Emirati Scarecrow Warding Off Fujairah Birds

This portly Emirati scarecrow wielding a stick while decked out in his dishdasha was doing a magnificent job warding off birds from a market garden in Fujairah.

Geoff Pound

This photo article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Trained Tourist Guides Would be Timely for Fujairah

Fujairah needs more trained guides to assist people at its tourist sites.

One can get an informative tour at the Fujairah Museum and the Bidyah Mosque (if you ask for it) but at most other Fujairah tourist sites, unless you are part of a private tour group, you have to make sense of the place yourself.

Few Fujairah Guides
Most of the tour group operators who show tourists around Fujairah are from Dubai and Sharjah. Where are the Fujairah-based tourist guides sharing all their local knowledge with visitors to their emirate?

Few Emirati Guides
The Fujairah heritage sites are intertwined with Emirati culture and the Arabic language so ideally visitors to Fujairah would benefit from having Emirati tourist guides who have lived in this emirate, who know it well and are trained and certified. Where are the Emirati tourist guides lining up to show off their emirate with pride?

Lessons from Our Neighbours
The United Arab Emirates means learning from each other and in this regard Fujairah can learn much from the emirate of Sharjah.

Sharjah’s Commerce and Tourism Development Authority has just concluded a training course for tourist guides (see picture of those at the Sharjah graduation ceremony). The number of people graduating illustrates that local people do want to show others around their emirate.

Best in the World
Their training initiative has arisen because Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, has vowed “to turn the tourism industry in the emirate into one of the best in the world.”

This means making it the most interesting and memorable experience for the tourists. But Al Qassimi knows how the tourism industry has been one of the major contributors to the economic growth of Sharjah and the UAE.

Fujairah Guides
With Fujairah having more heritage sites than any other emirate and having already established that tourism is to be one of the main economic drivers, it is essential to get working on a Fujairah Tourist Training Course. Let’s not reinvent the wheel. Why not learn from Sharjah and adapt their course to the unique characteristics of Fujairah tourism?

Emirates United
When visitors to Fujairah weave in and out of Sharjah at Kalba, Khor Fakkan and Dibba it seems logical, economically sensible and beneficial to tourists if Sharjah and Fujairah Tourism Authorities worked together on showcasing the tourist sites on the UAE’s East Coast.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Image: The New Sharjah Tourist Guides in a Group Photo with H.E. Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority. (Photo courtesy of Dr Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf, one of the newly certified tourist guides in Sharjah)

Cricket World Cup Fever Hits Fujairah UAE

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will not see the first ball bowled until Saturday (19 February) when India takes on Bangladesh in Dhaka but cricket fever has been rising for weeks in Fujairah, UAE.

With such a large expat population in the UAE from the Indian subcontinent every Friday a game or two of cricket is played on large dirt areas but in recent weeks the number of cricket games seen in Fujairah has been on the increase.

These amateurs are not playing in any organized competition for prizes but they are playing for the love of the game. The quality of the action is high and the passion for the game is palpable. In many ways, this ‘backyard’ version of the game is cricket at its best.

World Cup Winner
These expats will certainly be following the action in India and Sri Lanka and the fact that it is being played back home gives more incentive to their viewing.

And who do they think will lift high the World Cup trophy on 2 April? The Indians in Fujairah are quietly confident as they have the home ground advantage, their team is currently rated second in the world and the Aussies have lost their gloss. The Pakistanis and Sri Lankans (along with India) have won the World Cup before so they think they’re in with a good chance.

Take a Look
Pictures from a game of cricket played on the hard sand at Fujairah’s Umbrella Beach are in this album.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Photography 101 in Fujairah—Shooting With Your Camera

Here are some tips that emerged from a photography workshop in the Fujairah Beach.

Members of Dubai’s Friday Shoot Out came across to Fujairah last Friday at an unearthly hour.

Fujairah photographer, Alan Nambiar, gave some valuable input urging the group to be thinking of the concept they want to get across to their viewers instead of shooting their cameras willy-nilly.

After the theory it was time to head to Fujairah’s Umbrella Beach to see what concepts we could create and develop.

Here are some concepts that emerged about different ways to shoot the camera:

Point Blank Range

Here’s a tip on shooting your target at an extremely close range and to add to the difficulty, a person who does not want to be photographed. The fisherman is taken by surprise as the photographer creeps up from behind the man’s jeep. The photographer says with an authoritative voice, “Stand still and pass over your fish or I’ll shoot you.”

The man replies jokingly, “I haven’t got any fish but that man with the camera over there has got a jeep full of them.”

Caught in the Cross Fire

The joke was on me. The photographer turned his camera on me and demanded the fish while the fisherman smiled. I was caught in the cross fire.

