The National Newspaper Seeks Readers in Fujairah

For the last two days a complimentary copy of The National has been delivered to homes in Fujairah.

The Abu Dhabi-based newspaper is seeking readers all over the nation and to tantalize customers, Fujairah residents are being made this offer:

“Subscribe (or renew) to The National and we’ll reward you with a Montblanc Writing Instrument.”

The subscription fee is Dh300 for the home delivery of the paper for every day of the year.

Pictured is Hussain, delivering my free copy of The National this morning. Hussain comes from Kerala, India and he is one of a team of five delivery people who work for the Abu Dhabi Media Company (which owns The National). Papers arrive from Abu Dhabi via Dubai at 5.30am and the papers are delivered to the gate in the hours shortly after.

If you want The National and would like to write to your friends with a Montblanc Generation Ball Point writing instrument here are the contact details:

Call 800 2220
SMS 'sub' to 2999 (Etisalat) or 9104 (du)
Email subscriptions@thenational.ae
Visit www.thenational.ae/subscribe

Other Stories & Related Sites
Try Out the Harbour Club Bar and Restaurant in Fujairah UAE, Fujairah in Focus, 1 October2009.

It’s a Wonderful World in Dubai, Experiencing the Emirates, 2 October 2009.

BMW Oracle Rejects UAE Venue Citing Consent and Safety Issues, America’s Cup in the UAE, 2 October 2009.

Dying to Work or is Work Killing You? Stories for Speakers and Writers, 2 October 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: Hussain delivering The National; Subscription offer.

Try Out the Harbour Club Bar and Restaurant in Fujairah UAE

If you were familiar with the former restaurant in the Fujairah International Marine Club (the one that is in the shape of a ship) you will be surprised when you visit the new restaurant in the same place but now called The Harbour Club.

Opening Next Tuesday
The Harbour Club has had a soft opening with limited hours over Ramadan but next Tuesday evening, 6 October 2009, is the grand opening.

Between 6.00-9.00pm appetizers (finger food) will be served and the bar will be open. The food and the drinks will be free. This is a great opportunity to see the new facility and to celebrate with the owners, directors, manager and staff.

You’re Invited Anytime
At the moment the Harbour Club opens from 12 (midday) and closes at 2 (in the morning).

The directors and manager have a host of ideas and sometime this month they may be introducing the Friday brunch.

A Happy Hour is held every day between 6-8pm during which time if people pay for three drinks (beers) they will get one free.

Unique Features
The innovations are a pleasant surprise with these main features a stand-out:

The Huge Bar
This is the striking feature which hits you when you enter in by the main door at the stern of the building. Is this the biggest bar in the Emirates? It has 50 chairs all the way around and you can not only get a drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) but you can have your meal there. The six television monitors (three on either side) mean you can drink and eat as you watch the football, rugby, cricket or motor car racing.

Multipurpose Bar and Restaurant
Some hotels have the dining room or restaurant as the main or only feature while in other places the bar is central. The Harbour Club has both with much more. Beyond the 50 stools around the bar there are about 10 semi-circular enclaves (on the port or left side), each catering for 4-6 people while on the starboard (right side) there are many conventional dining tables. The bar goes through to a large restaurant dining room that has a diversity of tables and seating areas. A staff party could easily be staged in one part of this room without the noise annoying private diners.

The door on the seaward side takes you outside to a terrace which has a varied combination of uses—in the direction of the Fujairah port is a large number of couches and coffee tables where people can drink and smoke shisha and toward the Night Souk there is a large outside bar and a host of tables and chairs under sun umbrellas. As the weather cools, the terrace will be a popular place.

At the stern of the restaurant there is a private room (with a comfortable capacity of 45 people) where people can eat and functions can be held along with equipment such as a screen and a data projector.

Technology
The sound system is top class with music beamed inside as well as on the terrace.
Television monitors are stationed at regular intervals in the bar and main restaurant area.

Directors and Staff
The owners and directors are American or American Lebanese who have significant expertise in developing restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The manager, Zammel, comes from Tunisia where his thoughts about the hospitality industry have been shaped by the mix of Arabic, French and Italian influences.

The American influence is reflected in the menu (huge burgers, American whiskeys, bar stools) but the British influence is evident in such things as the spelling of the name (Harbour rather than harbor), some English dishes and the Irish drinks. Yet no one cultural strain dominates.

The staff seems eager, knowledgeable, courteous and proud of what they are offering to the UAE.

Attractive Atmosphere
The vision of The Harbour Club is to offer something to Fujairah, visitors from other emirates and tourists something that goes beyond meals and drinks. This elusive quality is the atmosphere that gives people a place to which they will want to return. The diversity of areas around the bar, in the dining room and out on the terrace means that people will not quickly tire of this facility. Beyond this is a massive upstairs space and ideas are percolating about how this might be used in the future. Perhaps the word ‘club’ captures the culture and sense of belonging that the owners and management want to cultivate.

Current Menu
Much thought has gone into the components and overall range of the menu which is likely to change with the seasons and the customer feedback.

The prices are neither cheap nor ‘through the roof’ but they are consistent with the high standard and the fine service that The Harbour Club is offering.

