| Al Fujairah الفجيرة |
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| — emirate — | |||
| Emirate of Fujairah | |||
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Al Fujairah
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United Arab Emirates | ||
| Emirate | Fujairah | ||
| Government | |||
| • Emir | His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi | ||
| • Crown Prince | His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi | ||
| Population (2006) | |||
| • Density | 1,150/km2 (2,978.5/sq mi) | ||
| • Metro | 130,000 | ||
| Time zone | UAE standard time (UTC+4) | ||
| Website | Fujairah | ||
Fujairah (Arabic: الفجيرة Al Fuǧaira) is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, and the only one on the Gulf of Oman in the country's east instead of on the Persian Gulf (the other six emirates).
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In 1902, Fujairah accepted a British protectorate, becoming the last of the emirates to join the Trucial States. On 2 December 1971, Fujairah joined the United Arab Emirates.
Fujairah is also home to the oldest mosque in the United Arab Emirates which was built in 1446 of mud and bricks.[1] It is similar to other mosques found in Yemen, eastern Oman, and Qatar. Al Bidyah Mosque has four domes (unlike the other similar mosques which have between seven and twelve) and lacks a minaret.
In World War II, a British RAF Wellington bomber crashed near the village of Dhadnah on February 14th, 1943. The navigator, Sergeant William Donnelly, was killed in the crash. The other four surviving crewmen were assisted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad al Sharqi, the father of the current Emir of Fujairah, and were ultimately rescued.
His Highness Crown Prince Shaikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi of Fujairah dedicated a memorial to Sergeant Donnelly on January 28th, 2010. He invited the family of Sergeant Donnelly from the United Kingdom to help dedicate the memorial. The ceremony was also attended by the British Ambassador, Edward Oaken, and the British Defense Attache, Colonel Rupert W. Robson. Sergeant Donnelly was the only British serviceman killed in the United Arab Emirates during World War II.
From 1902 until 1952, the flag of Fujairah was plain red. In 1952, the Sheikh included the name of the emirate, in white, on the red flag. This continued to be the official flag until Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi abolished the red flag and adopted, instead, the Federal flag for Fujairah.
The Emirate of Fujairah covers approximately 1,450 sq km, or about 1.4% of the area of the UAE, and is the fifth largest Emirate in the UAE. Its population is around 130,000 inhabitants. Only the Emirate of Umm al-Quwain has fewer occupants.
Fujairah is the only Emirate of the UAE that is almost totally mountainous. All the other Emirates, like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are located on the west coast, and are largely covered by desert. Consequently, Fujairah boasts a higher than average yearly rainfall of the UAE, allowing farmers in the region to produce one crop every year.
The weather is seasonal, although it is warm for most of the year. The months of October to March are generally regarded as the coolest, with daytime temperatures averaging around 25 °C (77 °F) and rarely venturing above 30 °C (86 °F)—with temperatures climbing to over 40 °C (104 °F) degrees in the summer. The winter period also coincides with the rainy season and although by no means guaranteed, this is when Fujairah experiences the bulk of its precipitation. Rainfall is higher than the rest of the UAE. partly because of the effect of the mountains that encircle the Emirate, and partly because the prevailing winds are easterly bringing with them water-laden clouds off the warm Indian Ocean.
The variability of the east coast climate is partly due to the presence of the Hajjar mountain range. As with other mountainous areas, precipitation is higher, and this allows for a more varied micro-environment in the area. Tourist visitor numbers peak just before the school summer months.
Power is ultimately held by the ruler of Fujairah, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, who has been in power since the death of his father in 1974. The Sheikh supposedly makes money himself through his own business, and the government funds are used for social housing development and beautifying the city, although there is little distinction between the state and his personal wealth. The ruler can make any decisions regarding any aspect of law, although federal laws take precedence.
The Sheikh and his immediate family heads the cabinet of Fujairah, and a few members of respected local families make up the advisory committees. The Sheikh must ratify any decisions by the cabinet. After the ratification, such decisions may be enacted into law as Emiri decrees, which are usually effective immediately.
Foreigners or visitors are not allowed to buy land. Emirati nationals can purchase land from the government, after proving their nationality. If there is no suitable land available via the official government offices, private purchases can also be made, with the eventual price being determined by the market and the individuals themselves.
Fujairah's economy is based on subsidies and federal government grants distributed by the government of Abu Dhabi (the seat of power in the UAE). Local industry consists of cement, stone crushing and mining. A resurgence in the construction activity helped the local industry. There is a flourishing free trade zone,[2] mimicking the success of the Dubai Free Zone Authority[3] which was established around Jebel Ali Port.
The federal government employs the majority of the native, local workforce, with few opening businesses of their own. Many of the locals work in the service sector. The Fujairah government prohibits foreigners from owning more than 49% of any business. The free zones have flourished, partly due to the relaxation of such prohibition within the zones, as full foreign ownership is allowed there. Shaikh Saleh Al Sharqi, younger brother to the ruler, is widely recognized as the driving force behind the commercialization of the economy.
