Speak of an Arabian
destination, and places like Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi immediately come to
mind. This is largely due to the influential international airlines these
countries own, which carry passengers from all corners of the globe to their
strategic air-hubs. Other destinations like Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria are
known largely for their prominent positions on the global political landscape,
while places like Kuwait and Iraq command international awareness for their
rich petroleum resources.
Tourists do flock to
the picturesque attractions of Morocco and Jordan, but to us there is a hidden
tourism treasure tucked away at the north-east of the United Arab Emirates that
is largely unknown and unappreciated.
This is the little kingdom of Fujairah,
one of the seven emirates of the UAE.
Relatively secluded from the world since
ancient times, this delightful diminutive emirate is still relatively isolated,
relying mainly on air-links from Abu Dhabi and a highway to Dubai for tourism;
despite its having an excellent deep-water port at Fujairah city.
The drive along the ultra-modern Sheikh Khalifa Highway
from Dubai is a pretty fascinating experience, passing through vast
desert landscape as it connects Dubai with photogenic places in Sharjah, Ras Al
Khaimah and Fujairah. Officially inaugurated in December 2011 to celebrate the
40th Anniversary of the UAE, the 45-kilometre (28 mile) highway takes just
30 minutes to cover non-stop. For our visit to Fujairah in 2012, we flew from
Abu Dhabi. This gave us an equally fascinating bird’s eye view of the dramatic
coastline of pristine beaches and dramatic rocky cliffs that form Fujairah’s
entire eastern border.
Some
of the memorable sightseeing spots in this idyllic Arabian hideaway include the
imposing Hajar Mountains, the sheer cliffs of Dibba, the quaint village of
Masafi with its traditional Friday market, the Ain al-Madhab Hot Springs, the
Wadi al-Wurayah oasis with its spectacular waterfall and the ancient mud-brick
Al-Bidayah Mosque,the oldest in the entire UAE. Gorgeous beaches line this
destination, with pretty impressive dive-sites out in the crystal-clear waters
of the Gulf of Oman.
Around
Fujairah city itself, you can visit the 17th century Fujairah Fort,
the massive Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the fascinating Fujairah Museum,
From an Aqua Bounce Funpark and parasailing to shopping at
air-conditioned malls and traditional souks, from heart-pounding 4WD
wadi-bashing to serene wellness spas, there is something for everyone in Fujairah, our Best Hidden Arabian Destination!
Pix © Odyfolio. Andrew Ponnampalam
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