Exploring Fujairah on a 360° Virtual Tour

Updated Article
Soon it will be possible to explore Fujairah and plan your real visit from the comfort of your own home.

Already one can see Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain on more than 100 photographic panoramas.

Using Google Earth technology the site allows you to zoom in and out on the tallest building in the world (the most popular scene) and drag the panorama along until you spot another vista you want to explore.

The site, 360 EMIRATES Virtual Tours, says viewers can ‘explore the virtual world of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Uum al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah’ but currently the search for Fujairah results as follows: ‘Fujairah Not Found, Listings 0.’

360° Fujairah?
I contacted the owners at Al Fanoos to ask them when they are going to make a 360° panorama of Fujairah (as it is arguably one of the most spectacular of the seven emirates) and this was their reply:

“We would like to go in Fujairah within 1-2 months. We definitely want to show all of the Emirates in the country…this new technology is unknown for most….Our mission is a little hard and the path is unbeaten but we like this country and we would like to show it to the world.”

Challenging Mission
The web site states their high mission:

“We would like to create the best virtual country (U.A.E.) in the world where you can find and see 360° panorama photos in virtual tours from all of important place, landmark, museum, heritage, building, hotel, restaurant, bar, shop, showroom, company, factory, mall, government office, park, water park, theme park, entertainment place .... etc. in the emirates.”

Helpful Resource
When the 360° Panorama of Fujairah is created it will be a great resource, not just for curious residents but for tourists seeking a foretaste of Fujairah.

Updated Article
360° Emirates Panorama on Google Earth Comes to Fujairah, FIF, 20 September 2010.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Click on the above link and get Fujairah news and pictures coming onto your daily Facebook News Update.

Image: “The tallest building in the world (the most popular site)…”

Fujairah Developing North Towards the Port

When the city of Fujairah is shielded by mountains on one side and lapped by sea on the other there are not many choices as to where it can expand.

To the south, development has sprawled towards the Sharjah town of Kalba to such an extent that at a cursory glance Kalba and Fujairah look like one city.

To the west, the Fujairah government is establishing a large industrial estate at Al Hail and the days are numbered for mechanic, plumbers and electricians who will have to move out from the old industrial area, west of the Lulu Hypermarket.

A main development of new residential areas is taking place between Faseel and the Port. Only five years ago there were great barren sandy stretches along Al Faseel Road between the Hilton Hotel and the Fujairah Port.

Now there’s a hospital (how many more years will it take to open?), a burgeoning HCT Women’s College, the Al Safeer mall and hotel on the rise, a chain of Fast Food outlets, the broad bypass highway on Kuwait Road boasting a new commercial district and the ongoing growth of the Port/Freezone area with its oil and gas pipelines, storage bunkers, water and power plants and refinery.

New residential areas are being established beyond the Women’s College and many homes are being built under the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme on any spare land in Faseel that can be found.

New apartment towers continue to be built in Faseel and some of these have showrooms and shops underneath.

Dozen New Shops in Faseel
One example is the Moosa Jassim Building on the corner of King Fayssal Rd and the first street which heads towards the beach.

On the ground floor of this tower are the following new shops: Abaya shops (two), Car Rentals, Grocery shop, two Automatic Laundries, an Internet café (only Dh 5 an hour), a Women’s Hair and Beauty Salon (with toys for children), a Men’s Salon (called a saloon) and a show room ready to rent.

Upstairs, amidst the apartments, there is a Dental Clinic and an Engineering Consultancy.

Postscript
At the time of writing two apartments were available for rent at Dh 33,000 per annum, both on the 11th floor. Details: 055 2519389.

Take a Look
Check out the photos in this album of the new shops in the Moosa Jassim Building.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Image: “New apartment towers continue to be built in Faseel and some of these have showrooms and shops underneath.”

When I was Ruler of Fujairah (UAE) for a Day #3

Preamble
The background to this article is a dream in which the Ruler of Fujairah asked different people to assume his role for a day and these were the notes from my day!

Here is link to the first post which describes how this came about and how I made my first royal decree on issues to do with education in Fujairah.

Here is the second post which describes some new measures to clear the air and enhance the environment.

Now to this, the third and final report on the royal experiment.

Along the Corniche
Time was moving on but I wanted to visit the corniche before finishing my royal duties.

The water was sparkling across the Arabian Sea but as we drove slowly I thought the beach area was looking dowdy and in need of special attention.

Corniche Conversations
As we approached the Fish Roundabout I hit upon an idea—that it would be a good thing to hold some meetings with different groups at the palace to discuss what could be done to improve the Fujairah Corniche.

Many people use the Corniche so we could schedule a meeting for parents and their children to make suggestions and then gather together representatives from the marine fraternity—the Marine Club, boat rentals, the Tourist Night Souq and the Bull Butting organizers. Meetings could be held to canvas ideas on how to improve one of our most valuable treasures.

Time for a Facelift
As I jotted down some ideas for an invitation letter to different groups to discuss an overhaul of the beach precinct I noted a few things that I wanted to see implemented:

Tree Planting
The tacky plastic looking trees would be replaced with the planting of new palm trees to provide shelter for those using the beach. The paving tiles in the middle of the road would be replaced by grass and flower beds to soften and beautify.

Modern Playground
The playground has been updated in recent years but the ground is still uneven, the grass is patchy and the equipment has taken a beating. We would ask parents and children to scan around the world and collect ideas for building a new playground that was safe, creative and innovative.

Swimming Pool
We would establish a first class Olympic size swimming pool with associated diving pools to help prepare swimmers of Fujairah for competing in national and international swimming events as well as offering pools for those who simply wanted to swim or paddle.

