communication for 10 dirhams per hour.

Security

Despite the fact that the resort industry is well developed in El Fujairah and tourists are appreciated here as a potential source of income for the emirate, the government does not undertake to guarantee the complete safety of being on the territory of the principality. Of course, Fujairah is not as politically unstable and unpredictable as other Arab states, and the foundations of Islam here are not as orthodox as in neighboring countries. Saudi Arabia or Oman, but even here, due to the rather diverse national composition of the inhabitants, there are enough various renegades and religious fanatics.

Actually, the Arabs make up only 46% of the population, about 30% are the largest Indian diaspora, about 20% are Pakistani, therefore, in case of any misunderstanding, representatives of various faiths are happy to blame each other, and police representatives are just as happy to try to leave the blame the affected tourists themselves. Basically, the claims of the latter relate to not very respectable hotel staff and drivers of rented cars, who are overwhelmingly represented here by representatives of diasporas.

If the opportunity arises, these individuals can easily steal the thing left unattended, and drivers, in addition, sometimes “forget” to return the change. However, the guarantee of the necessary security of the upcoming vacation is still not in countering theft and deceit, but in the necessary amount of knowledge of the religion and customs of the state, whose visitor you become, getting off the plane.

Rules of conduct in the emirate of Fujairah

The dominant religion in Fujairah is Sunni Islam, which is not as intolerant of violations of commandments as Shiite. Nevertheless, any European needs to know and observe several immutable laws and rules of conduct on the territory of the emirate, directly related to the peculiarities of religion.

Especially many nuances arise during the period of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which is not “tied” to a specific date and starts at different times every year. For the period of Ramadan, even state institutions change their mode of operation, and solemn prayers take place right on the squares with a large confluence of believers. In this case, the guests of the country need to know that the worshipers cannot be bypassed in front, since this is a grave insult to the faith. On the street in Ramadan you can not eat, drink (including water), chew gum, smoke and sing songs, for this you can easily end up in jail. It is not recommended to take video and photographs of worshipers, as well as just stand and stare at them.

In the presence of Arabs one should refrain from any comment concerning the expediency of their religion and certain ceremonies, as well as from questions about their wives, daughters or any other women. It is better not to talk about them with the Arabs at all, as well as to approach the representatives of the weaker sex and, moreover, to shake hands with them or kiss them. If an Arab woman wishes this, she herself will give a hand when meeting or parting, but touching her without her permission is considered an insult.

A very significant element among Muslims is the handshake. The longer it is, the friendlier your counterpart is. A handshake is also required when saying goodbye, and if the interlocutor is located towards you, he does this with both hands. But try to look at the face at the same time, because looking away is regarded as bad intentions.

If an Arab invited you to his house, then the refusal can be perceived as disrespect for the owner and a personal insult. It is better to go, especially since the Arabs do not practice any alcohol when meeting guests, and the obligatory treat includes tea, coffee, soft drinks and fruits. When entering the dwelling of an Arab, it is necessary to take off your shoes and leave them near the threshold, but if the owner himself enters without taking off his shoes, you can follow his example.

In a conversation with an interlocutor, if both of you are sitting face to face, you can’t stretch your legs in his direction - the soles pointed at the Arab’s face offend him. Being at the guest table, one must remember that it is necessary to take food and pass it only with the right hand, since the left hand is considered unclean by Muslims. It is better not to ask about the household of the owner, limiting himself to a polite question about the health of the whole family - this will be received favorably. Well, and if a European guest can pronounce at least a few phrases in Arabic, respect and honor are guaranteed to him in full.

The cleanliness of the streets in Fujairah is strictly observed, so for throwing garbage or a cigarette butt on the sidewalk (even if you just missed the urn) you can run into a fine of 500 dirhams and even a day in prison. The police monitor this strictly, as well as photography. A prison can also end with an accidental entry into the frame of state and military institutions, palaces of noble persons, police stations, or simply Arab women.

On the streets, it is not customary to eat on the go, swear, drink alcoholic beverages, drink water from taps and fountains - for all this, you will have to fork out a minimum of several hundred, or even thousands of dirhams, and, as a maximum, end up behind bars. With alcohol in all the emirates, jokes are bad: here, although the “dry” law is relaxed for tourists, you can buy and drink alcohol only in the restaurants of the hotels where you live, or in a hotel room. In public places, including beaches, appearing “drunk” or with a bottle of beer in hand is highly discouraged. And God forbid to be drunk at the wheel - a decent prison term in this case is guaranteed.

With the police in Fujairah, as in the whole world, it is better not to quarrel. The so-called "plainclothes agents" are widespread here, who often arrange general document checks in crowded places. In order not to get into an awkward situation, it is recommended to make photocopies of your passport, visa and driver's license in advance and have them with you when you enter the city.

The presumption of innocence does not always work here, but still it’s better not to get into police cars without presenting official documents and announcing your guilt, which you can politely protest without being on the territory of the police (which is considered the interior of a police car).

If you follow the above rules and listen to the advice of acquaintances who have already been in the region as tourists, then your vacation in Fujairah will turn into a pleasant and full of positive emotions experience.

Where to stay in the Emirate of Fujairah

Company Booking.com offers for booking more than 30 hotels in the Emirate of Fujairah. You can choose a hotel using a variety of filters: hotel star rating, hotel type (hotel, apartment, villa, hostel, etc.), cost, hotel location, ratings of people who visited the hotel, Wi-Fi availability and much more. .

The western coast of the United Arab Emirates, where most of the country's resorts are concentrated, is well studied by tourists. But the resort of Fujairah, on the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula, travelers are just mastering.