Cornering Your Subject

Here’s a tip when your subject seems likely to turn away and move out of range. Join forces with a gaggle of photographers and work together. In this instance one photographer spots a good subject on the Fujairah beach. He immediately calls his mates and the members of the Friday Shoot Out group surround this unsuspecting Emirati, who is posing as a photographer. Remember, there's strength in shooting as a group.

Alan has the camera trained on his subject and he shouts, “Don’t move! Drop your camera or I’ll shoot you!”

The Emirati photographer says, “Stuff it!” and carries on shooting.

Alan gives him one last chance and then shoots. Unfortunately Alan discovers that the battery in his camera is dead!

Reinforcements are called and reloading is the order of the day.

Covering all the Angles

The great thing about being involved in a photography group is that the firing squad can shoot from all angles.

The Perils of Overshooting

Don’t overshoot your subject in one shoot out. This man has had enough.

Chaos descends and every photographer ends up shooting each other. The subject is not amused and keeps asking, “Where the hell do I look?”

Photography Ethics

A word about shooter’s ethics: Shooting standards by this time at the Fujairah beach have fallen at least to the low tide mark. The photographers are really getting up the nose of the subject, especially the camera man who is shooting at point blank range with a telephoto lens.

After the Dubai group conclude their shooting another group of Abu Dhabi photographers begin shooting the same man! He’s finished.

Further
Photography 101 in Fujairah—Composing Your Picture, FIF, 15 February 2011.
Dubai Photographers Shoot Fujairah and the UAE East Coast, FIF, 15 January 2011.
Photos of Fujairah and Kalba that Tell a Story, FIF, 19 January 2011.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Longer Visiting Hours at Bidyah Mosque Fujairah

New Hours
The visiting hours at the Bidyah Mosque were from 9.am-12 midday (see photo) but by popular demand they have been extended to be from 9.00am-5 pm (or maybe even later).

Not During Prayer
Visitors (who are not Muslims) during these hours are asked to refrain from touring inside the mosque at the times of prayer as it still functions as a place of worship led by the imam who lives on the site.

Prayer Times
The Hours of Prayer change slightly every day but today in Fujairah the times are:
Fajr 5.30am
Dhurur 12.31pm
Asr 3.46pm
Magrib 6.09pm
Isha 7.39pm

The December to March period is a busy time at the Bidyah historical area and it is one of the most popular sites for UAE tourists. Often Dubai and Sharjah residents like to make a day visit to Fujairah and the East Coast, hitting the Friday Market by mid-morning, touring Kalba and Fujairah city around midday then cruising to Khor Fakkan and Al Aqah in the afternoon before heading home. Coming this way and on such a schedule, visitors wouldn’t get to Bidyah (between Khor Fakkan and Al Aqah) until the afternoon. Tourists will be appreciative of the extended visiting hours.

Ask for a Tour
An administrator (Badria) has been working at Bidyah for the last three years and she with her team has planted more flowers and shrubs and established a small shop where visitors can buy souvenirs and religious items. Badria gives tours of the historic mosque and points out other significant things at this important cultural and religious site.

Further
Visit Al Bidya Mosque—the Oldest Worship Place in the Emirates, FIF, 9 August 2009.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Image: Looking down on the mosque with its distinctive four domes.

Photography 101 in Fujairah—Composing Your Picture

Preamble
The Dubai Friday Shoot Out (FSO) group of photographers gathered in Fujairah early last Friday morning.

Alan Nambiar, one of Fujairah’s best photographers, gave an interesting talk on having an idea of what you want to shoot before you press the trigger.

After that the group was let loose with their concepts and their cameras on Fujairah’s Umbrella Beach.

This article addresses the concept of how the photographer chooses to compose a photograph.

Six Tips for Composing Your Picture

1. It is best to get your subject to stand still before you can shoot him.

2. It is harder to shoot your subject when he is running away.

3. It is much easier to shoot a crouching tiger.

4. Get your subject in the squat position. Remember, it is very easy to shoot your subject when he puts his arms up like a couple of wing nuts.

5. If you still can’t see your subject in the view finder, get him to stand by his car. In this case, if your subject doesn’t end up in the frame, at least you can say you were taking a picture of a car on a beach. In the unlikely event that you end up with no car in the picture you can say you were taking a shot of the Hajar Mountains.

6. The joy of composing good shots is evidenced by the way the photographer is turning his camera on anything that moves.

The thrill of composing your picture and shooting what you intend.

Further
Dubai Photographers Shoot Fujairah and the UAE East Coast, FIF, 15 January 2011.
Photos of Fujairah and Kalba that Tell a Story, FIF, 19 January 2011.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Wishing for a Free Public Library in Fujairah

A free public library would be a useful community service for Fujairah.

Knowledge Foundation
In October 2007, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai announced the $10 billion foundation of the ‘Knowledge Complex’ and in so doing he spoke of the importance of translating great books into Arabic. In particular he cited the Kalima Project of ensuring the translation into Arabic of 100 of the most influential books (see the list).

It would be a good start to have these 100 books in Fujairah, available in different languages.

