Fujairah Forging Ahead Despite Recession

Fujairah With Fresh Eyes
I have recently returned to Fujairah after several months away and it has been surprising to see the emirate with fresh eyes.

One would hardly think that a recession is affecting this eastern emirate. On the contrary there appear to be many signs of growth and progress.

New Buildings
In earlier postings I have written of the new buildings springing up in Fujairah. Check out a sample at these links:
City Mall and Retail Park
Seaside Apartment Tower
Apartment Overlooking Fish Roundabout
High Tower Overlooking Beach
Shopping Mall
Commercial Buildings
Hospital

Beyond these facilities there are other new developments. These strike you particularly when you enter into the top of Fujairah’s main street from Dubai.

To The Left
On the left side of the main street there is a new Rotana Tower with hotel and apartments.

According to a report (6 May 2009) Rotana Hotels in the UAE have seen a 15-20% decline in revenues in the first quarter of this year compared with the same quarter in 2008. But like many UAE companies, Rotana takes the view that this country will bounce back from the downturn faster than most countries.

Based in Abu Dhabi, Rotana is due to open six more hotels in the capital by October of this year and seven (including the one in Fujairah) by 2011.

Also being built on the left side is the 300 bed Al Fanar hotel which is part of Escan’s three tower development. This involves a three level shopping mall and three sky rise towers comprising 30, 25 and 20 levels respectively to be used for a mix of residential, commercial and hotel purposes.

Eyes Right
On the right side of the main street behind the high advertising walls there are other major developments aiming for a 2010 launch.

These include a 180 room Ibis Hotel and a 220 room Novotel Hotel and residences.

Further down at the lights and just before Etisalat you will note work going on at the Al Rostamani building (with Nissan Showroom underneath). Having erected a central tower, work is proceeding on two towers on either side. I hope the people already ensconced in their apartments were told of this development because their views are quickly getting blocked out! Quite a thought when the builders wake you outside your window at 6 in the morning with their jack hammers.

You can’t see it from the road but if you take a right turn after the Etisalat building and go 100 metres you will see that the Lulu Hypermarket is extending its reaches. Lulu management will be glad that it has the land because a shopping mall is being established there along with an extension of Lulu. This may mean that Lulu will move from being a Hypermarket to an Ultramarket.

Al Aqah Adds More
This article has been noting the new developments appearing in Fujairah’s main street. As the above links indicate there are new developments occurring in Faseel towards the Fujairah Free Zone and the Fujairah Port.

Added to this Le Méridien at the Al Aqah Beach Resort is undergoing a Dh10 million (US$2.7 million) refurbishment of its spa facility in order to become a premium spa destination.

What Recession?
There is bound to be pain being experienced in homes behind the high walls but the changing appearance of Fujairah suggests an emirate on the move and defying the financial challenges.

The steady expansion of the Fujairah Port with the associated new businesses in the Free Zone and the new oil pipeline from oil rich Abu Dhabi, now set to be operational in 2010, are creating jobs and are instilling confidence in the business community.

The new Dubai to Fujairah highway that will cut the commuting time as it bypasses the little towns like Dhaid, Masafi, Thoban and Dafta is set to boost the large number of weekend visitors to Fujairah and add to the numbers of Dubai and Sharjah workers who are choosing to reside in Fujairah.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: “To see the emirate with fresh eyes.”

Fifteen Fantastic Things to Do in Fujairah

TimeOutDubai has issued (4 May 2009) its ‘50 Fantastic Things to Do in the UAE’.

It is a great compilation with a few quirky numbers but as expected from a Dubai promotions magazine, it is very Dubaicentric.

Fujairah rates a mention with its traditional bull butting and there is a fleeting reference to diving on the east coast.

I thought it might be helpful to compile a similar list of 15 Fantastic Things to Do on the way and while in Fujairah.

Do remember to include features from the east coast parts of the emirate of Sharjah such as Kalba or Khor Fakkan.

Please leave as a Comment your suggestion of a place or a Fujairah experience that you believe should make such a list.

Dr Geoff Pound
Contactable on email at geoffpound[@]gmail.com and at Facebook

Collage: Some images from Fujairah (click to magnify).