The Harbour Club Menu (prices in UAE dirhams)
Appetizers/Starters
Calamari-market fresh, lightly buttered, served with tartar sauce and marinara-38
Spinach and artichoke dip- a classic, served with fresh tostada chips-35
Bruschetta-tomato, basil and fresh olives spread-30
Fried pickles-straight from New Orleans, lightly battered, served with tartar dressing and marinara-29
Nachos-classic cheese nachos with all the fixin's-add chicken 5 aed-36
Stuffed mushrooms-with feta and parmesan cheese, lightly fried-35
Honey mustard chicken skewers-marinated in our honey mustard dressing and grilled-35
Quesadillas-mixed cheeses, vegetables, served with all the fixin's. add chicken 5 aed-39
Fish cakes-made with hammour and spices, pan-seared-37

Salads
The Harbour Club salad-mixed greens, grilled chicken, carrots, coriander with honey lime and peanut dressing-44
Caesar salad-romaine lettuce, croutons and parmesan with Caesar dressing. add grilled chicken 5 aed-44
Grilled tuna salad-mixed greens, grilled tuna, potato, green beans, tomatoes with balsalmic vinaigrette-42
Rocket salad-rocket, cherry tomatoes, toasted pinenuts with balsalmic vinaigrette-33

Soup of the Day
Chef’s choice-made fresh daily-28

Gourmet burgers & sandwiches-freshly prepared and served with french fries
Classic burger-fresh ground beef, toasted roll, with mustard, lettuce, tomato, red onion slice and dill pickles-43
Classic burger with cheese-swiss, cheddar, American-45
Hickory burger-our classic burger topped with aged cheddar, and our special hickory sauce-47
Grilled chicken sandwich-served with lettuce, tomato, swiss cheese and honey mustard-42
The harbour "club"-smoked turkey, mozzarella cheese, egg, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise, triple-decker style-38
Vegetarian burger-served with lemon mayo, lettuce and tomato-36

Main courses/entrees
Fish of the day-chef's choice or hammour, served with sautéed vegetables and mash potatoes-48
Ribeye steak-seasoned and grilled, served with sautéed vegetables and mash potatoes-90
Filet-seasoned and grilled, served with sautéed vegetables and mashed potato-90
Herb marinated chicken-served with sautéed potatoes and grilled vegetables-42
Southwestern chicken-grilled chicken, topped with barbecue sauce, melted cheeses and served with grilled veges and mashed potatoes-48
Fajitas-a south of the border classic, beef or chicken, served with guacamole, sour cream, mixed cheeses and pico de gallo-60
Fish & chips-just the way you remember it!-45
Spaghetti bolognese-a traditional favorite-42
Omelet-Swiss cheese and vegetables, served with sautéed potatoes-33

Sides
French fries-15
Veggies-grilled, sautéed or steamed. (bell peppers, sweet peppers, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms)-22
Mash potatoes-17
Green beans-15
Mixed green salad-15

Pizza Menu
Margherita-homemade pizza sauce and fresh mozzarella-28
Choice of toppings:
+ black olives, mushrooms rocket, grilled veggies, fresh basil, artichokes, anchovies, capers, sweet capsicum 2 aed per topping
+ parmesan cheese, feta cheese, gargonzola cheese, extra mozzarella cheese 3 aed per topping
+ beef pepperoni, grilled chicken 5 aed per topping

All prices are inclusive of 10% municipality fee and 10% service charge

Beverages
Champagnes & Sparkling Wines
Moet et chandon brut imperial, France-505
Jacob's Creek pinot noir, Australia-272

White wine
Jindalee chardonnay, Australia-26/132
Chablis moreau et fils, France-350
Frascati classico, Italy-188
Mouton cadet Bordeaux blanc, France-440
Piesporter Michelsberg riesling, Germany-188
Gavi di gavi Cosseti, Italy-327
Pinot grigio riff, Italy-217
Jacob's Creek chardonnay, Australia-212

Red wine
Jindalee cabernet sauvignon, Australia-26/132
Barrel select semilion, France-290
Valpolicella bonacosta-masi, Italy-230
Rioja tinto crianza-cune-rioja, Spain-212
Jacob's Creek shiraz, Australia, 212
Mad Fish shiraz, Australia-230
Wynd Estate. Bin 888, Australia, 170

Rose
Mateus Rose, Portugal-182

Bottled Beer
Heineken-22
Amstel light-22
Budweiser-22
Sol-22
Bulmers-35
Tiger-22

Draught Beer
Heineken-27
Bitburger-30
Murphys-27
Heineken ice-30
Amstel light-27
Strongbow-27
Budweiser-27
John Smith-30
Amstel-27

Cocktails
Fresh peach billini-36
Mimosa-36
Sangria-55
Mojito-33
Caipirinha-30
Manhattan-28
Mai tai-30
Pina colada-30
Planters punch-30
Melon cooler-30
B.M.W.-30
Flirtini-36

Mocktails
Feeling Fruity-24
Smoothie Classico-24
Sirena Enamorada-24
Fruit Punch-24
Cranberry Lips-24
Pina Cool-24
Milk Shake-24

All prices are inclusive of 10% municipality fee and 10% service charge

Taste and See
Give the Harbour Club in Fujairah a try. There is a car park within the grounds of the marina. The Harbour Club is on to something important as they identify some gaps in the restaurant range in Fujairah and seek to complement and provide what residents and tourists are seeking.

