29.07.2025
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What's this about? The Emirate of Fujairah is an excellent place for relocation. It is the only emirate in the UAE located on the shore of the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. Due to this, the emirate has a milder climate, is surrounded by mountains, boasts stunning nature and clean air.
What to consider? Fujairah does not extract oil; its economy relies on the port, agriculture, mining industry, and cement factories. Three districts are suitable for living, with comfortable flats, schools, kindergartens and shopping centres. However, the emirate has its peculiarities that might seem strange at first glance.
Fujairah is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. Unlike other regions, which are washed by the Persian Gulf, it is located in the east of the country, on the shore of the Gulf of Oman. Thanks to this, it plays a strategic role, especially regarding maritime routes.
Speaking of which sea the Emirate of Fujairah is located on, it is the only emirate washed by the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. There is no gas or oil production here, relatively few people live here, while the infrastructure and service meet the standards of neighbouring emirates.
Tourists come here for diving: it can be called the main feature of Al-Fujairah, where the sea near the shores is filled with extensive coral thickets.
General information:
The climate in Fujairah can be called unique compared to other regions of the state.
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Features of the emirate:
Fujairah is not very popular with tourists, as transport infrastructure is less developed here; there are fewer points of interest, a small airport, and so on. However, the emirate's leadership is trying to develop their region and address these shortcomings. A resort area called Al-Fujairah Paradise is being created north of the border with Oman. The project cost exceeds 800 million dollars.
The resort plans include building 1,000 villas, hotels, developing beaches, and creating good infrastructure. Construction began in 2005 and was planned to be completed by 2008. However, the deadlines kept being pushed back.
Currently, it's unknown what stage the project is at, as news about it hasn't appeared for a long time. The Fujairah authorities are more interested in guests from the UAE itself and neighbouring countries, while thinking less about travellers from Europe.
There are no plans to develop the international airport, but active construction of highways to neighbouring emirates is underway. The airport has only one runway and one passenger terminal. The air harbour can handle only 15 aircraft – these are very low figures.
A plus point of the airport is its close location to Al-Fujairah city, which is 1 kilometre away, so taxi fares won't be expensive. All taxis in the emirate belong to the state-owned company FTC. Taxis are the main public transport in Fujairah.
In the United Arab Emirates, metro exists only in Dubai. Within Fujairah, there is a bus service, but there are only 11 routes, and they are not interesting for tourists. The intercity bus runs only one route: Fujairah–Dubai. This means that visitors to the emirate are expected to rent a car or use taxis.
If you want to visit the Emirate of Fujairah but don't plan to stay in local hotels, you can get there from Dubai by taxi or regular bus, the distance is 120 kilometres. In one day, you can see local attractions, sunbathe on the beach, and go for a swim in the Gulf of Oman.
Bus No. E700 runs every 40 minutes, the journey takes two hours, and a ticket costs 5.8 dirhams. In Dubai, you need to board the bus at Union Square, and in Fujairah, it stops at Old Plaza Cinema/HSBC.
It's important to know that in buses, the front rows are reserved for women, so men travelling alone should sit in the back rows.
There are no direct flights from Russia to Fujairah airport, and none are planned in the near future. A package tour to Fujairah involves flying to Dubai, Sharjah, or Abu Dhabi airport and then transferring to the hotel by bus for 2-4 hours. The emirate has approximately 30 hotels, the most famous of which is the Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah 5*. But even in this hotel, considered expensive, the price per night is quite moderate (you'll pay 150 dollars for a double room). Fujairah is among the most affordable emirates for holidays and living.
Fujairah has no oil deposits, and its economy is based on income from the seaport operations and state subsidies. When you come here, you'll understand how heavily the United Arab Emirates depends on oil and how life in the country would have developed without the oil business.
The Indian Ocean is the main source of sustenance for the inhabitants of this territory. The Emirate of Fujairah largely lives off fishing. At local markets and the Friday Market, tourists can see a large variety of fresh fish. Local restaurants offer various fish dishes.