Related:
Experiencing the Emirates asks the question: Is the UAE on the '10 Worst Countries to be a Blogger' List?

When Your Number is Up in Fujairah

I have written (perhaps as therapy) about the propensity for queue jumping in Fujairah and it looks like many companies are doing something to deal with customers who get out of line.

Companies like Etisalat have had for many years a system whereby people take a number that in the fullness of time, appears in lights (in both Arabic and English) and is announced by a beeping sound.

The HSBC bank in Fujairah has recently introduced this similar system of ‘first come first served’. One of the customer service staff at HSBC said that older Emirati clients were taking a long time to get used to the new system. I said, “Is that because the numbers appear only in English and not in Arabic?” She said, “No. It’s because many of the older people cannot read.”

This is a good reminder of how a large proportion of the national citizens of Fujairah are still very much living in an oral world.

Dr Geoff Pound
Contact at geoffpound[@]gmail.com or on Facebook

Image: “This similar system of ‘first come first served.’” Photo courtesy of Google Images.

Do Expats Call the UAE Home?

* How do expats cope with the feeling of ‘suspended animation’ from real life?

* How do expats help shape the national and cultural identity of their children while encouraging them to experience fully the delights of multicultural UAE?

* While the UAE government is promoting measures to help expats integrate into the Emirates to what extent do newcomers avail themselves of these opportunities?

* Expats can feel released from ‘civic responsibilities’ but how do they cope with the feelings of selfishness and knowing they are mainly here for the dirhams and the perks?

* How might expats play a meaningful part in the shaping of the future of the UAE?

These questions are raised and discussed in the insightful article by Claudia Pugh-Thomas that can be found at this link:

Claudia Pugh-Thomas, Finding an Expat Role in the UAE, The National, 2 May 2009.

Related Articles:
Tim Brooks, Expats Urged to Embrace Culture, The National, 2 May 2009.
How Well Do You Know the Emirates, The National, 1 May 2009.
Alex Rolandi, So, Could You Pass the Emirates Patriotic Test?, The National, 1 May 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound
Contact at geoffpound[@]gmail.com or Facebook about blogging, writing projects or whatever.

Image: Brazilian expats in the UAE. Photo courtesy of TimeOut Dubai.

Pay Day in Fujairah

Getting out in the streets over the weekend (Friday and Saturday) I was amazed at the large numbers of people out shopping.

When I remarked on this to a worker at the bank she said it was due to it being pay day.

Some people get paid on the last day of the month while others get paid on the first day of the month and this explains the numbers of people out in their droves, withdrawing dirhams, wiring part of their pay to relatives overseas and enjoying their monthly spend up.

Depending on whether you want to avoid the crowds or see lots of local culture it is good to remember this trend at the end and beginning of each month.

Dr Geoff Pound

Contact:
If you have a comment, an idea for a story etc., I can be contacted by email at geoffpound[@]gmail.com or on Facebook.

Location and Depth Attract Oil Tankers to Fujairah Port

In an extensive interview with Captain Mousa Murad, General Manager of the Port of Fujairah, Hugh Naylor of The National discovers that there are exciting prospects for Fujairah.

Find out about the growth in the bunkering business at Fujairah and the General Manager’s commitment to stop the oil spillages that are damaging the coastline.

Link:

Hugh Naylor, Fujairah Port thrives on Growing Tanker Traffic, The National, March 8, 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Location and depth.

Yet Another Oil Dumping in the Fujairah Waters

Three oil slicks in the Arabian Gulf are threatening to wash up on the shores of Fujairah, local fishermen say. They are concerned by an increase in the number of slicks since the start of the year after an apparent reduction in previous months.

In this last year there were over 15 incidents of oil dumping off the Fujairah coast.

There are ample reports about the growth of the oil industry in the emirate of Fujairah. There is an urgent need for the public to hear more about the surveillance and fining systems that Fujairah and Sharjah authorities are putting into place to stop oil dumping in the future which creates havoc for the marine environment, hotels and diving companies.

For the details of this tragedy follow this link:

Hugh Naylor, Illegal Dumping Suspected as Oil Slicks Sighted off Fujairah, The National, 1 March 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Previous scenes of oil washed up on Fujairah beaches.