Dessert
You will notice that no desserts are listed on the menu. This was a disappointment for one who always feels the need to ‘top off’ a meal with something sweet. When I asked I discovered that there is Chocolate Cake offered. What a generous serving. I was not disappointed.

Contact

The Harbour Club Restaurant & Bar

Fujairah International Marine Club

P O Box 2099

FUJAIRAH, UAE.

Tel: +971 09 222 2125

Fax: +971 09 224 3103

Email: harbourclb@gmail.com

Web: www.theharbourclub.ae

Manager:

Zammel Ezzeddine

Mob: +971 50 2925629

Email: zammel.ezzeddine@gmail.com

On Related Sites

Tasting the Emirates, Experiencing the Emirates, 30 September 2009.

Readying Al Hamra Island for the America’s Cup in UAE 2010, America’s Cup in the UAE, 28 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: Scenes of The Harbour Club.

Message from Mabrook at the Fujairah Night Souk

I am an Arab camel from Dubai.

I am out here in Fujairah getting some work experience.

This is my first visit to the eastern emirate.

I was told by people in Dubai that Fujairah was backward, way out ‘in the boondocks,’ that the people are ‘mountain goats’ and hillbillies but I think that’s a lot of elitist talk. I've met some great people.

I’d like to encourage people in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to come and see Fujairah firsthand.

Sure there aren’t the glitzy towers and the Ruler of Fujairah doesn’t seem to be on Facebook and Twittering like our Sheikh Mo but he is deep, caring, tolerant, and he is putting Fujairah on the map.

The pace of life is slower here and if you can’t relocate, this is the ideal place for a weekend to get away from the hassle and there’s certainly no problem with traffic congestion.

There’s the beach over the road and plenty of boats to get out onto the water.

You asked me what I am doing? I have a cushy number. I work at the Fujairah Night Souk so from 6.00pm until 2 in the morning I take people for rides in ever increasing circles around the park on the Fujairah corniche.

Then I have the whole day to myself to chew my cud, chomp through a few bales of hay and just hang out, as you do in Fujairah.

At least I can breathe deeply in Fujairah without getting my lungs full of smog and sheesha smoke.

How much do people pay for my professional services? I am glad you asked that question even though I am sensitive about it. Only Dh10 a ride! Frankly, they are undercharging for my services. I feel somewhat devalued at only 10 dirhams a pop but everything is so cheap here in Fujairah.

Your children might like a ride on the little pony that has also come across from Dubai. Frankly he is a real jerk.

He is a pretty number and the women seem to swoon over his palomino mane. I am disgusted that he is being charged out at the same price as me—10 dirham for a ride on that miniature!

And here I am providing experience, authentic Emirati heritage, maturity, depth and the unique experience of sitting on a hump and that little git brings in the same income as me! I guess it’s all about living in recession days.

What else can you do? Check out this article and this posting for more details about the Fujairah Night Souk.

No, I’m not the same camel as was here during Ramadan when the Souk opened. The first camel to come over was ‘Sudany’ but I think she fretted being away from hustle and bustle of Dubai.

My name is Mabrook which is a beautiful Arabic word (مبروك) that means ‘congratulations’ or much deeper than that—‘you are blessed’.

It is akin to the word ‘mubarak’ which we say at the time of Eid—‘Eid mubarak’.

Perhaps that’s why they brought me over during the Eid holiday, to be a blessing.

Come across for the weekend, drop in to the Night Souk and I will take you for a ride.

You will be blessed!

On Related Sites
Abu Dhabi Property Market News, Experiencing the Emirates, 29 September 2009.

Readying Al Hamra Island for the America’s Cup in UAE 2010, America’s Cup in the UAE, 28 September 2009.

When Shit Happens Turn It Into Gold, Stories for Speakers and Writers, 30 September 2009. Mabrook says that he likes this story about shit!

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Images: The many faces of Mabrook.

UAE Property Set for a Modest Recovery

I am grateful to Hamptons International- Property Management Company for this Guest Editorial which provides an honest update on the changing property scene in the UAE.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi real estate have seen a substantial increase in property value, putting a decent brake in their fluctuating prices by close of 2009’s second quarter in many sectors. This has encouraged value investors to restart activities in the market who had been waiting for more than eight months to act on the trend. An extra incentive for the rise in investments is the fact that many projects in both cities in the UAE are either being finalised or in the process of, which cancels considerable risks investors were previously tackling while making investment decisions.

Even so, the recovery of the world business climate still figures largely in the volume of transactions in the area, especially when it comes to major banks and other financial institutions’ ‘relaxation’ over lending criteria.

