Fujairah Travel Guide

If your looking forward for a rampant nightlife then you are in the wrong city. Fujairah boasts little in the way of night clubs apart from a few in the tourist hotels.
Most nightlife is based on the family. Sitting on the promenade, outside small coffee houses or slowly driving along the Khor Fahkan/Fujairah/Kalba coast road. I do mean slowly as most cars amble along at under 30Kph with a few younger generation drivers taking over late at night and using the roads as a race track. Be prepared for speeding cars after 1.00am, especially at weekends (Thursday and Friday nights).

Dress Code: Certainly the hotel nightclubs demand smart casual dress. Women especially will be frowned on if wearing low-cut or revealing dresses.

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Remember that the UAE is a Muslim country and penalties are severe for breaking the Sharia Laws. Anything against Mohammad and the Holy Quoran are dealt with heavily. Drinking alcohol in public is a no no as is a woman dressing 'scantily'. Don't even think about class C and above drugs unless you want to be put in jail and the key thrown away.
Check with your local UAE embassy as to wether or not your medications are allowed. Many are not and a long prison sentence can be expected for disobeying the law in these matters.
I take Codeine based drugs and Tramadol for arthritic pain. These are Opium based that I get on prescription. Even in the original boxes they are banned. I carry a letter from my doctor stating that I need these drugs. this enables me to carry them without fear of 6 months in jail! Do the same. If unsure... don't take them with you.
Kissing in public is frowned upon and even more so if people of the same sex kiss in public. Expect though to often see men holding hands whilst walking together. No, they are not gay. It is traditional even if it does look a little strange at first. DON'T ASSUME ANYTHING.
Remember that bartering is almost compulsary but getting into an argument with the locals over prices is not. In all souks and most small shops, barter for the best price but don't insult the shop keeper. I bought a 1GB pen drive for only £28. He wanted £40!
All Nationals (Emiratees) are as honest as the day is long but don't always trust foreigners especially those of extraction from certain countries (Sorry, I cannot name names here). Some are expert pick pockets.

Unique Suggestions: Read up on local traditions, cultures and laws. respect them. You are in their country, not they in yours.

Fun Alternatives: Bored? Go to one of the many sea front hotels and have a go at scuba diving and other water sports.
Take a drive down to the desert city of Al Ain. Half way down the main street you will find yourselves in Oman.
Have a drive north to Dibba and visit it's most beautiful Mosque. The town is lifeless but the mosque is not.
Drive up to Masafi on its winding, mountainous road but take care as more people get killed on this road than nearly any other in the UAE.
I drove this road several times at night and it is not for the faint hearted as the locals use this road for racing in their souped up cars and 4-wheelers. They love driving no more than a foot or two behind you at speeds up to 140kph and then overtaking on hills and bends.
Carry on past Masafi onto the Al Dhaid road and visit the Friday Market. Started a few years ago this is a must see place. Locals selling foods, fruits, ornaments and carpets abound, but be prepared to be hassled.

Luggage and bags: Always carry a cooler bag with lots of chilled mineral drinks. NO alcohol though! Firstly you can dehydrate and secondly it is against the law to drink alcohol in a public place anywhere in the UAE.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Unless you visit in the winter months (December through to March) you wont need warm clothing as the temperature rarely dips below 20oC even at night. In the summer the minimum is around 35oC and a maximum of 45oC (it hit 52oC on one of my visits). Humidity can climb to nearly 95% at night, so be warned.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: I have yet to see a mosquito here, even in the mountains. In fact, its rare to see any insects! High factor suntan lotion is a must, as is some form of coolent spray for the elderly and the young.
Check on allowed medicines before you enter the UAE (contact the UAE embassy) as several opium based drugs such as Tramadol and Codeine are illegal. Carry a doctor's letter of authorisation and keep all medicines in their original packets, not loose.
Medicines, toileties and such like are cheap in Fujairah so buy them when you arrive.

Photo Equipment: Watch out for cam-corders. Ours went haywire when the temperature hit 40oC. Keep all such instruments, including mobile phones, out of the sun.
Cameras to buy are fairly cheap and are much less than in the UK. Mobile phones cost about half as much as at home and are ALL SIM FREE so will work on all networks. Computer parts are a good buy too in the small corner shops behind the main street.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Ladies, on the public beaches it is advised to cover up. Being a muslim state the emiratis don't take kindly to women showing too much body.
When visiting our friends (family) at Masafi, my wife even wears long sleeved blouses, so wearing a bikini (or less) on the beach is a big no no.
Men are advised to wear shorts, not thongs! Some beaches are for women and children only, so look for signs as it may only apply on certain days.

Miscellaneous: Clothing is ultra cheap to buy in Fujairah. There are a few supermarkets in Fujairah that are almost department stores and a pair of shorts or a t-shirt can be picked up for a couple of £'s.
We always head for the Safeer supermarket or Lulus which both carry a huge range of clothes and accessories.
If you must smoke, then cigarettes are about 80p a pack of 20. Buy alcohol at the duty free in Dubai airport as to buy it in a hotel requires a bank loan!