Shipping Container Industry Sinks in Financial Recession

The National reports:
“Worldwide container handling could fall for the first time and Middle East industry growth might be curtailed sharply this year, according to a shipping consultancy.”

“The worsening global economic downturn has battered international shipping lines, and the declining trade also poses challenges for global port operators.”

Fujairah Port and Trade
Pertinent to the Fujairah location is this paragraph:

“Because freight rates are dictated by supply and demand, shipping lines are even more exposed to the downturn than ports companies, which have set rates. Ship operators have been forced to cut rates and lay up vessels in anchorages from Singapore to Fujairah to await new orders.”

For the full report:
Ivan Gale, Worldwide Container Trade Could Fall, The National, 12 February 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Container ship at Fujairah Port, Photo courtesy of Jeff Topping and The National from the above link.

Investing in Others in Fujairah and the UAE

Often the idea is promoted that the UAE is a country that is focused on self-advancement and national promotion but there is a great story in The National about charity, humanitarian projects and investing in others, part of which has this Fujairah reference:

“Trekking for Nepal, which is based out of Fujairah, is another adventure-themed project dedicated to giving back in the UAE as well as abroad. Its founders, Mita Srinivasan, a marketing and PR director, and Carol Hyland, a graphic designer, support both the Welfare Association of Fujairah, a government-funded organisation that helps widows and their families prosper, as well as the New Youth Orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal.”

For the whole story follow this link:
Effie-Michelle Metallidis, Investment in Others, The National, 14 February 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Nawal Hassan, above, accepts a donation for the Palestine Children’s Refugee Relief Fund. One of the many charities cited in the article. Image courtesy of The National at the above link.

Big Wedding in Fujairah

The big event in Fujairah at this time is the royal wedding of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi and the further cementing of ties between Fujairah and Dubai and the ruling families of both emirates.

Over the way from the Fujairah palace is a series of large tents for the festive occasion and the surrounding streets are decorated with colored lights and designs.

Two interesting extras:

Land of secrets
There are some small, old perhaps dilapidated looking houses on the main road not far from the Palace. They have huge placards in front of them so visitors cannot see them—a new variation on the theme of walls, veils, tinted windows and curtained restaurant rooms. This is also what happens in Olympic cities where the poor are removed and their squalid dwellings bulldozed to create a good appearance for visitors.

Invisibility of Women
Note the way that WAM reports the wedding celebrations:
WAM is reporting this news:
“Fujairah, 9 Feb. 2009 (WAM) - His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah attended this evening the start of celebrations for the wedding of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi to the daughter of Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.”“The celebrations were also attended by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Sheikhs, senior officials, dignitaries and citizens.”

Men are named in official reports but women are usually made invisible and are referred to as “the daughter of”. In UAE museums women do not appear in diagrams listing the family tree of different families.

And still, despite women playing the major part in the rearing of children, even of royal families, they are given little mention or credence.

Congratulations to the new couple! Salaam!

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi

Some Internal Flooding in Fujairah

Some buildings and centres with open-air courtyards were flooded this morning from the overnight rain.

Volunteers were bailing out water from the Sudanese Social Club in King Fayssal Rd., in Fujairah today and trucks with high-pressure water facilities were employed to remove the mud.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: “Volunteers were bailing out water from the Sudanese Social Club, Fujairah.”

Heavy Flooding in Fujairah

There was a lot of rain that fell in the Al Fujairah emirate overnight.

Many of Fujairah roads were flooded today making intersections (like this one pictured) tricky to negotiate.

Few, if any, of the roads in Fujairah have storm water drains so the rain will hang around for days, especially in this cooler weather, until it evaporates.

There has been no rain from mid-morning and it is continuing to be dry with the sun shining early this afternoon.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: “Many of Fujairah roads were flooded today making intersections tricky to negotiate.”

Rain, Thunder and Lightning over Fujairah

The National reported early Wednesday 14 January 2009:

“Rain fell in the UAE yesterday, ranging from a light sprinkling in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to thunderstorms in the northern Emirates.”

“In Fujairah, rain in the mountains above Masafi and Dibba caused floods in normally dry wadis and on some farmland. Forecasters predicted more rain.”