Located at the corniche it would offer swimming in salt as well as fresh water.

Part of the complex would incorporate a water amusement park that would be Fujairah’s equivalent of Wild Wadi.

Integrated Marine Sports
It would be good to work with the Marine Club in developing our major water sports—providing schools to train children and young people in sailing, rowing, kayaking, fishing and Jet Ski boating (for older people).

What about providing a range of boats that could be taken out by individuals for leisure rides and for fishing?

Integrated Development
On the other side of the corniche the idea emerged of an integrated plan of cafes with a host of sporting and leisure activities including horse riding, dodgems, quad bikes and mini golf.

What are the other sports and amusement activities that the people of Fujairah and tourists would love to be engaged at the Fujairah corniche?

Bull Butting Arena
Realizing that bull butting is a major tourist attraction, how could this site be upgraded to cope with the hundreds of people who come each Friday, without losing its traditional rustic character? It would be good to consider the building of stands for spectators that would give a better view and ensure the safety of both the animals and the public.

Dreaming Over
It was time to emerge from the dream of being a Ruling Sheikh for a day and reflect upon the important role that is exercised daily by the Ruler and his advisers.

Take a Look
Some photos of the Fujairah Corniche this week are posted at this link.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

When I was Ruler of Fujairah (UAE) for a Day #2

Preamble
The background to this article is a dream in which I was asked by the Ruler of Fujairah to assume his role for a day.

Here is the first post which describes how this came about and how I made my first royal decree.

Towards the Corniche
Recalling how someone once said to me that “it was a sign of maturity to change your mind,” I asked my driver to take our car down to the corniche rather than returning directly to the Palace. I noticed in the mirrors that a clutch of media people was following us in the hope of scavenging another story.

On the way I looked up to the mighty Hajar Mountains and the peaks seemed shrouded and lacking in definition. The sky was so white it reminded me of the song by ‘Procol Harum’—‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’.

We stopped the car to allow the camera man to snap some photographs. As we came into the Fujairah suburb of Faseel I noticed the sky was now a cobalt blue and the camera man took pictures of the sky’s colours behind the Siji Apartments and the Abu Bakr Al Sedeeq Mosque at the Coffee Pot Roundabout. This was what the Fujairah sky should be like.

Pointers in Preventative Medicine
We stopped outside the Fujairah Nursing Institute along Al Gurfa Road and an aide went inside to arrange an impromptu meeting with all the trainee nurses and their teachers. As the nurses came out towards the gate the media set up their tripods.

After the Salaams I told them that the Ruler and his government had renewed their concern for communities living near the quarries and after tightening the rules in 2008 and making their inspections, by mid-2009 they had closed down seven unsafe quarries, equivalent to 10% of the total number of quarries in the emirate.

I held up a copy of today’s Gulf News (Fujairah Quarry Gets Closure Notice, Gulf News, 15 September 2010) and said that Fujairah’s Ministry of Environment and Water has been monitoring air pollution levels, fining those in breach of the regulations and that recently it had forced a stone crushing unit to stop all its operations until it complies.

I invited this young medical community to look up and enjoy the bright deep blue sky directly above. Then I invited them to look over to the Hajars and notice how indistinct they were today because of the quarry dust.

After taking it in I said:

“We benefit greatly as an emirate from the sale of our rocks to Dubai and overseas but we’ve also been attentive to the complaints about the medical dangers of our quarries and the way the polluted quarry dust has been affecting people’s health. But you can see with your own eyes that the Fujairah government has much more work to do.”

Clearing the Air
I announced new measures that would be introduced:

1. Regular independent evaluations of Fujairah quarries to monitor the emission levels of pollutants in the air. The independent nature of these reports is essential as the government has a vested economic interest in the quarry business. The evaluations would extend to the investigation of vehicle exhaust emissions, industrial chemicals, greenhouse gas emissions, desert dust and all forms of air pollutants, not just quarry dust.

2. The government will ensure a comprehensive network of air monitoring stations on the ground and, in consultation with other emirates and Gulf neighbours, we will look to install the latest state of the art satellite systems to help monitor pollution, detect unlawful polluters and effectively control our air quality. These will have the capability of detecting radiation levels as nuclear reactors are built in the UAE, in Iran and the surrounding region.

3. A new page will be established on the Fujairah Government web site to raise public awareness about air pollution. This will include a pollution gauge to allow people to check up-to-the-minute levels of air contamination. A new system of public alerts will be instituted to warn people of hazardous atmospheric conditions.

4. A major study will be implemented as soon as possible that will work with the hospitals and all medical practitioners in the emirate to investigate the impact of air pollution on the health of Fujairah residents and to bring back its findings and recommendations which would be made available to the public.

I concluded:

“We pride ourselves on the natural beauty of this emirate with its pure, clean 100% natural environment. We want residents and tourists to breathe in deeply when they move around Fujairah. We must ensure that our business enterprises are never allowed to endanger the health of our people. We want our people to live safely and healthily now.”

After wishing the nursing students and their teachers a successful academic year it was time to get some free time and hopefully some fresh air down at the corniche.

Take a Look
See the pictures of The Skies of Fujairah from a polluted ‘whiter shade of pale’ to a deep cobalt blue.

The Day Thus Far
When I was Ruler of Fujairah (UAE) for a Day—Decree #1 (Education), FIF, 15 September 2010.

('Substitute Sheikh') Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Image: The atmosphere surrounding the Hajars—‘a whiter shade of pale’.

Abu Dhabi Banks on Fujairah Amid Threats from Iran

Ayesha Daya explains why the UAE’s capital is turning to the ‘more distant Fujairah’.