The ruler is planning to make changes that will affect Fujairah. Among tourism projects in the pipeline is an $817m resort, Al Fujairah Paradise, near Dibba Al-Fujairah, on the northern Omani border, next to Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort. There will be around 1,000 five-star villas as well as hotels, and it is expected that all the construction work will be finished within two years.
The Sheikh is trying to improve opportunities for the local workforce, by trying to entice businesses to locate in Fujairah and diverting Federal funds to local companies in the form of development projects.
The Habshan–Fujairah oil pipeline has been announced which will create an oil export terminal in the Emirate.[4]
Health care is delivered in a mixed public and private system. Locals are treated free at the federal government hospitals, while foreigners have to pay for medical care. The national government funds the federal hospitals and subsidize health care with petrodollar revenues. There are criticisms that the government is not providing health care sufficiently for those with low income, who have to pay for critical treatment themselves.
The Fujairah government has built clinics, known locally as "medical houses", such Madena Medical House in Madab, and Moresheed Medical House in Moresheed. These clinics complement and help lighten the load on the main Fujairah Hospital by allowing walk-in appointments and providing ancillary medical services. These clinics turned out to be a success, visited by the local populace.
The chief of surgery and emergency medicine, Dr Subash Gautam, is recognized as the protagonist behind the modernization of health care within Fujairah. As the standards of surgical and emergency care improve in the country, Dr. Gautam became the director of the Advanced Trauma Life Support program, which helped introduce a measure to improve emergency treatment and survival rates amongst the thousands of trauma patients admitted across the country every year.
GMC Hospital is a private health care provider in Fujairah. It contains an emergency department, operating theater, pharmacy and outpatients clinics. It is located near the Ahli Club.
There are many government schools in Fujairah, which are mainly for Emirati people, beside some numbers of Arab residents. Aside from government schools, there are also private schools, and due to the majority of the population of the Emirate hailing from the Indian subcontinent, most of the private schools follow the Indian Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) syllabus, accredited by the Central Education Board of India and kerala syllabus under KERALA BOARD.
http://www.gemsoo-fujairah.com/ Our Own English High School, Fujairah, caters to the needs of expatriates from many countries including the subcontinent. The school follows the CBSE, New Delhi, India and the IGCSE (University of Cambridge, UK) from Kindergarten to Grade 11/12. It is part of the larger Varkey Group, which owns and runs schools around the U.A.E. The Our Own English High School in Fujairah is one of the premier institutions of learning in the East Coast. The new school wing opened a few years back catering to the educational needs of the ever growing expatriate student population. Many OOEHS , Fujairah alumni have gone onto complete their higher education in the field of medicine , engineering , business to the US,Australia,Egypt and India. OOEHS Fujairah also places a prime emphasis on the overall development of the student with many past and current students excelling in extra curricular activities like Model United Nations , Dramatics , Quizzes , Debates , Singing & Dancing etc. Our Own English High School Fujairah is among the best schools in the East Coast of the United Arab Emirates.
Three schools also provide the UK General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) syllabus. These schools are aimed at students of the expatriate community who subsequently intend to study in other countries.
Fujairah Private Academy, subjectively the top school in Fujairah, is a fee paying school for boys and girls from 3.5 to 18 years of age. There are 400+ pupils, with 120 in the Senior Section.
A few other schools serving other expatriate communities also exist, such as Iranian and Pakistani schools, educating a minority of the student population.
Pakistan Islamia School Fujairah (PISF) U.A.E. was established in 1982 with less than 35 students and classes in wooden cabins. The school has since then grown substantially and is now, with over 402 students and its own school purpose built-building, one of the leading Pakistani Community Schools in the UAE.
Fujairah Montessori Nursery is the only pre-school in Fujairah. It admits children from the age of two years. It is located at building number 14 in the "16 Buildings". The location has recently changed.
There are several Nursery schools in Fujairah. 'Superbaby' in Fasseel and 'Little Stars' in Merashid are very popular with expat children.
Travel in and around Fujairah and the surrounding towns of Khor Kalba, Khor Fakkan, Kalba and Masafi has been made easy by the development of modern highways over the last 30 years, since gaining independence in 1971. Highways are funded by the federal government directly, and contracts are tendered centrally. This is meant to safeguard the quality and delivery of the contracts and prevent corruption from damaging the construction. Highways are vital due to the unavailability of any other means of transport. There are some buses in Fujairah but not for travel; they are for schools, colleges and some companies or they come from other cities. There are no railways yet in Fujairah, though in 2008 a railway network connecting all Arab states of the Persian Gulf.[5] The car and the truck are the main mode of transport. Most daily activities can become impractical, if not impossible, without a private vehicle.
Newcomers and tourists can use the taxi system, which operates all day and night. There is no central booking system for private companies, but the government is planning to apply one. Taxis are hailed by standing at the roadside and flagging one down. Fares within the city are fixed at AED 4 per journey, which equates to one dollar and nine cents(USD), 50 pence (GBP) or 78 Euro cents. Destinations which are slightly outside the main city, such as the Beach Motel, Fujairah Hospital and the Jail attract a higher fare of 6 AED.
