Fujairah - The other side of the UAE

 

Took a day trip to Fujairah, passing Masafi Town, Dibba, Khor Fakkan and Fujairah City on the way and stopping at Wadi Shawka on the drive back. Time well spent for sure.

The Friday Market

On the way to Masafi town, coming from the Sharjah / Dubai side.

Roasted Corn

Note the sophisticated wind machine.

Variety

Pots and plants!

The Wise Men

Discussing topics of importance.

Graffiti - Masafi Style

Spotted on the road from Masafi to Dibba

Towns

A small town outside Masafi.

Dibba Harbour

The National Day weekend meant the UAE flag was a common sight.

On the Shores

The Dibba beach.

Camping

Is a common activity in the Eastern Region. Tent designs vary.

Hidden Gems

There's a few beautiful spots on the coast.

Al Badiyah Mosque

Said to be from the 15h century, a few km north of Fujairah City.

Mosque Manners

Shoes off!

Watch Tower

One of the two watch towers overlooking the mosque.

Views

Looking inland from the tower.

Age

Since neither the mosque or the tower used wood, radiocarbon dating was not an option, but in the late 1990s researchers concluded it was more than 500 years old.

Reality Check

Photos can be deceiving. It was the National Day weekend after all, so the ocassional bus load of tourists arrived.

Fujairah Fort

Again the exact time it was built isn't clear, but probably ranges between the 16th and 18th century.

Inside

The fort only opened to the public in 2010.

Views

The fort is a on small hill and you can walk up one of the watch towers to get this view.

Stairs

Not made for modern sized humans.

Doors

Surrounding the fort are remains of a few old mudbrick houses.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

The second largest mosque in the UAE, after its cousin in Abu Dhabi named after the same person.

Architecture

65 domes and six minarets, each between 80 and 100 metres tall.

Casual

Cleaning of the largest dome was in progress.

New

The mosque opened in 2015.

Size

It can accommodate 28,000 people.

Shawka Pools

With very little water this time of the year.

Wadi Shawka

Just off the E84 from Fujairah to Sharjah.

Spiky

Typical vegetation in the Hajar mountains

Seasons

In the rainy season, this area will be flowded

Shawka Dam

This area is full of water when it rains - right now, you can use it as a Cricket field.

Hajar Mountains

The beauitful mountain ranges of the UAE.

Worth a Visit

Especially during sunset.