The majority of the UAE's (United Arab Emirates) eastern coast and the Hajar Mountain region are both included in the Emirate of Fujairah. Fujairah City, a contemporary industrial town with few tourist attractions, serves as its primary hub.
The emirate has a lot to offer, even though you might not want to stay too long in the town itself, which is separated from Fujairah city's grid pattern of high-rise office buildings. The beaches of Fujairah Emirate in the north draw a regular stream of tourists seeking a less hectic sun and sand getaway than Dubai has to offer. One of the best areas to go scuba diving in the UAE is along this stretch of beach.
The Emirate of Fujairah's part of the Hajar Mountains offers hiking in the rough desert mountain highlands as well as scenic road trips, even if the sand is the main point of interest for tourists. Use an emirates visa for South African citizens for the top attractions and things to do in Fujairah to get an idea of what this less-traveled emirate has to offer.
1. Beach Time & Diving in Al Aqah
Most visitors seeking sun and sand in the Emirate of Fujairah make their way to Al Aqah, where a lengthy beach encircles the coastline and Snoopy Island dominates the view of the Gulf of Oman from the sun loungers. Al Aqah, which is 45 kilometers north of Fujairah City, is one of the UAE's less-developed resort locations. There are just a few five-star hotels scattered along the coastline, but much more development is anticipated in the near future. For the time being, this is still the place to go if you want a peaceful beach vacation away from Dubai's packed beaches.
2. Road-Trip to the Hajar Mountains
The UAE's northern interior is traversed by the Hajar Mountains. The landscape of sharp mountain peaks is unrecognizable from what most people connect with the nation and is a popular destination for road trips. Even on a brief journey from the west coast to the east, you may see a glimpse of the magnificent mountain views. Officially, distinct areas of the Hajar belong to the Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Sharjah emirates. The important connecting roads that travel inland, such as the E18 and E87 that connect Ras Al-Khaimah to the east coast and the especially stunning E89 that runs from Masafi to Dibba Al-Fujairah in the north, provide a feast of views.
3. Visit Al-Bidyah Mosque
The mud-brick Al-Bidyah Mosque, which is the oldest in the United Arab Emirates and was named after the community that once surrounded it, is located about 35 kilometers north of Fujairah City. The engineering elements represent a significant achievement for the construction time. The mosque has a prayer hall with a mihrab and ventilation apertures that are adorned with arches (prayer niche pointing to Mecca). The interior is divided into four similar-sized squares by a central pillar and has dome-shaped ceilings in each of them. Excavations in the mosque's vicinity have shown that the area has been occupied for 4,000 years.
4. Explore the Hajar Mountain Wadis
One of the top activities in Fujairah for hikers and climbers is to explore the wadis of the Hajar Mountain. A wadi is primarily a dry riverbed that can hold water after significant rain, but it can also refer to any valley oasis.
Wadi Siji, Wadi Saham, and Wadi Maidaq are some of the most stunning wadis in the region.
The longest valley is Wadi Ham, which extends from Ras Al-Khaimah in the north to Fujairah in the south. Wadi Al Taiwan is a beautiful site to visit because of the breathtaking hilly route that leads there.
5. Visit Fujairah Fort in Fujairah City
The 1670-built Fujairah Fort suffered significant damage as a result of a British attack in the early 20th century. It is thought to be the oldest fort in the United Arab Emirates and has previously served as both a defensive structure and the residence of the royal dynasty. It served as the sole stone structure along the Fujairah coast for many years.
The fort consists of one square tower, two round towers, multiple halls, and three main parts. It has recently been completely restored to its previous splendor. The Department of Archaeology and Heritage in Fujairah created a tiny Heritage Village that includes the area around the fort. Apply emirates visa for South African nationals and get your chance to visit this emirate.
6. See Khor Fakkan Waterfall & Theater
Along with Dibba and Kalba, Khor Fakkan is one of the three eastern coast exclaves of the Sharjah Emirate, however, most travelers will pass through Fujairah Emirate instead because Khor Fakkan is only 30 kilometers from Fujairah city.
An artificial 43-meter-high waterfall tumbling down a purpose-built rocky cliff face can be seen in central Khor Fakkan town, right on the main north-south route overlooking the beach, as well as a sizable modern theatre constructed in Classical-Roman style.
Since it was established in 2020, it has grown to be a well-liked stop for travelers looking to get some exercise and snap a few pictures of the route connecting Al Aqah and Fujairah.
7. Kayak on Al-Rafisah Dam
The Al-Rafisah Dam is located 30 kilometers north of Fujairah city and six kilometers inland from Khor Fakkan town, an exclave of Sharjah on the east coast. The Dam is a well-liked vacation spot for families who wish to spend a laid-back day outside of the city, surrounded by nature. It is surrounded by scenery of ragged, dark mountain peaks and is home to a variety of birds.
A restaurant, a café, a few stores, a sizable children's playground, and lots of room for picnicking are among the good amenities on the shorefront. You may rent kayaks and pedal boats if you want to get out on the water itself.
8. Stop by Bithnah
Make sure to stop at Bithnah if you plan to tour the Hajar Mountains. This little town in Wadi Ham, only 13 kilometers west of Fujairah city, served as a crucial stopping point for centuries on the trade routes connecting the west and east coasts.
The Bithnah Fort, which was constructed in 1735 and serves as the area's principal tourist attraction, was seen to be essential to the protection of this region of the Arabian Peninsula's eastern shore. The fort's massive frame of thick golden-stoned walls, bordered by a substantial circular watch tower, makes it exceptionally photogenic, and the views over the surrounding landscape of palm groves and craggy mountains from the ramparts are breathtaking.
9. View Fujairah City's Sheikh Zayed Mosque
The contemporary Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah has six 100-meter-tall minarets on a site the size of three football fields. There is a capacity of 32,000 worshippers in the enormous prayer hall.
The traditional Ottoman-style mosque, which was completed in 2015 and is now the second-largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates after the more well-known Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, has become a prominent landmark in Fujairah. Between 9 am and noon on Saturday through Thursday, non-Muslim tourists can enter the mosque to see its opulent interior, which includes opulent chandeliers and arches in the Moorish style. Visitors can have a free tour of the mosque at this time.
10. Explore Local History at Fujairah Museum
The Fujairah Museum, which is close to Fujairah Fort, has a fantastic collection of early Bronze Age artifacts that were discovered during excavations at Qidfa and Bithnah. Weapons from the Bronze and Iron Ages, decorated ceramics, carved soapstone pots, and pre-Islamic silver coins are among the on display items. A valued object at the museum is a 2,200-year-old dish made of ostrich egg that was unearthed at Qidfa. A strong ethnography area is also present, featuring examples of customary emirates visa for South African passport holders everyday life and handicrafts.