As of 2007 all taxis are metered, uniform in color (mostly yellow with green stripes) and report to a head company known as Cars. The meter starts from a minimum of 3 AED. A ride cost an average of 6 AED. The new Sheikh Khalifa highway linking Dubai and Fujairah was officially inaugurated on Saturday, following delays to the originally scheduled opening date of July 2011. The Fujairah International Airport is near the city, with a large falcon statue at the airport roundabout.
Fujairah City Centre, a lifestyle and entertainment destination, will boost the emirate’s retail sector when it opens in early 2012, said its developer. Majid Al Futtaim Properties
Introducing a broad portfolio of new, international and local brands to Fujairah for the first time, the mall’s diverse retail mix will redefine the shopping experience for the growing community.
With 99 per cent of the mall’s 105 units fully leased to-date, Fujairah City Centre is on track to open as scheduled, said a statement from MAF.
The mall is currently being developed by MAF in partnership with the government-owned Fujairah Investment Establishment
The mall will be anchored by a 8,687 sqm Carrefour hypermarket, set to be the largest in the emirate and a 3,882 sq m Centrepoint, which houses the four brands: Splash, Lifestyle, Shoe Mart and Babyshop.
The other key anchors include value-added department stores Max Value and E-Max offering practical and affordable fashion and electronics, and on the higher end, a 943 sq m Paris Gallery catering to international brands of watches, jewellery, fragrances and cosmetics.
Magic Planet, a popular family entertainment centre also makes its debut with a 1,150 sqm concept, attracting families with exciting rides and challenging games.
The mall will be the fashion and lifestyle destination for the community with over 35 per cent of the mall’s stores dedicated to women’s, men’s and children’s clothing and accessories.
H&M, New Look and Sun & Sand Sports will have a large flagship presence to showcase the broadest collections on offer,. it added.
The popularity of dining and café culture is also reflected in Fujairah City Centre’s diverse food and beverage offer, said the MAF statement.
With no less than 25 dining options - including many unique brands to the community, Fujairah City Centre will offer a range of international cuisines including Arabic, Indian, Italian and American to suit all palates.
The mall’s food court features popular options such as Wendy’s, Subway, NYC Fries, Just Falafel and Bombay Chowpatty, while casual dine-in options include Chili’s, Pizza Express, Taj Spice and the all-day dining bistro, Beanstro.
“Fujairah City Centre will revitalise the emerging retail landscape in Fujairah by introducing a portfolio of first-time brands and dining experiences tailored to the immediate and projected needs of the growing community,”.
“With the mall’s accelerated progress on leasing and construction, and accident free status to-date, it is setting the benchmark for best practices in retail development,”
The new Sheikh Khalifa highway linking Dubai and Fujairah was officially inaugurated on Saturday 4th,December,2011.
The new opening date was timed to be in conjunction with the 40th occasion of the UAE’s National Day. The 45km long highway will cut the driving time between Dubai and Fujairah to 30 minutes from the current 90, developers claim.
“The road begins from the entrance of Fujairah City, crossing Al Gazirmi locality, Wadi Sahm, Asfeeni, Mamdooh, Kadra and Shawka Valleys in Ras Al Khaimah, and ends at Maleeha Road in Sharjah, namely at Hamda area," Dr Abdullah Be Hanif Al Nuaimi, undersecretary of the Public Works Ministry.
The $436m highway is part of the UAE’s $1.6bn plan for increased infrastructure investment in the Northern Emirates. This investment includes the building of electricity and water networks in the UAE’s only Eastern Coast emirate.
Drinking alcohol is allowed at designated hotels, and as of 2000, at a few bars. Until 1998, gambling in the form of slot machines was allowed in certain hotels, but personal petitions by locals to the Sheikh outlawed the activity. It transpired that some players were losing entire monthly wages on the slots, leaving nothing for the upkeep of their families.
Fujairah is one of the safest cities in the UAE. Cinemas are generally open till late and de-sexualised versions of the Hollywood blockbusters are shown. However, the Hindi cinemas are not constrained by the censors because they are not as raunchy as some Hollywood productions.
Groups of (Emirati) youths tend to socialize together on the streets and cafés or outside games arcades, cinemas and mini malls. It is unusual to see mixed gendered groups as the Emirati society is quite segregated.
On vacations occasionally, many Fujairah residents travel to Eastern emirates such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi for entertainment and shopping purposes. Or they might visit Wadis surrounding the emirate on camping and hiking trips. While other Emirates residents visit Fujairah for relaxation purposes and to get away from the stifling heat of the desert. Watersports are becoming more and more popular amongst both locals and tourists. Examples of watersports are Jet Ski, windsurfing, waterskiing and diving. Professional diving instructors can be found in Le Meridien or in Royal Beach Hotel, where one can even obtain an International Diving license for a fee.
Gulf News, January 27th, 2010: "Fujairah honors Briton killed in the Second World War."
Gulf News, January 28th, 2010: "Here lies Uncle Billy."
| Ras al-Khaimah (Northern) | Musandam | |||
| Sharjah | Arabian Sea | |||
| Fujairah | ||||
| Ras al-Khaimah (Southern) | Al Batinah Region |
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