The forecasters were right. Heavy rain with thunder and lightning hit Fujairah city at four this morning.

More reports of weather in the northern emirates:

Anna Zacharias, Heavy Rain Hits Northern Emirates, The National, 14 January 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: “In Fujairah, rain in the mountains above Masafi and Dibba caused floods in normally dry wadis and on some farmland.”

Airplane Ban Will Have Detrimental Effect on Fujairah Airport

Here is an excerpt from Hugh Naylor’s report (13 January 2009) in The National:

“Air cargo companies have joined forces to appeal against a decision by the General Civil Aviation Authority banning a Soviet-era aeroplane in UAE airspace.”

“The authority last week ordered all Antonov An-12 aeroplanes out of the country by today, citing safety concerns after a recent string of accidents involving the four-engine turboprop plane.”

“Fifteen air-cargo operators here use An-12s to transport goods to Africa, the Middle East and South Asia frequently, from airports in Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah, Dubai and Fujairah.

“The number of people who are going to be affected will be more than 1,500 people, 15 airlines, more than 50 aircraft. We’re talking about a decision here that will harm about 90 per cent of the air cargo market of the UAE. Airports in Ras al Khaimah and Fujairah will suffer because of this.”

Full Report:
Hugh Naylor, Cargo Firms Unite Against Ban on An-12 Aeroplanes, The National, 13 January 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: An-12 Aeroplane.

New City Centre Mall and Retail Park for Fujairah

Trade Arabia reported (12 January 2009):

“The Government of Fujairah and the Majid Al Futtaim Group have announced the signing of a joint venture to build a City Centre mall and Retail Park in Fujairah.”

The only detail to be announced was that the complex was due to open in 2011.

The extensive report said nothing about the location, the cost, the number of shops, the type of businesses and the sustainability of shopping complexes in the midst of the financial downturn.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Dignitaries gathered at the announcement (photo courtesy of Trade Arabia at above link).

Oil and Algae Plaguing Fujairah Coastline

Oil
Emmanuelle Landais, in a Gulf News article today (11 January 2009) surveys the oil spills [accidental] and illegal dumping [intentional] that have been afflicting the Fujairah coastline.

A picture appears with the story showing a Qidfa fisherman walking along the two kilometer stretch of beach pondering the oil slick. The story is unclear as to whether there has been a fresh oil spillage this year but I have asked for clarification.

Algae
The red tide algae continues to have a devastating effect on the fishing industry and it appears to be more pronounced the further north (towards Dibba) you go.

On the Khor Kalba beaches recently the redness and the smell have not been so apparent but a tourist visiting Khor Fakkan recently wrote me a letter asking about the color of the water and wondering whether it was safe to swim. It would be good to hear an answer on this from microbiologists and health specialists. I have been swimming off the east coast recently but I didn’t put my head under.

Another continuing issue with red tide algae is the extent to which it is affecting the fish and how safe it is to buy the fish at the local fish markets. Some vendors were earlier fined for selling fish that had washed up on the beach, obviously victims of the oxygen deficit caused by the algae.

As with oil, the extent of the algae problem depends on which beach you are looking at and on what day you look.

Algae Persists
Read this most recent report by a blogger who sailed around the Fujairah and Omani coasts and posted this report on 11 January 2009:

“It was good to see some of our surroundings - Dibba is only a few hours away so definitely could be a weekend get-away. What was sobering was seeing the red tide - or algae bloom. Apparently it happens every year for only two weeks or so. But the red tide arrived in September this year and is still there. The algae blocks the oxygen for up to five metres from the surface so fish are dying. It also blocks the sunlight so the coral reefs are dying - a diver from Emirates Diving said 98 percent (!) of the reefs around Dibba are dead. From what I can gather the algae bloom occurs naturally from nutrients welling up from the cold sea currents but can also be caused by man made factors such as fertilizers or other contaminates. What is truly amazing is we had no idea that this was happening. We heard earlier in the year that thousands of fish had died in Fujairah but everyone we talked to said they heard the red tide was gone. I can tell you driving along both coasts we could see the purplish tinge of the water. The fishing villages in Oman haven't sent boats out in months. We saw only a few spots where the water was clear. We snorkeled through bands of reddish purple water where you could not see a thing as it washed over the reef. Very, very scary. Apparently the right condition of waves and wind will make the red tide disappear so let's hope it goes away soon.”