Advice and Ambience
A public library isn’t just a place where people can access the books but where people can seek advice, study and linger in a place surrounded by literature, magazines and newspapers. Online libraries and eBooks will never replace the contribution that such a place and service can offer.

Value to a Community
Need convincing? Read Philip Pullman’s stirring speech on the value of libraries to their communities and to civilization.

Accessible to All
Individuals and organizations can have their personal and company libraries but there’s something important about a dedicated public library to which all residents of the community can belong. Libraries shouldn’t just be the privilege of the rich and the famous or institutions that are the first to close in hard times.

At a time when so many public libraries are threatened by the axe in England, the friends of Somerset’s, Glastonbury’s and Shepton Mallet’s libraries produced this delightful clip to aid their campaign against library closures.

We Love Libraries


Library for Fujairah
A free public library for Fujairah would be a counter cultural move but it would promote knowledge, reading and the building of community.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Join the 2011 Terry Fox Run in Fujairah for Cancer Research

First Time
Higher Colleges of Technology—Fujairah, with the help of a number of community partners, is pleased to take the lead in organizing the first of what is hoped will become an Annual Terry Fox Run in Fujairah.

Date and Times
+ The event will take place at the Fujairah Corniche on Saturday February 26, 2011.

+ Registration is between 8-9.45am.
+ The run/walk/ride will begin at 10.00am.

Who is Terry Fox?
A Canadian, Terry Fox was only 20 years old when he lost his right leg to cancer. He decided to run across Canada in order to raise money for cancer research. On April 12, 1980, Terry set out from the farthest point on the East Coast of Canada. Sadly the cancer spread to his lung and he was forced to abandon the course on September 1, 1980, after 143 days running 5373km! Terry died on June 28, 1981 at the age of 22.

‘We Need Others to Continue’
Terry’s Marathon of Hope captured the nation’s attention. He was proclaimed a national hero, and since then Terry Fox Runs have taken place annually all across Canada and in other countries around the world.

More than 1.5 billion AED has been raised for cancer research.

UAE Cancer Research
When a run takes place outside of Canada, the money from the event stays in the country where the run is held. In keeping with the vision and principles of Terry Fox, all money raised from the Fujairah Terry Fox Run will support cancer research in the UAE.

Run, Walk, Cycle…
While this is called a ‘run’, it is an all-inclusive family-oriented event that is non-competitive. Participants can run, walk, skip, roller blade, cycle etc!

Money, Money, Money
+ There’s no registration fee.
+ Donations will be gratefully received.
+ Terry Fox T-Shirts will be available for purchase—Sizes S, M & L—for AED 20.
+ All funds raised from the sale of the shirts will go to this worthy cause.
+ Donations can also be made at the Emirates National Bank of Dubai, Account 02 11 0118 02 001.

Further
Terry Fox Run in Abu Dhabi (18 February 2011).
Terry Fox Run Expected to Draw Thousands, The National. (Al Ain, RAK, Fujairah...)
The Terry Fox Run—website.
The Terry Fox Foundation on Facebook. Read the stories of people who are helped by money raised on these runs.

Like this recent one by Jessica Savoie:
Hello, Terry Fox, is the reason why i am still alive today, i had just turned 22 when i was diagnosed, and my life felt like it was put on the line, you don’t know what to think or do, but i battled it, for a year before i was diagnosed cured. Thank you To Terry Fox and his family ♥ Because of you guys, i was able to battle cancer. I am now going to concentrate on spending my time and my life, talking to individuals about my experience, not only as a patient but also a survivor.

Fujairah for Life
The Fujairah Terry Fox Run is going to be a fun event and it will build community spirit in the emirate. It is good to be involved in an activity that will increase scientific and medical research that will ultimately enhance the lives of many people living in this country.

“Even if I don’t finish, we need others to continue. It’s got to keep going.”
Terry Fox, 10 July 1980.

Geoff Pound (Most of the information was provided by Donna Wilson, HCT)

This article is also placed on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page where any updated information will be posted.

110 New Rooms for Fujairah at the Fortune Royal Hotel

The signs have gone up for the new Fortune Royal Hotel, situated on Al Gurfa Road, Fujairah (over the road and a few shops down from the Fujairah Fish Souq).

It is bang smack in the middle of shops and businesses on Al Gurfa Road and the eastern side provides wonderful views over the Fujairah waters. It is directly opposite the Fujairah International Marine Club.

Amenities
The building comprises a Ground floor, two Mezzanine floors and 12 further floors. There will be four night clubs, two restaurants, a sports bar a swimming pool, gym and a Party Banquet room right at the top with stunning views of the city and sea. Here is a view of the Fortune Royal Hotel from the Fujairah Corniche.