With a 20 per cent reduction in the number of transactions throughout Q2 2009 (in relation to Q1 of the same year), the accepted explanation is that, as property prices went on freefall, more and more owners who were at first considering exiting the market decided to wait for it to become stable and convalesce once again. On the other hand, potential buyers were waiting for the prices to overturn. Dubai Land Department figures indicate that Indian and Pakistani nationals shaped a large majority of these property buyers during the second quarter of 2009. The top 5 buyers also include UK ex-pats, UAE and Iranian nationals, with the estimate measure used being the volume of property transactions.

As previously mentioned, property market prospects are firmly connected to the state of the general economy. At present, the outlook for the UAE macro-economy is still ambiguous mainly due to a series of external factors. For instance, oil prices started to stabilize between US$60 and $80 a barrel – a secure range for the UAE economy.

Consequently, a constant cash flow into the government treasury will guarantee that most if not all infrastructure projects already underway will be able to be accomplished. The diligence of the UAE government is ensuring the country will remain in a competitive position in terms of business in the region. It has, for instance, abolished minimum capital requirement (AED 150,000) for establishing LLC (limited liability) companies in the whole country – a heartening sign surely able to catalyse the activity of entrepreneurs wanting to set up SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) in the region.

With regards to employment, the worst seems to have passed in the UAE. Most employers have had to cut on their workforce with this downturn but the return of job security is a critical factor in determining the decision making of potential owner-occupiers.

The next few months is a period expected to be consolidative for the property market in the UAE. The value of houses for sale in the area should not decline any further during the next quarter, as per predictions. Transaction volumes for properties also should not improve as summer and Ramadan are traditionally quiet periods for the property market in the UAE. Both property values and the volume of their transactions are likely to go up during the last quarter of 2009 for a number of reasons such as a boost in job security, the comeback of value investors and the easing of mortgage lending criteria.

Related
Abu Dhabi Property Market News, Experiencing the Emirates, 29 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: This villa has largesse and is typical of the spaciousness of many homes in the Emirates.

The Things that Jump Out of Fujairah Dumpsters

I was surprised when visiting Sri Lanka last week to see a troupe of monkeys leaping out of a rubbish skip.

It all seemed rather exotic but often on our morning walk in Fujairah I get the fright of my life when a cat scrambles out of a dumpster as we walk by.

It happens so frequently that I now try and remember to give these rubbish receptacles a wide berth.

On Related Sites
Will Al Hamra Island be Ready for the America’s Cup in UAE 2010? Experiencing the Emirates, 28 September 2009.

Readying Al Hamra Island for the America’s Cup in UAE 2010, America’s Cup in the UAE, 28 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: These monkeys were the last in the troupe and they lingered long enough on the top of the rubbish bin for me to get this photograph.

Eid Mubarak!

I am delighted to wish my Muslim readers great joy in this special season.

Eid Mubarak!

Dr Geoff Pound

Tales of a Short Summer Vacation around Fujairah

This article on the UAE Dubai Travel Guide Blog gives the flavour of what one might expect in getting out of the UAE’s large cities and heading to the mountains and beaches in the northern and eastern emirates.

Beauty. Mountains. Landscape. Coast. Relaxation. Refreshment.

All words in the Fujairah vocabulary.

Link
UAE Summer Short Vacations, Dubai Travel Guide, 7 August 2009.

Stories on Other Sites
My Name is ‘Sudany’. Let Me Take You for a Ride in Fujairah, Fujairah in Focus, 17 September 2009.

RAK Crown Prince Gives Inside Story on Winning America’s Cup Venue, America’s Cup in the UAE, 16 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: Another UAE roundabout! The Shark Roundabout in Khor Fakkan.

My Name is ‘Sudany’. Let Me Take You for a Ride in Fujairah

Star of the Show
My name is ‘Sudany’.

I am a camel from the Arabian Peninsula which you can recognize with the distinctive one hump.

I live in Dubai under the sheikhdom of the mighty ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed but I am having a terrific time getting work experience in the great emirate of Fujairah.

Fujairah is Cool
Before I was transported over here I thought Fujairah was out the back of beyond, a sleepy hollow that had nothing like the attractions of my own emirate.

I have changed my mind because for the last few weeks I have been staying in Fujairah, just over the road from the corniche and under a tree.

Let Me Take You for a Ride
My work each day starts at 7.30pm when it is getting cooler. Imagine that! I have the whole day off! From 7.30pm to 2.00 in the morning I give rides around the park overlooking the Arabian Sea. How good is that?

People are charged only 10 dirhams for a ride which is far cheaper than the Dubai Metro and is a total Emirati experience.

Come on over to Fujairah, bring the kids and have a ride on me this weekend at Fujairah’s Night Souk.

The organizers wouldn’t say it but in my humble opinion, I am the star attraction.

Further
If you need more persuasion, see these 10 reasons why you should ride a camel.

I am really concerned about the way Australians are treating camels because here in the Emirates, people love camels and even have camel beauty contests. I'm quite a doll myself!

We camels are into multi-tasking in the UAE. Look at this healthy milk we are producing and have you tried these camel milk chocolates? Buy some for Eid! It will do wonders for your s*x life! Is it OK to talk like that during Ramadan? I disguised the word just in case it doesn't get through the UAE censors.

