The eastern coast and part of the Hajar Mountains region of the UAE (United Arab Emirates) are included in the Emirate of Fujairah. Fujairah metropolis, the region’s primary hub, is a modern industrial metropolis with few tourist attractions.
Fujairah city’s grid layout of high-rise office complexes may not be appealing, but the emirate as a whole has enough to offer if you venture outside of it.
Visitors seeking a more tranquil beach experience than Dubai might find it in the northern Fujairah Emirate. This stretch of shoreline is renowned as one of the top spots in the UAE for underwater exploration.
The sand dunes may be the most popular attraction, but the Emirate of Fujairah also has a beautiful stretch of the Hajar Mountains that is perfect for trekking and road trips.
Top 11 tourist attractions in Fujairah
Our recommended places to visit and activities in Fujairah will give you a sense of what this underrated emirate has to offer.
- Al Bidyah Mosque
- Fujairah Fort
- Fujairah Museum
- Hajar Mountains
- Al Aqah beach
- Snoopy Islands
- Bithnah Fort
- Masafi
- Hajar Mountain Wadis
- Fujairah City’s Sheikh Zayed Mosque
- Ain Al-Madhab Hot Spring
Al Bidyah Mosque
The oldest mosque in the UAE is the mud-brick Al-Bidyah Mosque, located about 35 kilometers north of Fujairah City. The engineering elements are remarkable for the time period in which it was constructed, which is why it is one of Fujairah’s top attractions.
The mosque’s prayer hall is adorned with arches and features a mihrab (prayer niche pointing to Mecca) and ventilation apertures. Four equal-sized squares with vaulted ceilings are separated from one another by a central pillar.
The area around the mosque has been investigated, and its extended history of use as a settlement dates back at least four millennia.
To the north, in a vast Islamic cemetery, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a colossal tomb from the Iron Age that contained pottery shards, metal arrowheads, and other items from at least 1000 BCE.
Fujairah Fort
Fujairah Fort, constructed in 1670, suffered severe destruction at the hands of the British in the early 20th century. The oldest fort in the UAE has been used as a stronghold and a residence for the royal dynasty. For a long period of time, this fort was the sole stone structure on the shore of Fujairah. The importance of this structure in the long period of history and its key role has made it one of Fujairah’s best attractions.
The fort is divided into three main areas and has a number of halls, as well as a square tower and two circular towers. Its previous splendor has been entirely recovered in recent years. The Department of Archaeology and Heritage of Fujairah has established a tiny Heritage Village in the area surrounding the fort.
Here you may view examples of traditional Emirati architecture, exhibitions on daily living, and a demonstration of the Al Yazrah irrigation system, which was utilized by farmers for centuries.
Fujairah Museum
located near the Fujairah Fort, The Fujairah Museum has a collection of antiquities, weapons, and utensils going back to the Bronze Age, as well as an exhibition on the customs of local life. The valuable collection of antiquities has made this place one of Fujairah’s best attractions that you can’t miss visiting on your trip to the city.
The Fujairah Museum displays the most important items from the archaeological districts of Qidfa and Bithnah, including burial objects and coins from the pre-Islamic era.
Just south of Fujairah Fort, the Fujairah Museum includes an exceptional collection of objects dating from the early Bronze Age uncovered during an archaeological excavation at Qidfa and Bithnah. Exhibits include Bronze and Iron Age weapons, painted pottery, carved soapstone containers, pre-Islamic silver coins, and a bowl going back over 2200 years ago.
Hajar Mountains
The Hajar Mountains split the northern interior of the United Arab Emirates. This area is great for road trips since the jagged mountain peaks look nothing like the typical rural landscape.
Even on a short journey between the west coast and the east coast, you’ll be able to take in a glimpse of the Hajar’s spectacular mountain vistas, which are officially split between the emirates of Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Sharjah.
The scenic E18 and E87 connecting Ras Al-Khaimah with the eastern coast, as well as the equally stunning E89 linking Masafi and Dibba Al-Fujairah to the north, are just a few examples of the key roads that travel interior and provide access to these stunning vistas. You can take a road trip from Fujairah to these stunning mountain ranges, as it is one of the best top things you can do on a trip to Fujairah.
Al Aqah beach
Approximately 45 kilometers north of Fujairah City, you’ll find Al Aqah Beach, a renowned beach destination in the UAE and one of Fujairah’s top attractions.