The Bloomberg article reports on Abu Dhabi’s bankrolling of infrastructure projects in the eastern emirate including the country’s biggest power and water plant costing $2.8 billion.

The number of threats by Iran to block the traditional oil passage through the Strait of Hormuz seems the biggest motivation for Abu Dhabi looking north-east.

The recession hitting the building programme in Dubai has also shifted Fujairah’s reliance on exporting rocks to becoming a centre for trade, oil storage and the transshipment of crude oil.

For tanker war, Iranian threats, pipeline projects and oil bottlenecks follow this link:

Ayesha Daya, Abu Dhabi Paymasters Fund Fujairah Oil Hub to Bypass Hormuz, Bloomberg, 16 September 2010. Also reposted in Arabian Business.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Image: Abu Dhabi’s pipeline to Fujairah will bypass the Strait of Hormuz which Iran threatens to block. (Picture courtesy of the Gulf Blog)

When I was Ruler of Fujairah (UAE) for a Day—Decree #1

Preamble
I had a dream. His Highness, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, the Ruler of Fujairah and Member of the Supreme Council (UAE), called me saying he was going away on holiday and that he was trying something new.

His experiment was to ask a different resident of Fujairah to be in charge of the emirate for every day of his absence and he asked if I would serve in the role for twenty-four hours?

“Your Highness, I would count it a great honour,” I blurted out and then catching my breath I asked, “But is this to simply be a figurehead?”

“No way,” the Ruler replied. “Don’t just keep my seat warm. Make some significant decisions for the good of our emirate. You can’t do too much damage in a day,” he added with a glint in his eye and a smile.

I confessed, “I’ve never had any training to be a Sheikh and you have extremely big sandals to fill. I’m happy to sit in your chair so long as the decisions I make are not seen as a sign of disrespect to you and the valuable service you have rendered.”

Sheikh Hamad reassuringly said, “Don’t worry about that. There’s an old Arab proverb that goes like this: صاحب الحق عينه قوية. Literally it says that the one with the right has a strong eye. To have a strong eye in our Arab culture,” he explained, “is to be bold and to not worry about what others say. So if you’re right, you don't have to worry.”

Notes of a Ruling Sheikh
I was given a warm welcome by his staff and for the first 60 minutes I received some well-wishers at the Remaila Palace—a Consul from Syria, a few grumpy Sheikhs with some complaints, an international dignitary to talk about his human rights organisation, some local CEOs wanting special favours and a few ordinary citizens to wish me a belated ‘Eid Mubarak’.

I enjoyed this open majlis but after one hour I was awash with coffee and high on the most delicious dates that had been grown on one of the Ruler’s farms.

With all the hand-shaking and Salaaming over I went back to the royal office with that Arab proverb reverberating in my mind and knowing that I wanted to make some significant decisions.

Decree # 1
Today (15 September 2010) I reflected on the fact that 299,000 students started their new academic year (2010-2011) at 725 public schools across the UAE, under the guidance of more than 28,000 teachers and administrative staff who had started their work last Monday. What an important day this is for all children and young people in our country!

I thought back to the speech that Humaid Obaid Al Qattami, the UAE Minister of Education, gave on Monday when he urged all teachers to give of their best.

Al Qattami said to representatives of the teachers from across the Emirates:

“The community fully trusts you with preparing the generations which represent the country's future. Through your noble mission, education can achieve its goals and aspirations.”

I thought then that those words were somewhat hollow, that we had the teachers but we hadn’t given them enough ‘noble’ tools. We lacked a plan that would take the youngest pupils and bring them confidently through the various levels of education in the next 15-20 years.

I summoned my right hand man and said we were making a surprise visit to one of the public schools in Fujairah. “Should I alert the media?” he asked. “Yes, I said, “I want all the media to record my visit and speech.”

Within an hour we were in the school grounds. The Principal was busy on this opening day and looked flabbergasted at my unexpected visit. I roved around the classrooms meeting teachers and shaking hands with the children. An unscheduled assembly was held in the school hall.

After my introduction as a ‘substitute Sheikh’ I addressed the gathering:

Three years ago this school was given a poor assessment. If this school had received a report card like the one you take home to your parents it would have read like this:

* Basic Necessities—Fail
* Projectors and Video Equipment—Fail
* Laboratory Equipment—Fail
* Water Coolers—Fail or Not Applicable but subsequently the Red Crescent came to to the rescue to provide you with water coolers!
* Sports Hall—Fail and again Not Applicable because this was non-existent. The School Yard was often too hot for Sports Education and for students to play at morning break and lunch time.
* Air Conditioners—Fail
* Door Handles—Fail because they were all broken.
* Financial Resourcing—Fail. This was hopelessly inadequate. The school needed at least Dh 300,000 to bring it to an acceptable standard.
* School Principal—A+! Your Principal had just arrived and was doing an excellent job bringing the school into the twentieth century [one century at a time]! But, good on her, she spent the entire budget in the first two days on renewing the basics!

Things have improved here at this school but such a report card is unacceptable in this emirate and I am visiting today to say that the government of Fujairah is now committing itself to supplying you and all schools with the tools to do the job.