Sudany, a Guest Editorialist on Fujairah in Focus.

On Related Sites
Abu Dhabi Has the Most Expensive Hotels in the World, Experiencing the Emirates, 16 September 2009.

RAK Crown Prince Gives Inside Story on Winning America’s Cup Venue, America’s Cup in the UAE, 16 September 2009.

Get Into the Frame with Alan Nambiar and His Fujairah 100 Photo Project, Fujairah in Focus, 16 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: It’s me with this embarrassing looking muzzle. Or is it a tea cosy?

Get Into the Frame with Alan Nambiar and His Fujairah 100 Photo Project

Congratulations to HCT teacher Alan Nambiar for gaining accreditation as a photographer by football’s highest body, FIFA and selected to shoot pictures at next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

This is no surprise if you have seen Alan’s photographs of football players at Fujairah’s Men’s College or his creative pictures of weddings in places such as Dubai or Durban.

Although Alan is a registered professional media photographer, he is still on a photographic journey searching for ‘the elusive shot.’ When he is not teaching mathematics at Fujairah Men’s College (HCT) Alan is honing up his skills, shooting pictures around the UAE and reading camera books and photographic blogs.

Impressive Portfolio
Alan is developing an impressive photographic resume which includes coverage of these international events:

* International Bodybuilding Championships
* International Power boating Championships
* Asiana Parachuting Championships
* IRB Rugby Sevens World Cup Dubai
* South African Freedom Day Celebration in Dubai
* FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa in June 2009

International Recognition
In addition to the forthcoming Football World Cup in South Africa, Alan is a photographer on the books of Africa Media Online. His brief is capturing shots of Africans telling Africa's story with respect to travel, culture, a sense of place, education, workplace, lifestyle, advertising and sport.

In November 2008 Alan was one of four KwaZulu-Natal photographers who were handed awards at Pietermaritzburg for having completed the prestigious Africa Photo Entrepreneur Programme. This was billed as a photographic workout in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Photographic Interests
When asked to describe his photographic pursuits, Alan listed the following:
* Social and Corporate Portraiture
* Weddings
* Events
* Street Photography
* Photojournalism Projects such as ‘The Human Condition.’

Be a Part of Fujairah 100 Project
One of the assignments Alan has set for his own development is what he calls the ‘Fujairah 100 Project.’

Quite simply he aims in the next few months, to approach 100 people in Fujairah that he has never met before and with their permission take a few shots of them doing their work, hobby or just blobbing around as you do in Fujairah. It should be a great photographic project which gives rich insights into everyday life in Fujairah.

Are you interested in being part of Alan’s century of photographic subjects? One of the main requirements is that you need to be ordinary rather than famous, having an everyday job in the work place, fishing boat, carpenter’s workshop, mechanic’s garage, chef’s kitchen or child-minding at your home. If you are a child or a young person you will need your Mum or Dad’s permission to participate.

Alan adds: “For ‘Project 100 Fujairah’ I am looking for subjects from all walks of life—from the boardroom executive to the factory worker—anyone with a story to tell.”

What do you get out of this? You will be contributing to the growing photographic heritage of Fujairah but also you will receive a portfolio of five photographs.

If you are interested or would like more information, contact Alan at cksr(at)eim.ae or phone 0503911627.

Other Stories and Sites
All Aboard the New Metro! Enjoy the Views of Dubai! Experiencing the Emirates, 11 August 2009.

Abu Dhabi Has the Most Expensive Hotels in the World, Experiencing the Emirates, 16 September2009.

What Will Be the Legacy of the America’s Cup in the Emirates? America’s Cup in the UAE, 14 September 2009.

Fujairah is Going Hi-Tech in Advertizing, Fujairah in Focus, 15 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: Alan Nambiar: “A professional but still on a photographic journey searching for ‘the elusive shot.’”

Fujairah is Going Hi-Tech in Advertizing

If you haven’t been around the Fujairah Corniche recently you are sure to notice the flash, new, electronic advertising board.

It is situated in the corner of the Fujairah International Marine Club (to which rent is paid) and at the moment the high pole is covered in festive lights.

It is slanted to catch the attention of the hundreds of commuters who drive from Kalba to Fujairah every day.

As it is new, there are only a few advertisements in its repertoire and they look like (its in Arabic) they are advertizing the sessions and DJs on a radio station.

I’m not a great fan of advertizing boards, especially when they are large, overbearing and contribute to the visual pollution but if you don’t advertize these days you won’t get any business.

This advertizing company that owns this new feature is called 'NY Advertizing' and the initials do not stand for 'New York' but for the owner’s name!

If you want to get a quote to advertize, call Nasser on +971 50 3907212.

He also has an office to the left as you enter the grounds of the Fujairah International Marine Club.

On Related Sites
Swallowing Your Pride in the Emirates, Experiencing the Emirates, 14 September 2009.

What Will Be the Legacy of the America’s Cup in the Emirates? America’s Cup in the UAE, 14 September 2009.

If You’ve Never Failed You’ve Never Lived, Stories for Speakers and Writers, 15 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: “The flash, new electronic advertising board.”