Meanwhile, this emirate has many differences - the sea is different here, the climate is milder, and nature is closer. The capital of the emirate - Fujairah - looks like a cozy resort town: bright wide streets, a green embankment, brand new hotels along the coast and no noisy entertainment. That is why the youngest emirate of the UAE is recommended for family holidays.

When to go, where to sunbathe, how to have fun, where to stay - you will read all the most important things about holidays with children in Fujairah in our article.

Fujairah on the UAE map

The city of Fujairah is the administrative center of the emirate of Fujairah, a major seaport. The city is located in the east of the United Arab Emirates, on the coast of the Gulf of Oman of the Indian Ocean. From the west, the Hajar mountain range approaches the coast. The distance from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi is 255 km, to Dubai - 120 km, to Ras Al Khaimah - 113 km, to Sharjah - 108 km.

Tourists have only recently begun to find out where Fujairah is located. This calm emirate will appeal to those who like to warm their sides on the soft sand and enjoy all inclusive.

Vacation with children

Traveling to Fujairah is an intrigue. How so: a city without skyscrapers, without amusement parks, without curiosities and without pathos? Exactly. Rest in Fujairah is a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, and for this all you need is a good hotel and a beach nearby. This is where the first difference between Fujairah and other resorts in the UAE appears.

Resort life is not concentrated only in the capital. There are good hotels with their own beaches in Fujairah and several resort towns of the emirate.

The second difference is slightly less heat than on the western coast of the country. Thanks to this, it is possible to come to Fujairah with children already at the end of September, and in the spring they can stay until the beginning of May. Interestingly, in winter the resort is as warm as in Sharjah or Dubai: you can come to rest with a baby.

The third difference is the popularity of the all-inclusive system in hotels. Agree, it is good to have a rest with the child, without breaking the head, where and what to feed him. Only Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah can boast of such convenience in the UAE.

The main disadvantage of the resort is that there are almost no entertainments for children in Fujairah. More precisely, there is definitely not such an abundance of entertainment here as in Dubai, but there are several options for interesting leisure activities (look at the "Things to do" and "What to see" sections).

When is the best time to go

The opening of the season in Fujairah is a gift for those who, during the first month of autumn, managed to get tired and miss the summer warmth. If you want to forget about the impending rains and cold weather, you need to come to this resort in October-November.

The spring season in Fujairah starts in the second half of March. Hurry up the summer and soak up the beach in March-April. By the middle of spring, the water in the sea becomes so warm that you don’t even want to get out of it. Meanwhile, winter is also the right answer to the question of when is the best time to go to Fujairah. The moderate heat of the winter months is suitable for relaxing with a baby.

Weather and climate

The east coast of the UAE is just as hot as the entire Arabian Peninsula. But the climate of Fujairah is a little milder because the mountains protect the resort from the hot wind from the desert. But next to this plus there is also a minus - high humidity, about 60-66%. This makes the air feel hotter.

The hottest period is from May to September. At this time, the air temperature reaches +40°С (and in Dubai, for comparison, it happens even +50°С). At the end of September the air temperature drops to +35-36°С.

To organize the best holiday in Fujairah with children, we recommend waiting for October-November. The air temperature drops to + 28-33 ° C, stuffiness subsides, and the sea remains luxuriously warm.

Winter in Fujairah is also good for families with children. The air temperature is kept within + 24-26 ° С, the weather is most often sunny (it rains very rarely in the United Arab Emirates).

True, swimming will have to be excluded from the list of entertainment, because the sea cools down in winter. On a trip, you need to take light jackets with you: in the evening the air temperature drops to + 17-20 ° С.

In the second half of March, the beach season opens again on the east coast of the UAE. The air warms up to + 26-28 ° C, and this is a reason to plan a vacation in Fujairah.

In April, the air temperature rises to + 30 ° C, but the summer heat is still far away, so this period can be chosen for a trip with a baby to Fujairah. In May, Fujairah is empty: the heat up to + 40 ° C is not suitable for a family holiday.

Sea water temperature

One of the most important advantages of the UAE is a very warm sea. And although Fujairah is on the shores of the Gulf of Oman, and the rest of the resorts are on the shores of the Persian Gulf, the situation here is no different.

The highest water temperature in Fujairah, of course, is in the summer. From May to September, sea water has time to warm up to + 30-33 ° С. Is it surprising that in October-November the sea keeps the temperature +27-30°C?

In December, the sea temperature still allows you to swim: in the water + 23-25 ° C it is comfortable even for kids. But in January-February, the sea cools down to + 21-22 ° С, and this is not to everyone's liking. Already in March, the water temperature begins to rise: at the beginning of the month it is +22°С, and at the end of the month it is +25°С. In April, the sea warms up to +28-29°C.

Transport

There is no urban public transport in Fujairah - both because the city is quite small and because of the UAE people's habit of driving.

It is most convenient for tourists to rent a car: this is the most convenient way to go to the best beaches and visit the sights of the emirate. Good roads are a pleasure to drive, and in cities there are always free parking spaces.

Car rental offices operate at Dubai and Fujairah airports, in large hotels. Within the city, you can take a taxi. Traveling in Fujairah by municipal taxi costs 3 AED per kilometer, the amount is calculated by the meter. There are also private taxis in the emirate, in which you need to negotiate with the driver about the fare.

Intercity transport in Fujairah is buses going to other emirates. Most often, about once an hour, there are buses to Dubai. The timetable is only available at the bus station located next to the Plaza Cinema. Tickets for children must be purchased regardless of the age of the child. The fare to Dubai is about 25 AED.