To this end a number of decisions have been made but let me announce the most significant:

1. The education portion of the government budget will be revised and substantially increased so that every school in the emirate will be resourced with all the new equipment that your school so tragically lacked—air conditioning, lab equipment, video projectors, computer suite, sports hall and library. Let me add while I am speaking about libraries, all schools in Al Fujairah are urged with my support to apply for the Dh 100,000 Emirates Foundation grant to upgrade their libraries. [Libraries to Benefit from Foundation Grants, The National, 14 September 2010]

2. The salaries of all teachers in the emirate of Fujairah at all levels (pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary) are to be revised and dramatically upgraded. It’s not acceptable for graduating students fresh out of one of our tertiary Colleges to go into the UAE police force or UAE army and be paid in their first year more than what their secondary school principals are being paid after years of dedicated training and service.

To keep our country and citizens safe is of great importance but the training of the minds and the shaping of the character of the young people like those who are before me today is the most important job in this emirate. Money is not everything but the salaries of teachers must reflect the importance of the task and the priorities that we are now emphasizing. I want to attract the best teachers to Fujairah and when they come to do all in my power to see them keep up their training.

The people from this emirate of Fujairah are sometimes mocked by those in the larger cities. They’re often referred to as ‘mountain goats’. But the overhaul that I envisage will put an end to that rough, uneducated stereotype as the people of Fujairah become known around the world as those possessing the highest educational standards and as capable leaders and trendsetters in their chosen field.

3. Students have been entering our tertiary Colleges in Fujairah without the basic grounding that should have been given to them in their primary and secondary schools. This has to change if we are to compete on the international stage and if our tertiary Colleges are going to take them on significantly further. Along with improving the standard of our teachers will be a major plan that overhauls and integrates the entire educational pathway from pre-school through to post-graduate education.

The speech was well received. The media was buzzing. The teachers were euphoric, at least for a day. I hadn’t told them that teachers would not only receive higher salaries but they would receive higher scrutiny and if they didn’t shape up in their evaluations they would be shipped out and replaced by those who did have the goods to teach our young people in Fujairah.

I thought I would return to the Palace for more coffee and dates and to consider my next decree.

On my way I checked the Blackberry that Sheikh Hamad had left for me and noticed a new article [UAE Students Keen on Co-Education, Newzglobe, 15-09-2010] stating that UAE tertiary students were keen on co-education. I reflected that this trend was already taking on at our Fujairah Colleges and I mulled over how we could be proactive in eliminating separate Colleges and developing universities where women and men could study together and thus be prepared for service together in this modern globalised world.

I was starting to enjoy the life of a ruling Sheikh.

(His Highness?) Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Image: His Highness, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, the Ruler of Fujairah and Member of the Supreme Council (UAE) and his three sons (from right to left in Arabic fashion—His Highness Sheikh Maktoum, His Highness Sheikh Rashid—at the time graduating from university in England—and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Fujairah. (Photo from a billboard outside the Fujairah Football Club).

‘Anybody knows a MANDI Place in Fujairah? We need it, nowwww!’

This was the tweet that was re-tweeted this week with urgency, presumably by a car load of hungry tourists.

One answer is ‘Yes, at the Hadhramout Restaurant on Al Gurfa Road down from the Fujairah Fish Market.’

Yemeni Cuisine
Like many of its type around the world this restaurant is named after the historic region of Hadramawt (or Hadramaut…Arabs don’t worry about the spelling) along the Gulf of Aden in Yemen. This area is famous for the distinctive Yemeni cuisine which includes ‘mandi’.

Variety of Eating Areas
The style of the Fujairah restaurant is basic and simple. It has a public area for dining at tables, a private room curtained off for families and a large carpeted area where diners sit on the floor and eat around a central plate in typical Arabic fashion. This part of the restaurant is called ‘Wadi Hadramout’ so there is an understanding that the restaurant is to be an oasis and a place of refreshment and rest.

There are a couple of areas where guests can wash and dry their hands as most diners will dispense with cutlery and eat with their hand.

'Simple but Lively'
The menu is limited but in keeping with the diet of Yemeni shepherds. Printed in English and Arabic it reads:

Mutton Mandi 27 dirhams
Mutton Hanith 27 dirhams
Mutton Borma 17 dirhams
Chicken Mandi 17 dirhams
Chicken Hanith 17 dirhams
Chicken Mathbi 28 dirhams
Kingfish (no price but maybe this fluctuates according to supply and season)

Main Dish
The main dish consists of generous portions of meat (lamb or a chicken) that are served on a mountain of basmati rice.

The meat is first cut before being marinated with spices which normally include cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, coriander and turmeric. These are mixed into a sauce.

The meat is wrapped in aluminium foil and cooked over a charcoal fire for about 90 minutes. The meat roasted in the mandi style is tender, juicy and it literally falls off the bone.

I tried chicken mandi on my last visit and it was succulent and done to perfection.

I am not an expert on the other dishes but I think the hanith style involves a steaming to produce a lighter taste. The mutton borma I think is a stew. Can anyone provide more information on this?

On the Side
Accompanying the big plate of meat on rice are two other items—a small salad of rocket leaves on diced cucumber and onion pieces served with some lime and a sizeable bowl of tomato pesto (tomato, onion and spices) to give a spicy kick and keep the meal moist.

Arabs generally do not like hot spicy food and when they do have curries they are considerably toned down from the Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi versions. The spices do reflect the influence of Asia and as one reviewer described mandi, it is ‘simple and lively’!

Sometimes a bowl of soup will also be served.

Desserts
There are no desserts on the Hadramout menu but they could have had yogurt or ice cream in the refrigerator where cool water and soft drinks could be bought. Yemenites are not known to be great consumers of sweets but when desserts are served they are often made with the famous Yemeni honey.

Eating Communally
Apart from the distinctive taste one of the notable features is the communal style eating. A piece of plastic is laid on the table or on the floor then one plate is put between two or how many people are gathered for the meal. In some Yemeni restaurants there is also only one plate for the salad and pesto but here in Fujairah there are separate plates for the sauce and salad.