Fujairah Extends Internet Cable to Kenya

A new telecommunications cable from Fujairah to Kenya is being launched this week in Africa.

It will allow Internet service Providers in Africa a direct link between Kenya and other world destinations.

Previously Internet Service Providers have been routed through London but the Fujairah cabling offers a more direct link.

When connectivity is activated it will be up to each investor to decide the price and timing of their respective bandwidth on the cable.

Fujairah is becoming a key international communications hub due chiefly to its east coast location.

Link
Jevan S Nyabiage, Teams Cable Live Next Week, Daily Nation, 11 September 2009.

On Related Sites
Do You Know the Words and Tune of the UAE National Anthem? Experiencing the Emirates, 13 September 2009.

What Will Be the Legacy of the America’s Cup in the Emirates? America’s Cup in the UAE, 14 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image
From the shores of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates where Alcatel-Lucent contractors began laying the Teams fibre optic cable to the shores of Mombasa, it is now set to go live starting next week (Photo courtesy of Daily Nation at the above link).

Fujairah for Blue Skies, Beaches and Diving

Some new pictures (including this one posted) have been added to a travel site by some people who went to Fujairah to blob out and for diving.

The impressive thing about this photo gallery is the blueness of the Fujairah sky and sea.

Admittedly it isn’t always like this, especially in the high humidity of September, but the clear skies and scenic views are part of the wealth of the emirate of Al Fujairah.

Check Out all the pictures in this gallery:
East Coast Emirate-Fujairah, TravBuddy, 21 November 2008.

On Related Sites
What they are Saying about Dubai Metro in LA, DC and London, Experiencing the Emirates, 10 September 2009.

Look at the Progress on the America’s Cup Venue at RAK, America’s Cup in the UAE, 10 September 2009.

Ted Kennedy’s Inspiring Last Letter to President Obama, SFS, 11 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: “The impressive thing about this photo gallery is the blueness of the Fujairah sky.”

Fujairah Night Souk Opens with a Whimper

Many Fujairah residents were congregating for the opening of the Night Souk (market) at 7.30pm (Wednesday 9 September 2009) while workmen were still hammering, vendors were dressing up their stalls and manager of the event, Hanif Sheikh, was besieged with last minute teething problems.

Mr. Shaikh called this a ‘soft’ opening and so it was. Soft, slow and like a Monte Carlo rally which will take a day or two to gather momentum.

Perhaps many were still enjoying their iftar meal and would be out later, maybe even until closing time at 2.00am.

The only business that was ready to roll was the ‘Small Horse Company’ from Dubai which had saddled up, ‘Sudany’ the camel, a grey horse and a cute pony. Young people and children were enjoying their rides around the park.

Slideshow of Opening Night



On Related Sites
Date Fruit Wisdom, Experiencing the Emirates, 9 September 2009.

America’s Cup in the UAE Roundup, America’s Cup in the UAE, 9 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: The Perfume Vendors: Not quite alright on the night.

Sun Rising over Fujairah UAE

With high humidity and cloud cover the sunrises and sunsets in Fujairah this month have been spectacular.

The light has sometimes been quite eerie.

Here is the solar ball this morning, rolling up from the Indian Ocean to awaken the people of Fujairah.

On Related Sites
Ride the New Metro in Dubai with Sheikh Mohammed, Experiencing the Emirates, 8 September 2009.

Coming Second or Losing in the America’s Cup, America’s Cup in the UAE, 4 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Night Souk (Market) in Fujairah

Souk Starting
The Night Souk commences at the Fujairah Corniche on Wednesday 8 September 2009 at 7.30pm. From all accounts it is going to be a ‘soft’ launch with a little more fanfare in a few more days as it picks up momentum.

Timing
During Ramadan the souk opens at 7.30pm and closes at 2.00am.
During Eid the souk opens at 5.00pm and closes at midnight.

Foretaste of Things to Come
The picture displays the exterior of the souk, some of the many booths inside, a few of the fun activities outside near the beach and the two men who are overseeing the souk activities, Hanif Shaikh (left), the managing Director of Emirates Events and Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed Darak (right), the Managing Director of the Fujairah International Marine Club.

Program
More information about the vendors, products to purchase, tasty food and amusement activities are posted on an earlier article, 'Fujairah Corniche Coming Alive During Ramadan', Fujairah in Focus.

Location of Night Souk


View Night Souk Fujairah, UAE in a larger map

On Related Sites
Ride the New Metro in Dubai with Sheikh Mohammed, Experiencing the Emirates, 8 September 2009.

Coming Second or Losing in the America’s Cup, America’s Cup in the UAE, 4 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Befriending Fujairah’s Floating Population

Laura Chubb recently posted this article in Time Out Dubai:

Six miles off the coast of Fujairah lies another world. There are ships as far as the eye can see; hundreds of them, stationary on the water. Some are waiting to come into port with goods, some are waiting for supplies to come to them. Others are bunker vessels – floating petrol stations supplying fuel to the surrounding boats.