Style
The owner, Mr. Praveen Shetty, indicated that the Fortune Royal will be a 4 star hotel according to strict Dubai standards with a liquor license. He will cater for business people as well as tourists and 40 rooms will include a small kitchen and lounge area for guests who plan to stay for a longer term and who like to cook in their apartment.

Fortune Chain
Mr. Praveen Shetty is originally from Bangalore and he has been based in Dubai for the last 21 years. He is no stranger to the world of hotels and accommodation as this new facility is part of the Fortune brand throughout the UAE which also includes the Fortune Residence Hotel Apartments in Fujairah.

Hotel Glut?
Asked whether the emirate of Fujairah is oversupplied with hotel rooms, especially bearing in mind other hotels currently being constructed, Mr. Praveen Shetty stated that this was in line with the wishes of the Ruler and the Tourism authority to increase the city’s needs to anticipate the emirate’s growth.

Location, Location, Location
This new hotel is not far from the airport but it is strategically placed in Fujairah’s shopping district and the souq area. With a surf-casting rod one could almost cast a fishing line from the top of the hotel to the water. Being on Al Gurfa Road it is not far from the coffee pot roundabout and the road to the Port, Freezone, Khor Fakkan and Al Aqah. Here is a view from Al Gurfa Road near the Fish Souq.

Opening Date
A ‘soft’ opening ceremony is timed for 5 March 2011 with a ‘grand’ opening intended later in the year.

Update: Congratulations and Celebrations at Opening of Fujairah’s Fortune Royal Hotel, FIF, 20 May 2011.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

More Public Art for Fujairah

While the Department of Public Works and Agriculture is renovating the Fujairah Corniche it may be a good time to add some more public art to the city by creating the Bull-Butting Roundabout.

When tourists write about their visit they often note the roundabouts as being among the distinctive features of Fujairah city as well as the northern city of Dibba.

Residents of Fujairah use the roundabouts to give directions as in, “Let’s meet at the shop two buildings down from the Perfume Roundabout.”

If these roundabouts are valuable it stands to reason that as Fujairah grows the city could well benefit from displaying more art on its roundabouts.

The existing roundabouts capture some of the distinctive symbols of Fujairah and Emirati culture—coffee, incense, fish, perfume and the falcon.

Earlier I have suggested the possibility of adding a Fort Roundabout and a Date Roundabout but is there anything that captures more the essence of Fujairah than bull butting?

The roundabout at Al Rughaylat, just south of the bull butting arena towards Kalba would be an ideal location for the Bull Butting Roundabout and would help newcomers to find their way to this ancient weekly event.

Some public art depicting bulls butting on the lush green grass would serve as an apt counterbalance to the Fish Roundabout further down the corniche.

Suggested Location

View Suggested Location for Bull Butting Roundabout in a larger map

Further
The Falcon Roundabout in Fujairah Reminds People of High Values, FIF, 31 October 2010.
A New Fort Roundabout in Fujairah Would Tell UAE’s Best Kept Secret, FIF, 19 September 2010.
It’s Time for the New Date Roundabout in Fujairah, FIF, 18 September 2010.
Fishing Lures People to Fujairah and Still They’re Getting Hooked, FIF, 14 September 2010.
Discover What Fujairah is about from its Roundabouts, FIF, 3 September 2010.
The.Roundabout Architecture of Dibba-Fujairah, FIF, 19 December 2010.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Images: “The roundabout at Al Rughaylat, just south of the bull butting arena towards Kalba would be an ideal location for the Bull Butting Roundabout and would help newcomers to find their way to this ancient weekly event.” (This photo is taken from the Kalba direction, looking down the Corniche Road to the Fujairah commercial business district)

The Flowering of Fujairah and the UAE

Congratulations to the Fujairah Government for its recent initiatives in bringing beauty to the streets and public squares of the city.

Salem al Maksah, the Director and his workers at the Department of Public Works and Agriculture, deserve credit for planting eight gardens along the Corniche between the Coffee Pot and Fish Roundabouts.

They are currently working on the second phase of the Fujairah corniche facelift—renewing the gardens between the Fish Roundabout and the bottom of Fujairah’s main street.

Last year they planted palm trees which are growing well but the irrigation system, the soil and the type of grass is being improved.

The third phase of the beautification process will involve the long stretch of the corniche, from the end of Hamad bin Abdullah Road to the next roundabout at Al Rugaylat.

Drive around the city—Al Salam Street in Old Fujairah to the Safeer Roundabout and up to the Old Palace, have a good look at Ittihad Street and all the roundabouts or take a ride down Faseel’s King Fayssal Street and you will see more grass, flowers and palm trees.

Apparently there are more flowers and shrubs to be planted.

Flowering of the Emirates
The greening and beautification is extending all over the country with such projects as the ‘Plant a Million Trees’ initiative in Dubai (especially the indigenous Ghaf) and the recently announced 1 million flowers decision (60 species!) in the city of Al Ain.