One experiences a greater togetherness dining like this at the Hadramout. As they say in nearby Ethiopia, “People who eat from the same plate will never betray one another.”

So get along and build up your trust at Fujairah’s Yemeni style Hadramout Restaurant.

Hours
It opens from midday to midnight every day (apart from during Ramadan when it opens after sundown).

Location
On Al Gurfa Road, the same side as the Fish Souq (market) and about 10 shops along in the direction of the Coffee Pot Roundabout.

The restaurant is not easily identified by readers of English but check out the photos to get a picture of what it looks like.

Contact
Contact numbers are:
Ph: (09) 2222988
Fax: (09) 2244214

Take a Look
Check out the photos in this album from the Hadramout Restaurant in Fujairah.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Fishing Lures People to Fujairah and Still They’re Getting Hooked

To understand Fujairah one must reflect on its roundabouts.

The Fish Roundabout is appropriately located on Fujairah’s corniche, near the entrance to the Marine Club with its marina and down from the beach with its scallop shell seats and shelters.

Like the nearby coffeepot and perfume roundabouts, the fish roundabout has a watery theme as it spouts water from the mouths of the fish.

Historically Fujairah has been built on the twin pillars of agriculture and fishing and the Fujairah International Marine Club is doing much to preserve the memories of the shasha (fishing boats made from palm branches) with its regular shoosh (shasha) boat races and displays of the making of this ancient craft.

While fishing in Fujairah has been transformed with the arrival of fiberglass boats, outboard motors, jeeps that pull in long nets and work now being done by Bangladeshi and Indian expats, the industry is still critical to the local economy and the diet of both Emiratis and expats.

Over the years the industry on Fujairah’s east coast has been threatened by overfishing, oil dumping and from time to time red tide algae. New fish farming initiatives like the aquaculture business in Dibba are seeking to keep the industry afloat.

Fishing is also a popular sport and the safe waters of the Arabian Sea attract scores of people to the east coast. Fishing boats can be hired or people can go out to fish with professionals who provide the boat, the equipment and the knowledge of the best fishing holes.

There’s a wide variety of fish that is pulled from Fujairah waters and regular fishing competitions attract people out to sea.

Fishing tourism is a growth industry with training being offered for salt and fresh water fishing, including deep water fishing.

Fujairah has also made a great splash for the new species of fresh water fish that have been discovered and named by Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa.

More than Keeping the Traffic Flowing
There’s no doubt about it! The Fish Roundabout with its healthy specimens and playful fountain alongside the ship-shaped Marine Club captures a great deal of the essence of the emirate of Fujairah.

Further
Fujairah Fly-fishing capital of the UAE, FIF, 15 November 2007.
Fujairah: Salt Water Fish Capital of the UAE, ETE, 3 June 2007.
Fishing in Fujairah, ETE, 27 April 2007.
Dead Fish, Oil and the Fujairah Beaches, ETE, 12 April 2007.
Inaugural Fujairah Fishing Classic is Al Luring, FIF, 16 October 2009.
Oil and Algae Plaguing Fujairah Coastline, FIF, 12 January 2009.
Fujairah Corniche is a Great Place for Mending Nets, FIF, 30 December 2008.
Fishing: Quintessentially Fujairah, FIF, 26 May 2008.
A Day in the Life of a Fujairah Fisherman, FIF, 27 October 2007.
Fishing in Fujairah, FIF, 6 May 2010.
Traditional Boat Races Keep Emirati Culture Alive, FIF, 4 November 2009.
Want to Go Fishing in Fujairah? ETE, 12 November 2009.
New Species of Fish Named, FIF, 1 November 2009.
New Species of Fish Discovered, FIF, 6 July 2009.
Second Fish Sub-Species Discovered in Fujairah, ETE, 1 November 2009.
Rare Fish Pulled Up in Fujairah, FIF, 24 August 2009.

Related
Take a Look at the Fujairah Souqs (including the Fish Souq), FIF.
Discover what Fujairah is about from its Roundabouts, FIF, 3 September 2010.

Take a Look at these Pictures
Here’s a link to some pictures of the Fish Roundabout, the Fujairah International Marine Club, fishermen and the fish that makes them glad.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Fujairah Corniche Hotel Progressing

The 5 star hotel and apartment tower being built on the Fujairah corniche is making significant progress (pictured).

This tower, which is being built by the Al Sharfa Company, commenced in May 2009 and is due for completion in March or April 2011.

More on its amenities and progress can be found at this link:
Hotel and Apartment Towers Rising in Fujairah, FIF, 31 May 2010.

Related
The Good News and the Bad News about Fujairah Housing, FIF, 8 September 2010.
Hotels and Apartments Springing Up in Fujairah City, FIF, 11 June 2010.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Development Assistance by the UAE and Arab Countries

New Study
Arab aid, which has been relatively under-studied, has played an important role in global development finance.

A new and extensive World Bank report looks at the last forty years of official development assistance by Arab countries.

The summary statement says:

“Arab donors, predominantly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been among the most generous in the world, with Official Development Assistance (ODA) averaging 1.5 percent of their combined gross national income (GNI) during the period 1973-2008, more than twice the United Nations target of 0.7 percent and five times the average of the OECD-DAC countries.”

UAE Development Assistance
On the official development assistance given by the United Arab Emirates the report makes these points:

United Arab Emirates is the third largest source of Arab aid, accounting for 12 percent of total Arab ODA.

Between 1973 and 2008, UAE provided US$ 31.4 billion (in 2007 prices) in ODA, the bulk of which was provided in the late 1970s and 1980s.