By land, the distance from Dubai to Fujairah is 120 km, while by sea the journey takes about 350 km because ships have to sail around the Musandam Peninsula. Ships often refuel, rest, undergo repairs, replenish provisions, and unload cargo in Fujairah port rather than sailing to Dubai.
In 2012, the Habshan–Fujairah oil pipeline, running from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah, was opened. This made it possible to load oil tankers here, and they no longer need to sail an extra 400 km to Abu Dhabi. The region also earns income from cement factories, mining industry, and stone processing plants. The emirate's agricultural industry provides residents with fruits and vegetable crops.
Fujairah has opened a free economic zone. Through this, the authorities wanted to achieve the success of Dubai Free Zone Authority but didn't achieve any impressive results. There are no skyscrapers or large shopping centres in the region, and the emirate cannot boast of man-made wonders like the Dubai Fountains. Fujairah is not a poor emirate; it could rather be called modest, but tourists can still find things to do here.
Travellers usually fly to Dubai, as it's just over 100 km from here to Fujairah. Direct flights from Moscow to Dubai are operated by Aeroflot, Fly Dubai, Emirates, and Ural Airlines. The flight duration is 5.5 hours. You can also reach Sharjah from Moscow in five hours by Air Arabia direct flight, but from here the journey to Fujairah will take longer and cost more.
It's easy to get from Dubai Airport to Fujairah. The simplest and most convenient way is by taxi. The fare is controlled by the state and is the same for all services. Depending on where your hotel is located, the journey will take about 1.5 hours, and you'll need to pay between 350 and 470 AED.
Also, buses depart from each Dubai Airport terminal every 30 minutes from five in the morning until midnight. The fare costs 25–48 AED. The timetable and route number are listed on the carrier's official website. The website also has a route map, and you can download a mobile application, which makes it easier to navigate Dubai's public transport.
In the Emirate of Fujairah, there is a coastal area located in the east called Al-Faseel. This residential area consists of apartment buildings and villa communities, with medical facilities and supermarkets. Many of the houses in the area are located on the coast, offering magnificent views from their balconies.
The region's popular Century Mall shopping complex is also located here. Al Faseel Road connects this area with Rugaylat Road (E99), making it easy to reach the city's attractions and nearby districts.
In the city of Fujairah, on the shore of the Gulf of Oman, there is a residential complex called Corniche. It stretches for about a mile along the eastern part of Hamad bin Abdullah Street. Al Corniche Road and Fujairah Corniche, stretching from Kalba to Khor Fakkan, attract investors willing to invest in restaurants, playgrounds, and parks located along the road.
Tourists and locals love to relax on the beautiful beaches along the waterfront. Corniche Al Fujairah consists of several villas and apartments, and also has mini-markets, shops, schools, and medical facilities.
In the eastern part of Fujairah, there is also the Mirbah complex (also known as Murbah). People live here in townhouses, and they have access to schools, a shopping complex, and supermarkets. This area is connected by Rugaylat Road (E99) to Dibba Al-Fujairah and Khorfakkan. Near the village is Century Mall – one of the largest shopping venues in the emirate. It houses 130 shops, entertainment establishments, and restaurants.
Mirbah represents a family community where everything necessary for a peaceful and comfortable life is available.
Renting a car allows you not to waste time ordering taxis and is an excellent alternative to walking. Fujairah has good roads, drivers are polite, petrol is inexpensive, and the city planning is easy to understand. Car rental offices can be found in many hotels, as well as at the airport. To rent a car, you need to have a driver's license and at least 12 months of driving experience. A deposit is usually not required. Renting a compact car costs 135 AED, an economy class car costs 150 AED, a standard model costs 200 AED, and an SUV rental costs from 225 AED per day.
The emirate has right-hand traffic, road signs are clear, and all signs are duplicated in English. There are serious fines for traffic violations. While speeding (over 60 km/h in the city) will only result in monetary penalties, driving under the influence of alcohol carries criminal liability. Traffic jams in Fujairah are rare, there are many parking spaces, and most of them are free.
