Fujairah

The UAE's only coast on the Gulf of Oman, where the Hajar Mountains meet the beaches: snorkeling at Snoopy Island, the oldest mosque and Khor Fakkan's waterfall.

Fujairah is the only one of the UAE's seven emirates that faces entirely onto the Gulf of Oman. On the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula, it is backed to the west by the bare, rugged Hajar Mountains and fronted to the east by the clear waters of the Indian Ocean — a meeting of mountains and sea quite unlike the urban feel of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This destination centers on Fujairah City and also covers Khor Fakkan and Kalba, the Sharjah exclaves wedged within it. There are three main ways to spend your time: in the city, Fujairah Fort, the museum and Sheikh Zayed Mosque; on the northern coast, the ancient Al Bidyah Mosque, the Al Aqah beach resorts, snorkeling at Snoopy Island and dhow cruises from Dibba; and in the mountains, wadi hikes and road trips to dams and old forts. The best season is October to April, with daytime temperatures of 20–30°C, ideal for beaches and diving; May–September is hot and humid, often above 40°C. It's about a 1.5–2 hour drive from Dubai via the Khor Fakkan tunnel road or the E88/E89, and intercity buses run from Dubai to Fujairah, but the sights are spread out, so driving yourself or hiring a car is strongly recommended. Plan on 2–3 days: one for the city and the mountain forts, one for snorkeling and beaches on the north coast, plus half a day for a Dibba cruise or Khor Fakkan. Local customs are fairly conservative: wear long sleeves and trousers to visit mosques, and women should cover their hair; alcohol is prohibited in the Sharjah exclaves.

Top sights

• Fujairah Fort & Heritage Village – One of the UAE's oldest forts, with mud-brick towers backed by the Hajar Mountains and a reconstructed traditional village beside it.
• Sheikh Zayed Mosque Fujairah – The UAE's second-largest mosque, with a white marble body and six towering minarets. It is especially spectacular at night.
• Snoopy Island – A coral islet shaped like Snoopy lying down to sleep, the most popular snorkelling spot on the east coast, where sea turtles and reef shark…
• Fujairah Museum – A small museum showing archaeological finds from the east coast and traditional life, right beside Fujairah Fort.
• Ain Al Madhab Gardens – A hot-spring garden at the foot of the hills west of Fujairah city, with natural mineral-water pools and a display of traditional architect…
• Fujairah Corniche – A city seafront on the Gulf of Oman, good for evening strolls and watching the tanker anchorage. On Fridays, traditional bull-butting conte…
• Al Bidya Mosque – The oldest mosque in the UAE, dating to around the 15th century, built of mud and stone with four low domes.
• Al Aqah Beach – A white-sand beach on the east coast lined with resort hotels, backed by the Hajar Mountains, with calm, shallow waters ideal for families.
• Dibba Al-Fujairah – The northernmost fishing town on the east coast, where you can sail a traditional dhow into the Musandam fjords for snorkeling.
• Wadi Wurayah National Park – The UAE’s first mountain national park, where a dry canyon hides rare year-round freshwater streams and waterfalls.
• Khor Fakkan Corniche – Sharjah’s exclave port on the east coast, with a curving bay, a tidy seafront promenade and mountains all around.
• Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre & Waterfall – A Roman-style open-air amphitheatre built into the mountainside, beside a man-made waterfall that is especially photogenic at night.
• Al Rafisah Dam – A reservoir in the mountains above Khor Fakkan, its emerald waters mirroring the peaks, with pedal boats and hiking trails.
• Shark Island (Khor Fakkan) – A rocky islet off Khor Fakkan Bay whose surrounding reefs make it a popular diving and snorkeling site on the east coast.
• Al Bithnah Fort – An 18th-century mudbrick fort guarding the Hajar mountain pass, once controlling the ancient trade route between the east and west coasts.
• Al Hayl Castle – A former stronghold of Fujairah’s ruling family, hidden in a valley, with stone towers set against palm groves and dry riverbeds.
• Masafi Friday Market – A long roadside market in the mountains, where rug, clay pot, plant and fresh fruit stalls stretch on and on.
• Kalba Fort & Bait Sheikh Saeed – A restored fort and sheikh’s house on the Kalba seafront, an exclave of Sharjah, showcasing traditional east-coast architecture.
• Khor Kalba Mangrove Reserve – One of the oldest natural mangrove forests on the Arabian Peninsula, where you can kayak through the channels and spot kingfishers and sea…
• Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre – A wildlife conservation center in the Kalba mountains where you can see Arabian leopards, Arabian tahr and other mountain species up close.

Where to eat

• Emirates Sea Restaurant (Corniche Branch) – A popular seafood restaurant on the Corniche with Indian-inflected flavors, where lobster masala and biryani are favori…
• Sadaf Iranian Restaurant – An Iranian restaurant beside the Hilton roundabout on the Corniche, known for grilled meats with saffron rice, generous…
• The Sailors Restaurant & Café – An all-day restaurant on the top floor of the Fujairah International Marine Club, with sea views, where the seafood pla…
• Al Daar Al Aseel Emirati Seafood Restaurant – An Emirati-style seafood restaurant on the ground floor of the Fujairah marine club, with seaside outdoor seating, serv…

Itineraries

• UAE Road Trip Loop – Depart from Dubai and drive a loop covering Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, the East Coast, and Ras Al Khaimah.
• Hajar Mountains & East Coast Road Trip – Bypass the big cities and drive through Hatta Dam, the Fujairah coast, and the high peaks of Jebel Jais.