Families love to go to Al Aqah Beach to unwind in the sun and take advantage of the water. In front of Al Aqah Beach lies an islet that is widely considered to be one of the best top places in the world to go snorkeling and scuba diving.
Most visitors to the Emirate of Fujairah seek Al Aqah, a long beach that stretches down the coast and offers breathtaking and stunning views of the Gulf of Oman from the comfort of sun loungers.
Divers may find a wide variety of marine life in the area’s waters. Turtles, black-tip sharks, and schools of trevally and parrotfish are just a few of the common sights.
Snoopy Islands
Located near Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman, Snoopy Island is home to some of the best beaches in the United Arab Emirates. If you enjoy activities like banana boating, fly fishing, and bingo rides, this location is a good option.
One of the best top spots to go snorkeling or Scooba boarding in search of tropical fish and coral formations is Snoopy Island. Scooba Island is also well-known for its annual music events.
One can stay at one of the hotels or villas along the shoreline. Only two and a half hours journey from Dubai, this island is one of the most intriguing places to go beach camping and have a barbecue and is one of Fujairah’s best attractions.
Bithnah Fort
Bithnah is a must-see on any exploration of the Hajar Mountains, as it is also one of Fujairah’s top attractions. Located only 13 kilometers west of Fujairah city, this Wadi Ham village served for centuries as a key hub on the roads connecting the west and east coasts.
Bithnah Fort, constructed in 1735, is the primary attraction for visitors. It played an important role in guarding the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
The views from the ramparts over the surrounding countryside of palm groves and craggy mountains in the background are stunning, and the fort’s bulky frame of thick golden-stoned walls with an extremely massive round watch tower makes it particularly picturesque.
Masafi
Masafi, located about 33 kilometers northwest of Fujairah, sits on the border of the Hajar Mountains and serves as a junction for the main interior highways leading north to Dibba and west to Dubai. Before new highways were developed in the region in the 1970s, it served as a trading post and gas station.
The major portion of Masafi is located in Fujairah, while the smaller portion is in the neighboring emirate of Ras al-Khaimah. That’s why it is considered one of Fujairah’s best attractions.
Several natural springs in and around Masafi make it a popular tourist attraction in the United Arab Emirates. However, the local market on the Dubai-Fujairah Road on the outskirts of town is what draws tourists.
It’s a great area to stop and browse the businesses while taking a break from driving, and the market sells fresh fruit, earthenware ceramics, local handicrafts, and carpets.
Hajar Mountain Wadis
Wadi hiking in the Hajar Mountains is one of the best attractions for visitors to Fujairah. A wadi is a dry riverbed that may be flooded after heavy rain, but the term is often used to describe any oasis in a valley. Wadi Siji, Wadi Saham, and Wadi Maidaq are three of the most stunning wadis in the region.
The longest valley is Wadi Ham, which begins in Ras Al-Khaimah and ends in Fujairah; nevertheless, the beautiful mountainous journey to Wadi Al Taiwan is worth the trip itself.
The authorities in the UAE have kept the public out of the most well-known wadi in the country, Wadi al-Wurayah, which is located north of Fujairah and is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, in order to protect the wadi’s delicate and rare ecosystem.
Fujairah City’s Sheikh Zayed Mosque
The contemporary Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah has six minarets, each of which is 100 meters in height, and occupies an area equal to three football fields. The massive prayer hall can accommodate up to 32,000 people.
Since its inauguration in 2015, the classic Ottoman-style mosque has become one of Fujairah city’s best attractions. It is only topped in size by the more well-known Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Between 9 AM and 12 PM, Saturday through Thursday, non-Muslims are welcome to enter the mosque and take in its gorgeous interior, which has huge chandeliers and Moorish-style arches. During this time, tours of the mosque are provided at no cost.
Ladies should bring a headscarf if they plan on visiting, while men should wear long pants or skirts and long-sleeved shirts.
Ain Al-Madhab Hot Spring
Madhab Springs Park, located on the city’s northwest boundary, is known for its hot springs and attracts many visitors each year, as it is one of Fujairah’s top attractions. Warm sulfuric water from the local Ain al-Madhab mineral springs is piped into two pools, one for each sex.
Fujairah families often eat, play, and have barbecues at the pools’ adjacent park. A clean and safe playground is available for the kids. It’s no surprise that weekend visitors saturate the Madhab Springs Park region.
The mineral-rich waters of the pool here are ideal for those who have been traveling and need to soak away aches and pains.