Further
Fujairah Getting Greener, FIF, 7 October 2010.
The Beautification of Fujairah, FIF, 2 June 2010.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Information on Fujairah for Download

Often brochures and menus can’t be fixed easily to a web site so over time the following resources have been posted on a document sharing site.

The links are in various articles on the Fujairah in Focus site but this posting brings the main ones together in one place:

Fujairah Menus
Oriental Restaurant Fujairah Menu with pics

Al Meshwar Menu
Fujairah Fort Café Menu
Saffrons Restaurant Menu
Zhonghua Huiguan Food Menu and Drinks Menu

Fujairah Brochures
Fujairah Marine Club 2010-11 Brochure
MKC Ramadan Tournament 2010 Details
Fujairah Fishing Competition 2010 Rules and Entry Form

Fujairah Directions
Directions for Driving from Dubai to Fujairah

Further
More directions and information about these places may be gleaned from the Fujairah in Focus site. Put the appropriate word in the Search box at the top of the site. Check the INDEX at the top of the site.

Much more information is posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook site. Click LIKE to get a constant source of information, news and photos from Fujairah.

Fujairah Info for Download
Sing out when any of the above gets out of date and do request a new info document or brochure to be added for Document Sharing.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Battle of the Fast Food Giants Waged on UAE Streets

Fast food ads have dominated billboards in the Emirates but currently there’s a rash of new ads on the UAE streets designed to seduce hungry Emiratis.

Locally Targeted
The Fast Food giants guarantee a uniform quality regardless of whether you are dining in Auckland, Athens or Atlanta.

Cultural adaptations have been made, like dropping the ‘Where’s the beef?’ ad from commercials in India and withdrawing bacon from burgers cooked in Indonesia.

In the UAE the ads have been written in Arabic and English to broaden the diner base.

Increasingly ads are being targeted to each emirate. Burger King’s ‘Now Flame Grillin’ in Fujairah’ slogan is proof that although BK’s recipes originate from their headquarters in Miami, you can “have it your way” in little old Fujairah.

The ingredients and the cooking have become so personalized and Fujairah-flavoured that these ads get the saliva flowing. Furthermore eating Flame Grillin’ in Fujairah is now pitched as one of the essential things you do in the eastern emirate, almost on a par with visiting the Friday Market, the bull butting or Wadi Wurayah.

Targeting Sports Lovers
During last year’s Football World Cup, the fast food ads in football crazy UAE included pictures of football stars to indicate that international soccer success starts at the dinner table with the right diet. The secret to the Lionel Messi success was revealed as he was portrayed holding a tub of spicy chicken.

Many 2011 fast food ads are associating burgers with fast motorcycles and champion basketball players. McDonald’s has done a deal with Apple Mac so by telling a good burger story you can be in the running to receive a free Notebook—a MacBook Air.

Targeting Emiratis
To promote the new Mega Arabita (not to be confused with a rabbit burger), KFC blends a modern Arabian flavor with their secret recipe. In this land of walls, veils and tinted windows, another secret is finger lickin’ good.

Pictured is an Emirati (or he could be a national from any Gulf Country) who is wolfing down one of the new Mega Arabitas.

Some UAE marketers have criticized this ad claiming that the model has an awkward pose, as he is hunched forward with a crooked neck and a padded chest. Others have seen in this solitary diner the devotional stance of a man so in love with what he is eating that he’s oblivious to anything else.

To Emiratis confronted by alarming obesity rates and warnings about poor diets this ad is reassuringly marked with a large halal sign to certify that the Mega Arabita is not only permitted but it has the Sharia stamp of approval.

Freedom to Choose
The ads from various fast food outlets remind us that we have freedom to choose what we eat but it’s useful to reflect on the subtle messages that are beamed to us on our streets by the hidden persuaders.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

“For smart people, signs can replace words.” (Arabian Proverb)

Fujairah Takes a Battering from the Wind

The strong and blustery winds battered Fujairah yesterday (Sunday) and continued all night to rattle the windows and move anything loose until sunrise Monday.

Some trees and shrubs did not pass the test and ended up in a horizontal position. Much light material became airborne and plastic bags were seen flying high in the air or trapped in the trees.

On Monday the sun has been strong and constant with the atmosphere generally clear. The intensity of the wind has eased.

The waters on Fujairah beaches were rough but forecasters warned UAE residents to shy away from the sea.

A further weakening of the wind is expected by evening on Monday.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Images: Palm trees getting a workout on the Fujairah corniche and causing one to reflect on the Arabian proverb: “A person is like a palm on the beach, moving with the wind of life.”

Swedish Princess and Emirati Prince Make a Right Royal Visit in Fujairah

Princess in the Emirates
Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, made a significant impact when she visited the conservation mountain area, Wadi Wurayah, in the emirate of Fujairah, UAE.

The 33 year old heiress-apparent to the Swedish throne was in the UAE primarily to attend the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi where she also attended and spoke at the Young Future Energy Leaders gathering.