The share of ODA in UAE’s national income declined from about 7.6 percent in the late 1970s to 1.0 percent in the 1980s, 0.6 percent in the 1990s, and 0.2 percent between 2000 and 2008.

As in KSA, the drop in UAE’s ODA was in line with declining oil prices, domestic debt service requirements, and economic difficulties following the 1990–91 Gulf War.

Generous Assistance
This important report reveals that Arab countries have accounted and continue to account for a significant proportion of the official development assistance that is given throughout the world.

It also shows that Arab assistance is extending in terms of the beneficiary countries and the type of assistance that is being given.

Link to Full Report and Executive Summary
Arab Development Assistance: Four Decades of Cooperation, World Bank, June 2010.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

The Sweets of Eid in the UAE and Region

We’ve seen them in the shops and souqs—baklava, halwa, chocolates, petit-fois and more.

A new Gulf News video highlights the sweets associated with the Eid Festival but thankfully they are available throughout the year.

The short film looks at different sweets and how they are made, displayed and presented.

The commentator, Mayada Al Askari, points out how sweets come in different forms with different ingredients and toppings according to the country and taste. It is fascinating to see the way that the sweets available in the UAE are influenced by the traditions of many other countries such as Iran, India and Pakistan.

This video conveys the message that sweets are not just about satisfying the hunger but about symbolizing the sweetness of the festival and savoring delicious memories.

Warning
This video might make you drool! Watch it after you’ve eaten!

Go to the Video at This Link
Eid Sweets, Gulf News, 9 September 2010. Check out the many other interesting and informative GN videos at the same link.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Ramadan in the UAE and Around the World in 2010

The popular Big Picture from the Boston Globe has posted a new album of photos on Ramadan 2010 submitted by readers.

The photographs are full of colour, community, food and humour.

The album focuses on some of the enduring traditions of the festival wherever it is practiced but it also highlights the diversity of customs as Ramadan is observed in different countries of the world.

The image displayed on this post (courtesy of the Big Picture) was submitted by Borisz Merei and it has a distinct UAE flavour. It bears this caption:

“Open doors, open minds: Emiratis and expats share an Iftar and talk about Islam—about the things that make us different and the things that make us all [the] same.”

The scene is of the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, in Dubai on 3 September 2010.

Link

Ramadan 2010, The Big Picture, 10 September 2010.

Related
After We’ve Deplored the Florida Quran Burner, What Then? FIF.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

After We’ve Deplored the Florida Quran Burner, What Then?

Media Circus
The media frenzy outside the Quran burner’s church has focused on wackdoodlery and the misinformation about the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ has been penned in high voltage rhetoric.

It’s important to denounce religious extremists and affirm that statements from the Christian Taliban do not represent the teachings of Christ. More necessary than ever is the need to address the fear and hatred of 'the other' that such hot button pressers expose.

The Freedom to be Ignorant
Tucked away in Time Magazine’s (19 August 2010) article, ‘Does America Have a Muslim Problem’ is the statistic from Time’s recent poll which states that “Only 37% [of Americans] know a Muslim American.” So much fear, hostility, ‘not in my backyard’ insults and anti-Muslim merchandise arises from ignorance and not knowing the people who represent the movement that is being castigated.

Building Bridges in Our Backyard
Tip O’Neill’s apt assertion that “all politics is local” helpfully takes us from Ground Zero and Gainesville to the towns where we live.

After we’ve deplored the Florida Quran Burner, how can we build bridges of understanding with those who are different? Here are some backyard bridge-building possibilities to stimulate the creativity:

Befriending
Be intentional about getting to know people who are different—Christians befriending Muslims, Muslims reaching out to Christians etc.—doing something about Time’s 37% figure of not knowing.

Develop Programmes
Be inspired by the Interfaith Action initiatives in the town of Sharon, Massachusetts with their meals, the ‘Sharing of Sacred Seasons’ and their Youth Leadership Program.

The Role of the Arts
Ponder the reconciling role of music and the arts. Daniel Barenboim has for years been conducting orchestras of young Arabs and Israelis. About creating music and peace he reflected:

"What seemed extraordinary to me was how much ignorance there was about the 'other'. The Israeli kids couldn't imagine that there are actually people in Damascus and Amman and Cairo who can actually play violin and viola ... One of the Syrian kids told me that he'd never met an Israeli before ... This same boy found himself sharing a music stand with an Israeli cellist. They were trying to play the same note, to play with the same dynamic, with the same stroke of the bow, with the same sound, with the same expression. They were trying to do something together. It's as simple as that."

Talking Together
It’s a useful thing that the Ruler of Fujairah, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, represents the United Arab Emirates in interfaith dialogue at the highest level but this shouldn’t replace ordinary people talking together in Fujairah, Frankston or Frankfurt about what they believe and how their faith makes a difference to their daily living.

Finding Common Ground
When such conversation avoids a slanging match and starts by talking about the things we have in common—our yearnings, our hopes, our vision for the world and our town—we will be surprised to discover how much we are alike.

Turning Talk into Service
In terms of faith we will find many beliefs we share as well as areas where we differ.

Those from faith traditions, known as ‘the People of the Book’, will learn that they share many stories, values and affirmations.

Many more religions share a belief in God as creator who calls humankind to be caretakers of the created earth. So why not work together to organize some environmental projects around the town or at the beach as an expression of what President Obama in his Cairo speech called ‘turning dialogue into interfaith service’? (But it wouldn’t need to be advertised as such because one would want to also work with those who are committed to the environment but who do this without a religious motivation)

Calling for Bridge-Builders
When the lead up to the anniversary of 9/11 this year (2010) has been marked by explosive expressions that so easily torpedo trust, there’s an urgent need for bridge-builders, especially at the local level.