The men who work on these ships rarely get to shore – they are stranded out here for months at a time. But for the past two and a half years there has been one place they can go to get away for a change of scenery and some fresh conversation, and that’s The Flying Angel. Run by the UAE branch of Mission to Seafarers – an international organisation operating in 230 ports across the globe – The Flying Angel is the first support boat of its kind in the world. With a crew working seven days a week during daylight hours, it glides into the workers’ quiet isolation so they can climb aboard and make use of its facilities. There is a library, a shop, telephone and internet connection, and a counsellor on hand for those who need support.

It’s a typically sweltering hot summer day when I climb aboard. And when the first sea- farers of the day enter the cabin, there is a gasp of relief as they meet the air-conditioning. The bunker boat they’ve been working on for the past eight months has a broken AC unit. Isham, a 25-year-old seafarer from Ghana, will have been on that boat for a year before he goes home. The most difficult part is missing his family: ‘It gets me crazy,’ he says.

Isham and his friend Theophilus, also from Ghana, went to maritime college and both hope to be captains some day. For now, they work six-hour shifts on the bunker: six hours working, six hours spare time, and then six hours working again. That’s how their days go. There’s not much to do on the bunker: they can’t swim off the boat because it’s too dangerous, and there isn’t much room to play sport or do exercise. Mostly, they watch films and play video games. What would it be like if they didn’t have The Flying Angel to escape to? ‘It would be very bad,’ says Isham. ‘It would be impossible.’

Probably the most valuable service The Flying Angel provides is the telephone and internet connection. It allows these men contact with home, a place that must seem impossibly far from here. But it’s obvious that just having new people to chat to makes all the difference. Every seafarer that comes aboard today is eager to talk. They’re interested in me and where I’m from. They’re also pleased that I’m interested in them. (one of them has just sailed from Madagascar, where he lived in constant fear of pirate raids). Isham and Theophilus invite me onto their bunker and show me around. It’s incredibly hot, and after mere minutes we’re all soaked in sweat. They show me the kitchen and the common room, and I meet the captain. Everyone is welcoming and polite. It’s a different kind of day for all of us.

Ships bring an astonishing 99.3 per cent of all goods to the UAE: necessities, luxuries, and comforts. Practically everything you buy will have come here by ship. And these vessels need fuel, which is why the east coast of Fujairah is the second largest bunker anchorage in the world, with 100-150 ships anchored offshore at any given time. Without the work of these men, we’d be without the things that make our everyday… everyday. We should help them get through their days, too.

The Flying Angel needs your donations: DVDs, books, magazines, toiletries. It also needs your time: simple things like cataloguing the onboard library, organising fundraising events, graphic designers and printers to help advertise fundraising events, volunteers to go out on the boat and talk to the seafarers and people with counselling experience. For more, see Angel Appeal.

Link
Laura Chubb, Charity in Dubai, Time Out Dubai, 24 August 2009

On Related Sites
Stop Off for the Finest Dates in All of Arabia on Your Way to Fujairah, Experiencing the Emirates, 6 September 2009.

Coming Second or Losing in the America’s Cup, America’s Cup in the UAE, 4 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: The Flying Angel (photo and story courtesy Time Out Dubai and Stephen Miller, Mission to Seafarers).

Boat Building Industry Sinking in Fujairah

Shakir Husain of Maktoob Business reports:

Fazel A. Fazelbhoy, CEO of UAE-based Topaz Energy and Marine, said fresh orders for boats are desperately needed to kick-start the faltering industry as ship builders and owners struggle to survive.

“No one is placing orders for new vessels unless they are specifically being built against a (winning) tender,” Fazelbhoy told Maktoob Business.

Topaz uses shipyards in Southeast Asia and China for building offshore support vessels, but operates manufacturing facilities in the UAE emirates of Abu Dhabi and Fujairah for smaller crew and work boats.

In the Gulf, where the market mostly deals in smaller vessels, boat builders who had received bookings last year can remain busy until the end of this year, but they need fresh orders to remain in business next year, he said.

The Topaz facilities in Fujairah and Abu Dhabi each have seven boats under construction, but new orders are not on the horizon.

“Frankly speaking for the last eight months there have been no new orders (in Fujairah). We are fortunate that we have got a long production backlog so we are not affected immediately,” Fazelbhoy said.

For more on this subject:
Shakir Husain, Support Vessel Orders Dry Up Amid Downturn, Maktoob Business, 2 September 2009.

On Related Sites
Freej: The Bright Star in the UAE Film Firmament, Experiencing the Emirates, 4 September 2009.

Coming Second or Losing in the America’s Cup, America’s Cup in the UAE, 4 September 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: “For the last eight months there have been no new orders in Fujairah.”

Fujairah Corniche Coming Alive during Ramadan

In addition to the regular features such as bull butting, paint ball, jet skis, this Friday sees a few additional delights along the Fujairah corniche.

This Friday, 4 September there is the Fujairah Ramadan Festival Car Show from 8.00pm. Wow! Check the link to see the prizes!

From Wednesday 9 September and for the next month there is a new ‘Tourist’s Night Souk’ offering all the fun of the fair—shopping at more than 100 outlets with products from 15 countries and delicious food to buy.

The structure is being erected now for this Night Market and is located on the playground side of the Fujairah International Marine Club (marina).