The Princess had a busy schedule, officially opening the Swedish pavilion at the Summit, visiting the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), inspecting the Masdar Institute, inaugurating the Swedish SymbioCity Office at Masdar City and opening the new IKEA store on Yas Island.

In Dubai, Princess Victoria went to the Swedish LEED Platinum certified ESAB facilities in Jebel Ali Free Zone [see some of the pictures] and stopped by the Scandinavian Seaman’s Center.

Informality in Fujairah
In addition to the more formal ambassadorial duties the Swedish Princess was keen to add a more relaxed event by travelling to Fujairah to visit Wadi Wurayah, the first protected mountain area in the Emirates. This was a chance to learn, to give valuable international recognition and to lend support to one of the UAE’s major environmental projects.

Fujairah Program
While the Princess arrived in Fujairah on time the drizzle and cloud cover forced her helicopter to land at the airport and travel by car to the mountain site.

Princess Victoria was warmly greeted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the Crown Prince of Fujairah, his brother, His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Chairman of the Fujairah Authority for Culture and Information, officials from the Crown Prince’s Office and the Fujairah Municipality, Her Excellency, Razan Al Mubarak, Managing Director of EWS-WWF as well as several of the EWS-WWF staff members involved in the Wadi Wurayah conservation project.

After meeting and greeting in the open air where display boards communicated the work of Wadi Wurayah, conversation continued over refreshments served in a tent that was decorated with more pictures depicting the wadi’s wildlife.

Some informal speeches were made overlooking the Wadi Wurayah dam against the scenic backdrop of the Hajar Mountains. During this time, Her Excellency, Razan Al Mubarak, presented the Princess and the Prince with a colourfully illustrated book on Wadi Wurayah, as a memento of this important meeting.

The Princess was enquiring, engaging, vivacious and generously appreciative of the opportunity to visit Wadi Wurayah. In her formal speech in Abu Dhabi she had spoken passionately about her country’s commitment to the environment where her father, His Majesty the King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf is also the President of WWF-Sweden. At Wadi Wurayah the Princess turned the pages of the book with great delight and then expressed her eagerness to experience firsthand the richness of this area.

Walking the Wadi
The Princess and her aides accompanied Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Rashid as they drove to the waterfall followed by a dozen land cruisers that received a thorough going workout as they twisted and rocked up the river bed.

When the cars reached the waterfall Sheikh Mohammed took the royal party to see the pools, where the supply of water all through the year is the key to why this area is able to sustain a large number of mammals, fish and plants.

The Princess was keen to get into the great outdoors. She scaled the rock face with great agility and appeared to enjoy as much walking around the wadi as time permitted.

All Good Things…
The royal party returned to the hospitality tent outside which gifts were exchanged and farewells were made. Clearly, the Princess had enjoyed the outdoor experience and the gracious hospitality of the Fujairah Crown Prince. Her only regret was the limited time but invitations were quickly extended to the Princess to return for a longer period.

As her helicopter lifted and soared across the now sunny and clear skies the Princess was able to get some stunning aerial views of this Fujairah wonderland. As the royal party concluded those on the ground were left ruminating over the significance and usefulness of what they had experienced.

Future Hope
Spectators were left in no doubt as to the passion and commitment to the environment of these royal representatives. This should give their respective constituencies great hope to know that in the future they will have a genuine concern for the environmental impact of any change that they are implementing.

Royal Endorsement
The visit by the heir-apparent of Sweden to the UAE’s first protected mountain area underscores the importance of the vision and decree by His Highness, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah and the ongoing support given by His Highness, Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.

International Recognition
The visit of the Princess in her own right and on behalf of her father, His Majesty the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf and President of WWF-Sweden conveys international recognition to what the Fujairah Government is doing as well as the EWS-WWF personnel working in Wadi Wurayah.

Spawning a Lasting Friendship
“I’d like to come back,” are words that slip glibly off our tongues when we depart but this Princess seemed genuine about her enjoyment of the day and her endorsement of the Wadi Wurayah project. Could this visit signal the beginning of a new partnership between Sweden and Fujairah, UAE? Princess Victoria’s country has a rich and proud history of environmental responsibility. Fujairah has an amazing National Park that is being developed for the world to enjoy. At this juncture, when new animal and plant species are being discovered every year, when a Visitor’s Centre is on the drawing board, Park Rangers are needing to be employed and trained and outdoor educational opportunities have only just begun, a Swedish-Emirati partnership makes good sense and would be mutually beneficial.

If something like this was to happen in the future, yesterday’s event would certainly have been a right royal visit.

Take a Look
Some photos of the visit of Her Royal Highness to Wadi Wurayah are in this photo album.

Related
H.R. H. Crown Princess, Biography, Swedish Royal Court.
Personal Website of His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.

Further
The Royal Treatment for Wadi Wurayah, Fujairah, FIF, 19 January 2011.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Images: The Princess enjoyed walking around Wadi Wurayah.