Swimmers, divers, fishermen and hotel are all being affected by the oil and algae on the UAE’s east coast.

Got a report to share on the oil and algae you have spotted recently on the UAE’s east coast?

Dr Geoff Pound

Contact or connect with me on Facebook at this link.

Image: The water around the Fujairah Marina last week looked ominously red and brown. Is this the result of oil from the motors of boats, the presence of red tide algae or an inexplicable cocktail?

Dive Down to Fujairah

Fuad Mohammed Ali, from Gulf News, offers some basic tips for people resolving in this New Year to have a crack at diving off the UAE’s east coast.

The article briefly covers the pleasures of diving, the regulations, the gear, the necessary training, and then provides some contact numbers for readers wishing to go deeper.

Link: Tips on Safe Scuba Diving, Gulf News, 9 January 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Diver surfacing in the Indian Ocean out from Fujairah.

Fujairah Oil Refinery Likely to be Delayed while Oil Pipeline On Track

Abu Dhabi government-owned International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) has delayed plans to set up a refinery in Pakistan and is reviewing its Fujairah refinery project, its CEO said on Saturday (10 January 2009).

Fujairah Refinery Delayed
A planned $6-7 billion refinery with capacity of 500,000 bpd in Fujairah in the UAE is also likely to be delayed, he said. "We are reviewing options. We are changing the configuration and making it smaller due to the demand-supply situation." he said.

Pipeline Still to Flow
But a 370 km (229.9 mile) crude oil pipeline from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah is on track for completion by early 2010, he said. It will carry 1.5 million bpd of crude for export from Fujairah.

The storage terminal at Fujairah will have capacity of up to 12 million barrels. "We will lease the storage facilities to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company or operate ourselves and charge ADNOC a tariff," he said.

To read the entire statement:
Stanley Carvalho, Abu Dhabi’s IPIC Delays Pakistan Refinery Plans, Reuters, 10 January 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: “The crude oil pipeline from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah is on track…”

Fujairah Hosts Financiers Strategy Meeting to Fight Downturn

AMEInfo reports:

“Over 50 of the leading Middle East finance institutions have just announced a key meeting on how the industry can unite and tackle the current climate.”

“The FST [Financial Services Technology] Summit will be held early this year at the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah - United Arab Emirates, and will include the heads of technology and business development alongside their respected CEO community.”

Source and More Details:
Finance Heads Pull Together to Reverse Economic Downturn, AMEInfo, 10 January 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: “The FST Summit will be held at the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah, UAE.”

Shop at the Hilton Hotel Bazaar in Fujairah

Shopping at Fujairah’s Hilton Bazaar
A good place to purchase a wide range of Emirati and Middle Eastern items in Fujairah is the Hilton Hotel at the Coffee Pot Roundabout (see photo above) in Faseel, at the northern end of the corniche.

Even if you are not staying at the Hilton for the weekend you’d be welcome to pop in for a look at the bazaar. Go inside the main revolving door and proceed through the next set of doors and the souk is on the left just before you get to the pool, the hotel beach, the fitness centre and the restaurant.

There is a majlis (Emirati tent) in which to sit down for members of the family who hate shopping or when you need a break.

Usually there are Emirati and Bengali men in attendance who can speak to you in English, Arabic, Bengali and a few other languages.

Opening Hours
While the hotel is open 24 hours a day, the bazaar is available for shopping every day from 9.00am to 10.00pm.

Shopping Tip
Here is a handy tip for dealing with shopkeepers at the Hilton souk and throughout the Emirates: Get to the shop when it opens so you are the first customer. Shopkeepers always want to make a sale with the first customer of the day because for them it is a sign of good luck that signals that they will have a good day.

Because a picture is worth a thousand words I have posted a photographic gallery to illustrate the range of items available.

Photo Gallery Link:

Shopping for Middle Eastern Gifts in Fujairah, Facebook Photo Album.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: The Souk (market) inside the Hilton Hotel, Fujairah, UAE.