Related
Things to See and Do Along the Fujairah Corniche, FIF, 20 June 2009.

Directions from Dubai to Fujairah, FIF, 12 September 2008.

On Related Sites
UAE Offers 10,000 Dirhams to Quit Smoking During Ramadan, Experiencing the Emirates, 1 September 2009.

Take a Look at the America’s Cup Venue at RAK, UAE, America’s Cup in the UAE, 31 August 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: All the fun of the fair at a night souk.

I Know I’m Back in Fujairah UAE at Ramadan When…

I just got in to the UAE from Spain at 1.30 this morning.

I know I’m back in Fujairah at Ramadan time and in the heat of summer when:

* Every power pole and light post from Dubai to Fujairah is lit up with color to celebrate the festivity of the Ramadan season.

* The Lulu supermarket has changed its hours this month so it opens at 9.00am and closes at 1.00am!

* The supermarket plays extra loudly the call to prayer over its public address system.

* It is Date Festival time in the hypermarket and the fruit section is laden with fresh dates alongside a chart illustrating 80 different date varieties in the UAE.

* There’s no beer or wine in the supermarkets c.f. Barcelona where I have been staying the last eight weeks. Incidentally there’s more fruit and vegetable variety in the supermarkets here in Fujairah and as for other products, there’s everything we want including Australian Vegemite and Twinings English breakfast loose tea that seems from the packaging to have come via Russia.

* There’s no pork or pork products on the shelves. Another supermarket in town usually holds pork products in a walled-off section but they may not have much if any at the moment, since pork imports were banned into the UAE at the height of the swine flu frenzy.

* The supermarket trolleys are stacked high with groceries as Emiratis prepare for lavish and extensive hospitality each night. No wonder this month of fasting adds kilos to most worshippers.

* The supermarket car park sounds like a bee hive with cars left with their air conditioners going while their owners go inside and shop. This practice has been banned in Dubai (to combat global warming) but it seems to continue merrily in Fujairah.

* Cafes and restaurants are closed between sunrise and sunset.

* Our local shisha cafe is dressed up like an Arabian majlis (tent) and is still going strong when we pass it at 2.45 in the morning. The nicotine in the shisha must give enough of a kick to keep smokers sane during the daylight fasting (no-smoking) hours

* The TV is not working but its pointless trying to call a technician during Ramadan.

* I break out in sweat walking in the 44C degree heat from the house to the car.

* My glasses fog up on leaving the air-conditioned home and entering the high-humidity atmosphere outside.

* Some termites look as if they have been feasting on one of our doors since we have been away.

It is good to be back in Fujairah, especially at this time of high festivity.

On Related Sites
Ramadan Up in the Air, Experiencing the Emirates, 30 August 2009.

For UAE’s America’s Cup Venue Swing Past Camel Track Near Airport, America’s Cup in the UAE, 28 August 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: “The fruit section is laden with fresh dates.”

Ships to Fujairah UAE Sometimes Have to Dodge Pirates

Popular Port
Fujairah is gathering popularity as a stopping point for cruise ships and the eastern emirate was recently made famous as the escape point for a French spy, dressed in a burqa heading for the United States via India!

With Fujairah being a significant trade port and the second biggest oil bunkering port in the world, some ships are encountering pirates on the way to Fujairah.

Incidentally, it is the other side of the UAE, on the Persian Gulf, that is known as the ‘Pirate’s Coast’ and this is the fitting venue of the next America’s Cup competition in February 2010.

Growing Pirate Threat
Maritime Journal reports this week:
“The piracy threat around the Gulf of Aden has been in the news for quite some time, and continues to make headlines with every next incident that occurs. There are many cases where ship owners and maritime service providers, or their officers and crew, do all they can to prevent hijackings.”

Going the Second Mile
“Preventive measures include alternative routes thousands of miles longer, just to stay clear of pirate activity, or careful planning and consultation to ensure escorts and other safety precautions. For ship delivery specialists Redwise of the Netherlands, staying safe has become a daily concern.”

Passage to the Emirates
“For the delivery of the split hopper dredger ‘Dravo Costa Blanca’ from Huelva in Spain to Fujairah in the UAE, Redwise chose a different option. The voyage was carefully planned and prepared to obtain an escort through the Gulf of Aden by Dutch navy frigate ‘HMS De Zeven Provinciën’, which was participating in the NATO operation Allied Protector. A dredger, being relatively slow and with a low freeboard, is extremely vulnerable to pirate attacks. Thanks to Redwise' preparations, this split hopper dredger was safely delivered to the Emirates.”

Read more on the creativity that is being employed by the shipping industry personnel at this link:

Ship deliveries detour the pirates, Maritime Journal, 27 August 2009.

Related Sites

Ride an Abra when You’re in Dubai, Experiencing the Emirates, 27 August 2009.

Harrison Ford Adds to the America’s Cup Drama, America’s Cup in the UAE, 23 August 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: The split hopper dredger ‘Dravo Costa Blanca’ is seen under naval escort as it sails from Spain to Fujairah. (Photo courtesy of the Maritime Journal at the above link).