The Royal Treatment for Wadi Wurayah, Fujairah

H.H. Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, Hosts HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden at UAE’s 1st established Mountain Protected Area.

Fujairah, UAE, January 19, 2010:

The resident Caracal and Arabian Tahr in Wadi Wurayah were not alone Wednesday as His Highness Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, and HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden toured the UAE’s 1st established Mountain Protected Area with the conservation team from Emirates Wildlife Society – WWF (EWS-WWF).

Wadi Wurayah, home to some of the world’s most endangered and rare wildlife, was the focal point of this royal visit to Fujairah. The Wadi is one of the few remaining intact freshwater catchments in the UAE. The freshwater is critical to supporting the resident biodiversity. The uniqueness of this ecosystem prompted its protection in 2009 by royal decree in the emirate of Fujairah.

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed warmly welcomed HRH Crown Princess Victoria to the emirate of Fujairah and Wadi Wurayah. “Thank you for visiting us in this special location”, he said. “We greatly appreciate your interest in our Mountain Protected Area. Your visit is a wonderful support to our work of conserving and protecting this unique region”.

His Highness, the Crown Prince said he wanted to encourage people to visit Wadi Wurayah, to enjoy its beauty and to do all that they can to protect its rich wildlife and cultural heritage.

The Wadi is home to a diverse array of rare and endangered mammals, plants, insects, and amphibians. Camera traps positioned and maintained by EWS-WWF have confirmed the presence of the Arabian Tahr – once thought extinct in the UAE. The UAE’s only Orchid - Epipactis veratrifolia – survives here, as well as the Oman-UAE endemic wadi fish: Garra barreimiae, classified “Vulnerable” by the IUCN. Wadi Wurayah is also home to 30 insect species that are new to science, 14 of which were first described within this protected area, including two named after the Wadi.

Her Excellency, Razan Al Mubarak, Managing Director of EWS-WWF, accompanied the royal court and said “Wadi Wurayah is a prime example of the cultural and natural history of the UAE. Our forefathers, going back many generations, relied on it for sustenance and we continue to rely on it to remind us of the fragility of life in the desert. For preserving this place for our country’s children, we are indebted to the vision and support of H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah and H.H. Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah”.

This preservation of Wadi Wurayah is the result of collaboration between EWS-WWF, the Municipality of Fujairah, and private sector funding from HSBC Bank Middle East. The Wadi now acts as an awareness and education centre, providing open-air classrooms for hundreds of children and students from all the emirates.

Official Press Release.

Image: HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden with host HH Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, enjoying the delights of Wadi Wurayah, Fujairah.

Photos of Fujairah and Kalba that Tell a Story

Entranced
A report was posted on Fujairah in Focus last Saturday about the visit of the Dubai Friday Shoot Out Group (FSO) to the UAE’s East Coast.

For most of these amateur photographers it was their first or second visit to Fujairah and they were entranced—so much so that they have scheduled a further visit for 11 February 2011.

Set Before Shooting
Fujairah photographer, Alan Nambiar, offered some useful hints to the shooters and urged them to think carefully about how they compose a picture. For instance, he told them to forget about the Automatic setting and work with the Manual setting. He advised them to adjust the white light setting by not using ‘Sunlight’ even in the bright sun. “Experiment with the ‘Shade’ setting for a richer result,” Alan suggested.

Tell Me a Story
Alan encouraged the Dubai photographers to take their photos and then select for the FSO Facebook site, six photos that tell a story.

Did they achieve this objective? What stories did these first or second-time visitors to Fujairah tell about the emirate? You be the photography judge.

View Their Stories
See the images of Fujairah-Kalba taken by the Dubai photographers and think about the stories that have been shot in half a dozen frames. Here are the links to some of the stories in pictures:

Six of the Best of Fujairah-Khor Kalba by Roopak Thomas.

Six of the Best of Fujairah-Khor Kalba by Nishar Mohammed.

Six of the Best of Fujairah-Khor Kalba by Prashanth H Naik.

Six of the Best of Fujairah-Khor Kalba by Lal Nallath.

Six of the Best of Fujairah and Khor Kalba by Anoop Chandriyan.

Six of the Best at Fujairah-Khor Kalba by Shynil Hashim.

Six of the Best at Fujairah-Khor Kalba by Gops Vas.

Six of the Best of Fujairah-Khor Kalba by Sugesh Gopal.

Six of the Best of Fujairah-Khor Kalba by Pramod Nair.

Six of the Best of Fujairah-Khor Kalba by Linish Mohan.

Six of the Best of Fujairah-Khor Kalba by Pramod Kumar.

Further
Dubai Photographers Shoot Fujairah and the UAE East Coast, FIF, 15 January 2011.