I love the way Ivo Andrić wrote of the significance of bridges:

“In the end, everything through which this life of ours is expressed—thoughts, efforts, glances, smiles, words, sighs—is all reaching out to another shore, as towards its aim, and only there will it be granted its true meaning.”

“Everywhere there is something to overcome or to bridge: disorder, death, meaninglessness. Everything is a transition, a bridge whose ends are lost in infinity, beside which all the bridges of this earth are only children’s toys, pale symbols. And all our hope lies on the other side.”

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Image: “When such conversation…starts by talking about the things we have in common…we will be surprised to discover how much we are alike.”

About the Site ‘Fujairah in Focus’

Desert of Information
When my wife and I came to live in Fujairah in 2005 we found it difficult to get any information in English about this city.

The newspapers coming out of Dubai and Abu Dhabi had little coverage on Fujairah.

I started a blog—Experiencing the Emirates, with a special eye on Fujairah.

The next year I commenced Fujairah in Focus and when at the end of 2009 I gave up the Emirates blog (for these reasons) I determined to spend whatever time I devoted to blog writing focusing on Fujairah.

I try and write on Fujairah in Focus each day unless I am travelling in some other part of the world.

Fujairah has been growing by 10,000 people every year and much of what I write is for these people—those contemplating the prospect of coming to Fujairah, those taking the plunge and those getting established in the unfamiliarity of a new city and culture.

The questions that are often asked, especially by intending travelers, journalists and newcomers, indicate that there is a great hunger for news and information about this little known north-eastern emirate in the UAE.

This digital scrapbook is intended to stir up questions and foster a conversation about Fujairah and the changes that are taking place in this emirate and in the lives of those who visit and live in this part of the world.

Who Reads Fujairah in Focus?
About half of the people who visit this site live in the UAE. They are readers who want to discover more of what is going on in Fujairah, especially those in Dubai, Sharjah, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi who see Fujairah as a getaway destination and who are looking for info on how to get here and what they might do on their stay.

The other half are readers throughout the world—especially those in the UK, India, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand—people who are planning to visit the UAE and Fujairah and I suspect many who used to live here and who want to keep in touch with the Emirates.

Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page
In the UAE Facebook is now the second most popular Internet site after Google. It is striking that the growth of Facebook usage in the UAE is faster than the USA or anywhere else in the Middle East—12% in the last six months.

At the last survey 33% of all UAE residents have a Facebook account and many young people are using Facebook solely for their emails and their source of news.

Because of this I started the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which I put links to articles written on the Fujairah in Focus blog and links and pictures to many other features of a Fujairah flavour. Let me invite you to get the updates appearing in your Facebook News Feed by clicking on the LIKE button at the top of the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Interact
Feel free to add comments, raise questions, receive the updates and Share articles you think could be helpful by using the ‘Share’ button at the end of each article of the blog or the Facebook page.

Geoff Pound
Connect with me on my personal Facebook Pages (I have reached the maximum number of Friends and Likes on this account but I have started this unlimited Facebook Page). Join me also on Twitter.

Eid in Fujairah: Praying, Visiting, Eating, Celebrating and Holidaying

Eid Prayers
Crowds of residents were up bright and early this morning for Eid prayers which officially commenced in Fujairah at 6.25am.

While some of the large mosques were open, most of Fujairah’s Muslims walked, drove their cars or bused in to the large open air worship centre over the road from the Government offices.

The atmosphere was tinged with joy. The new white clothes dazzled in the sunlight. The smell of freshly perfumed bodies filled the air.

As soon as the sermon and the prayers were over Fujairah’s Royal family and dignitaries walked briskly to their cars. Armed guards were on hand to keep the peace. Police on motorbikes went ahead to ease the officials through the increasingly congested streets.

Three Day Festival Begins
Now for three days of visiting, phone calling, gift giving, eating and celebrating. This is a happy time for those with relatives in the UAE but it can be a time of loneliness and nostalgia for those whose families are far away.

Fujairah a Getaway Destination
Fujairah is filling up fast. Hoteliers are rubbing their hands as they calculate the occupancy rate of their rooms as many from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah travel to the tranquil emirate for a two or three day getaway.

Eid Mubarak!

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Image: “As soon as the sermon and the prayers were over Fujairah’s Royal family and dignitaries walked briskly to their cars.”

Take a Look!
More photos of Eid Prayers in Fujairah at this link.

Eid Mubarak

At Eid al Fitr I am delighted to wish my Muslim friends and readers great joy in this season of celebration and festivity.

Eid Mubarak! A blessed Eid holiday!

Geoff Pound

Cultural Education: “What Do You Want to Pay?”

The fan in my car went on the blink this week and driving around Fujairah without the AC is a sweaty and most uncomfortable experience.

After getting a recommendation I drove to an Auto Electrical Workshop and Car AC shop and told them that my car had a problem (‘mushkila’).

A bevy of Bangladeshi auto electricians worked on the car for over an hour and replaced a wire in the fuse box that had melted.

When the bonnet was finally closed I said to the mechanic with my best Bengali inflection: ‘Dam kôto?’ (How much?)

He took me inside and repeated my query to the boss. The owner looked at me quizzically and then asked with a smile, “How much do you want to pay?”

I told him that this was the first time I’d ever been asked that question then he mentioned something about me being a ‘new customer’.

Was the businessman inviting me to pay something small as a goodwill gesture, to ensure my return and in the hope that I would tell my friends that this is a terrific business?