In the Emirate of Fujairah, as elsewhere in the country, there are only two mobile operators – Du and Etisalat. They offer similar tariffs and have similar service rules. A local SIM card costs about 85 AED, which includes calls, messages, and internet. There is also an option to choose a tariff that includes only a mobile internet package.
Internet coverage in the emirate is excellent, with connectivity almost everywhere except the open sea and remote desert areas. Free Wi-Fi is available in public places (including restaurants, shopping complexes, airports, hotels). Experienced tourists advise making maximum use of free Wi-Fi, as mobile internet is quite expensive here.
The emirate has the longest coastline – approximately 90 kilometres. All beaches are owned by hotels, and their guests don't pay for beach access. Tourists from other hotels can visit these beaches by paying 20 to 35 AED. This fee includes access to sunbeds, toilets, umbrellas, and other services.
Regardless of the hotel's star rating, the beaches are always clean, the sea water is clear, and there's no litter on the sand. Some beaches have freshwater outdoor pools where children can swim safely. The Gulf of Oman itself offers tourists a view of picturesque coral kingdoms and marine life. Large turtles, curious dolphins, and even non-dangerous sharks often swim close to the shore.
Fujairah's beaches are perfect for both diving and comfortable, peaceful family holidays.
Arab cuisine is based on meat, seafood, fresh vegetables and fruits, and delicious desserts. The available dishes are similar in almost all cities and emirates, but there are some that you'll find only in Fujairah. These include "quzi" – lamb with rice and nuts, "al madruba" – salted fish cooked with spices and served with flour, "kebbe" – meat balls, and various types of meat roasts with vegetables. After lunch, try the cottage cheese dessert "esh-asaya", washing it down with aromatic coffee, which is brewed here only in Turkish coffee pots, not in coffee machines.
Be sure to try the street meat shawarma; it's completely different from what is available in Russia.
Fujairah has over 200 restaurants, but not all of them are within walking distance from hotels. You can have a snack or full lunch during the day at beach restaurants. Seafood or grilled fish prepared on the ocean coast might seem especially delicious to you.
There aren't many nightclubs or bars in the emirate, but hotels organize discos, and there are pubs where you can watch football and drink beer.
Foreign citizens can buy property with ownership rights in the emirate. However, some properties offer their real estate only for long-term lease.
There are four large shopping centres here. Fujairah City Centre, Fujairah Mall, and Century Mall were opened in 2012, while LuLu Mall Fujairah opened its doors in 2014. Each of them has its own advantages.
We recommend you pay attention to Fujairah City Centre, as it has a good website that allows you to orient yourself and manage your time. A big plus is the Magic Planet entertainment centre, which will be interesting for children.
Recently, security has improved thanks to the government's policies. Quality of life and infrastructure have changed, and conditions have become more attractive for guests and investors. Fujairah is called the safest city in the world.
A new report from Numbeo.com, a global data resource, showed that Fujairah surpassed more than 460 cities in safety (according to the survey). If you want to buy property in Abu Dhabi, know that this city is second on the list, and Sharjah, Ajman, and Dubai are also in the top ten.
Fujairah is a popular resort in the United Arab Emirates, has a capital with the same name, and differs significantly from other emirates. It is the only one located on the Arabian Sea coast, while other emirates are washed by the Persian Gulf. It receives more rainfall than other regions, and its nature is not typical for the UAE – there are mighty mountains, green valleys, and wide sandy beaches.
Fujairah's population is about 140,000 people. There is no hustle and drive of metropolises, no skyscrapers, but the agricultural sphere is well developed, historical monuments are preserved, against which you can take interesting photos. The Emirate of Fujairah has all the conditions for a peaceful comfortable rest. And it's also the only emirate in the country that doesn't extract oil, which is very much liked by new and old residents of Fujairah.