A Photo Story: Lessons in Photography from Dubai’s Friday Shoot Out, FIF, 15 January 2011.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Images: The Dubai Friday Shoot Out Group looking perky before sunrise; Fujairah photographer, Alan Nambiar. The photos posted are courtesy of Lal Nallath, the coordinator of the Friday Shoot Out. Give Lal a call if you’d like to join this friendly, informal group of amateurs.

Data Collection in Fujairah is a Team Affair

The Fujairah ‘Data Updating for Population, Residences and Establishments’ is very much a process in teamwork.

Ruler’s Decree
When His Highness, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and the Ruler of Fujairah, ordered an emirate-wide census to be staged in 2011, the Fujairah Statistics Center swung into action, led by the CEO, Dr. Ibrahim Saad.

Skilled and Trained
The statisticians have had to finalize the questions and the survey stages, the IT personnel have created software for the PDAs to receive and transfer the data, 29 surveyors thus far have been selected and trained on the process, supervisors have been readied to sort out local issues and the promotional experts have been letting the public know what to expect in their area.

Fujairah Residents
The most important players in the Tehdees ul Bayanat, (Project for Data Updating) are the residents of Fujairah. While Stage 1 (16 January to 15 February) and Stage 2 (6 March to 5 April) are about counting buildings, residences and establishments, the final stage (1 May to 31 May) will involve all residents giving information that will help the Fujairah Government to plan roads, bridges, houses and amenities for the future.

Take a Look
Some photos of some of the key players in Stage 1 of the Fujairah ‘Data Updating for Population, Residences and Establishments’ are posted in this photo album. Do you recognize any of them? One of them is currently counting buildings in your area.

Related
People Count in Fujairah, FIF, 16 January 2011.
Data Updating in Fujairah Conducted by Surveyors with PDAs, FIF, 29 December 2010.
Fujairah Ruler Orders Census in 2011, FIF, 26 December 2010.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Image: The ‘Data Updating for Population, Residences and Establishments’ is a real team effort of statisticians, marketers and IT personnel at the Fujairah Statistics Centre, under the leadership of Dr. Ibrahim Saad (seated in the front row before the water bottles).

Where’s the Beef in Fujairah?

Butcheries
Most of the large super and hypermarkets in Fujairah have their own butchery where you can ask for a special cut of meat as well as purchase pre-cut and plastic sealed pieces.

The largest and one of the oldest rows of butcher shops is strategically placed between Fujairah’s Fruit and Vegetable Souq (market) and the Fish Souq on Al Gurfa Road.

These are all small butcheries but they each have character and variety. The butchers tend to cooperate with one another to get you the meat of your choice.

International Butchers
The butchers come from different countries. Take the King Meat Shop as an example. The head butcher is Imran and he comes from Aleppo in Syria. He has worked in Fujairah for 5 years and he gets paid approximately 5000 AED a month.

Kosru, his assistant, hails from Sylhet near the hills of north east Bangladesh. He has less training and experience and he takes home 1,000 AED per month.

Meat of the World
The meat at all the butcheries is mostly imported from different parts of the world. The meat on sale at the King depends on what is in stock but recently New Zealand and Australian lamb was selling for AED 30 per kilogram and beef from Australia and Pakistan was on sale at 25 AED per kg (without bone) or 20 AED (with bone).

Variety
There’s plenty of beef, lamb and chicken available but you won’t find pork in these butcheries. It is available at some supermarkets such as Choitrams in Fujairah’s main street.

Hours
The King Meat Shop (like the other butcheries) opens at 8.00am. It closes about 2pm and reopens at 4.00pm for the evening session.

Take a Look
Some of the pictures of the King Meat Shop and surrounding butcheries are posted in this photo album.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Image: Imran (with the maroon fez) and Kosru giving a royal welcome to the King Meat Shop.

People Count in Fujairah

Census Starts Today
The ‘Data Updating for Population, Residences and Establishments’ or Tehdees ul Bayanat, starts today in the emirate of Al Fujairah.

Yesterday, 29 surveyors received their instructions and PDAs on which they will collect the data and from 4pm Sunday 16 January, the 2011 Fujairah census will commence.

Able Supervision
Each surveyor is working under an experienced supervisor who will help deal with problems, transfer the data each evening to a main server and conduct samples to ensure that the information collecting is being done accurately and efficiently.

Stage One
This first phase, from 16 January to 15 February, will involve the counting of buildings and establishments. The rate at which surveyors collect the information each afternoon will depend upon whether their survey area is urban or rural, how much travelling is involved between the buildings and the difficulty of getting access.

The target is for surveyors to count 50 buildings per day.

Related
Data Updating in Fujairah Conducted by Surveyors with PDAs, FIF, 29 December 2010.
Fujairah Ruler Orders Census in 2011, FIF, 26 December 2010.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Image: A surveyor receiving his PDA, name badge and other resources from Fujairah Statistics Center staff, Mr. Anwar (blue shirt) and Mr. Ali (red shirt).