Was this a well-used practice that normally results in expats giving much more than the usual service fee?

I insisted that he set the amount because car parts had been used and he must have a regular hourly rate at which he charges.

He came up with a good price and we parted as friends but I was left pondering the meaning of this practice in my ongoing cultural education.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Image: Business Card Collage: “and in the hope that I would tell my friends that this is a terrific business?” I am a satisfied customer.

Details: Karim Auto Electrical Workshop & Car AC Rep.
(09) 2222178, Near Al Badi, Industrial Area Rd 1. Fujairah.


View Karim Auto Electricians in a larger map

The Good News and the Bad News about Fujairah Housing

The Good News
Some apartment towers that have been standing in ghostly silence in Fujairah are slowly getting connected to the electrical supply.

Like this tower (pictured), labeled Burj Amoon on its exterior but generally known to the residents as the Al Yasmin building.

It stands on the right side of Fujairah’s main street as you head towards the corniche and is located in the section after the Perfume Roundabout, just before the Sharjah Islamic Bank.

The building opened for business about three months ago boasting sizeable 3-4 bedroom apartments on the dozen floors. They appear spacious, with their high ceilings, solid sound-proof walls and views both sides (north and south) across the city and out to the Arabian Sea.

The Bad News
The Al Yasmin building filled up in a few weeks leaving many home hunters waiting for another tower to be switched on.

Villas are still hard to find (especially those with 3-4 bedrooms) and there are several diesel generators outside new blocks of flats, keeping the lights powered until the dwellings are hooked up to the electricity.

Related
Hotels and apartments springing up in Fujairah City, FIF, 11 June 2010.
Hotel and apartment towers rising in Fujairah, FIF, 31 May 2010.
Rental property update in Fujairah, UAE, FIF, 5 October 2009.
Power shortage in Fujairah leaves sparks flying, FIF, 26 August 2009.
Fujairah homes and businesses without power, switch to generators, FIF, 16 June 2009.
Power and water in short supply for Fujairah’s new buildings, FIF, 4 June 2009.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

Image: “Labeled Burj Amoon on its exterior but generally known to the residents as the Al Yasmin building.”

What’s for Sale at the Fujairah Tourist Night Souq?

In addition to the rides for the children in the amusement park and the scenic shisha site, there’s much to buy at the Fujairah Tourist Night Souq.

Cruise Customers and Tourists
One cruise review prepared for the growing number of passengers on cruise ships around the Middle East gives this urging:

“There is also a shopping center where you can bargain. You should visit Fujairah Night Souq. There are approximately 5,000 products you can choose; including trendy boutiques, store chains and a lot more. This place also offers the best entertainment for the whole family. This place is open until the wee hours of the morning.”

Many of the products on display are in the souvenir category and designed to help tourists with their gift and shopping needs.

As the review says, the Fujairah Night Souq is the place to put your bartering skills into practice!

Reasonably Priced
A few of the shops have big ticket items such as computers and printers but generally the Night Souq deals in large quantities of goods that are reasonably priced. Hanif Shaikh, the Managing Director of the Fujairah Tourist Night Souq, says that bags and shaylas are hot items that sell fast. “One of the popular shops,” Hanif says, “sells low-priced clothes from a factory outlet.”

Sweets, Drinks and More
Like any good souq there are shops with refreshments including a stall that specializes in Arabic sweets.

When you’re tired from wandering around the shops, check into the place that offers Thai foot massages.

Take a Preview!
The best way to get a preview of what’s on offer at the Fujairah Tourist Night Souq is to check out this photo album.

More on Fujairah Tourist Night Souq
Lots of Entertainment for Children at Fujairah Night Souq, FIF.
The Most Scenic Shisha Site in Fujairah, FIF.

Further Information
* The Fujairah Tourist Night Souq is located on the corniche next to the Marine Club.
* The souq is patronized by His Highness, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the Crown Prince of Fujairah.
* The Managing Director of the Night Souq is Mr. Hanif Shaikh.
* The normal hours for the Night Souq are 5.00pm to 12am.
* Phone: (09) 2239272.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.

The Most Scenic Shisha Site in Fujairah

Hanif Shaikh, the manager of the Fujairah Tourist Night Souq, knows that not everyone has a fixation with shopping. Realistic as he is, Hanif has established the newest and arguably the most scenic shisha café in Fujairah.

Go through the Night Souq, out the other side—just beyond the children’s entertainment area but stop when you arrive at the water’s edge.

This is hardly a café because shisha smoking has been forced out doors in most public places of the UAE.

The shisha is still very popular with the locals and most tourists feel that they need to try at least a puff to inhale the Emirates.

The Tourist Night Souq shisha site is simple and minimalistic:
* The children playing behind in the amusement park.
* A large TV screen to one side for checking the football.
* A few friends around the tables, chairs or lounging on a couch or two.
* Waiters to take your order and help you light up.
* The starry sky above.
* The gentle waves of the sea lapping at your feet.

The Arabian Peninsula! The Arabian Sea! The Arabian culture!

Take a Look!
A few daytime shots of the Fujairah Tourist Night Souq shisha establishment can be found in this photo album.

More on Shisha Culture in UAE
Fujairah Exports Shisha Café to USA, FIF.
Why Women in the Emirates are Smoking More Shisha, ETE.
Shisha Cafes Could be Extinguished in New Anti-Smoking Laws, ETE.

More on Fujairah Tourist Night Souq
Lots of Entertainment for Children at Fujairah Night Souq, FIF.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page upon which many more articles and links are posted than on this blog.