The Fujairah City Centre and the Colourful Fujairah Flavour

Update, 21/9/11

The new walls around the site of what will become the Fujairah City Centre must be the brightest and most colourful of any construction site in Fujairah.

In view of the blandness and sameness that afflicts too many malls around the world one hopes that the forthcoming Fujairah City Centre will be colourful, distinctive and expressive of the unique local flavour on the UAE’s East Coast.

Facts about the Fujairah City Centre

• Work commenced on the Fujairah City Centre on 5 April 2011.
• Completion date set for 2012.
• The Fujairah Crown Prince and the CEO of Majid Al Futtaim laid the foundation stone.
• The cost of the project: 400m AED.
• Facilities will include: cinema, cafes, restaurants, 100 specialty stores including Carrefour, Magic Planet and Home Centre.
• Expected to be the first retail development in Fujairah to achieve a LEED gold rating for green building design.
• The FCC will create more than 1200 jobs.
• Developers: Majid Al Futtaim (MAF)-see this link for notes on the Fujairah Project.
• It is the sixth mall in the UAE carrying the Majid Al Futtaim Properties name and standards.
• Partnership: The FCC is being developed by MAF in partnership with the government owned Fujairah Investment Establishments.
• Project Manager: MACE.

Locate it on Google Maps

View Fujairah City Centre in a larger map

Related

The Malling of Fujairah, FIF, 3 May 2011.

Fujairah Commercial Complex Rising Rapidly, FIF, 29 April 2011.

Crown Prince of Fujairah Opens New UAE Project, MACE, 3 May 2011.

Building Boom at Fujairah’s Gateway, FIF, 6 March 2011.

Geoff Pound

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

Image: The new coloured fences around the Fujairah City Centre Construction site; His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi participates in the ground-breaking ceremony of the Fujairah City Centre on 5 April 2011. (Photo courtesy of MACE)

Arab Proverb: “The Dogs May Bark but…”

“The Dogs May Bark but the Caravan Moves On.”

-Arab Proverb.

More Arab Proverbs

“In the Desert of Life the Wise Person Travels by…” FIF, 3 May 2011.

“To Understand a People Acquaint Yourself with…” FIF, 2 May 2011.

“Visit Rarely and You Will Be…” FIF, 1 May 2011.

“Look for the Exit Before You...” FIF, 30 April 2011.

“They Planted So We Ate and We Plant…” FIF, 28 April 2010.

“Marriage is Like a Fort…” FIF, 21 April 2011.

“Write the Bad Things that are done to you in sand but…FIF, 20 April 2011.

“Give the Bread Dough to the Baker Even…” FIF, 18 April 2011.

“A Chameleon Does Not Leave One Tree Until…” FIF, 17 April 2011.

Geoff Pound

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

The Malling of Fujairah

Growing Up

Much has been made in recent days of Fujairah getting its first shopping mall, almost as if getting a mall is the rite of passage that admits a city from childhood into adolescence.

A Mall is a Mall is…

Those who take a swipe at Dubai often speak of it in derogatory terms as a ‘city of malls’. A mall doesn’t usually have the character of the traditional shopping strips but there’s something to be said for an air-conditioned shopping centre in this land, especially when the mercury is hovering around 50C.

Colourless Malls

The malls that have a depressive effect on shoppers are those that look and feel the same regardless of where it is in the world that you’re shopping.

That’s why I like the smell of malls in the UAE where you enter a new arcade and you receive a strong whiff of Arabic perfumes or you visit a shop and you’re greeted with an incense burner and a cloud of oud.

Everywhere and Nowhere

In 1989 Michael Galinsky toured America and documented shopping malls across the country with his cheap Nikon camera. As he has recently got around to putting them into a video collection he writes:

I shot about 30 rolls of slide film in malls from Long Island to North Dakota to Seattle. It was hard to tell from the images where they were taken, and that was kind of the point. I was interested in the creeping loss of regional differences. I thought a lot about (photographer Robert) Frank's "The Americans" as we drove from place to place without any sense of place.

A Sense of Place

The lovely feature about Dubai’s Ibn Battuta Mall is the way it tells a local story and has been developed according to a Middle Eastern theme.

It would be a shame when the malls of Fujairah open and we walk around thinking that this could be a mall in Melbourne, Manchester or Montreal.

Hopefully the designers of the malls in Fujairah will create places that strongly reflect the local and regional distinctiveness of our eastern emirate.

Related

Fujairah Commercial Complex Rising Rapidly, FIF, 29 April 2011.

Fujairah’s Lulu Hypermarket Developing into Shopping Mall, FIF, 15 June 2010.

Geoff Pound

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

Image: “The lovely feature about Dubai’s Ibn Battuta Mall, is the way it tells a local story and has been developed according to a Middle Eastern theme.”

What About Creating a Fujairah Calendar and a UAE Calendar?

The digital Dubai Calendar has been officially launched by His Highness, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai.

What a great idea this is!

Fujairah Calendar

It would be a wonderful asset to have a Fujairah Calendar to inform residents and tourists of forthcoming Fujairah events and make for much better planning and promotion of events large and small.

UAE Calendar

Furthermore, it would be useful for each emirate to have a calendar for their events that uses the same technology plus a UAE Calendar that bears the dates of national significance?

Congratulations to Dubai Events and Promotions for their innovation.

Related

Check the Dates on the Fujairah Calendar, FIF, 21 April 2011.

Geoff Pound

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

Arab Proverb: “In the Desert of Life the Wise Person Travels by…”

“In the Desert of Life the Wise Person Travels by Caravan, while the Fool Prefers to Travel Alone.”

-Arab Proverb.

More Arab Proverbs

“To Understand a People Acquaint Yourself with…” FIF, 2 May 2011.

“Visit Rarely and You Will Be…” FIF, 1 May 2011.

“Look for the Exit Before You...” FIF, 30 April 2011.

“They Planted So We Ate and We Plant…” FIF, 28 April 2010.

“Marriage is Like a Fort…” FIF, 21 April 2011.

“Write the Bad Things that are done to you in sand but…FIF, 20 April 2011.

“Give the Bread Dough to the Baker Even…” FIF, 18 April 2011.

“A Chameleon Does Not Leave One Tree Until…” FIF, 17 April 2011.

Geoff Pound

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

New Name and Facelift Needed for 'Madhab Sulpheric Spring Park' Fujairah

Fujairah’s Madhab Sulpheric Spring Park is looking tired and in need of substantial renovation.

This park, also called ‘Ain Mudhab’ (Mudhab Spring), needs a new name because those visiting to see and bathe in sulphur spring water will be disappointed.

There’s a small fountain of mineral water for display purposes near the entrance to the park but the mineral water that formerly filled the swimming pools and paddling channels in the park appears to have dried up.

Unfortunately Fujairah’s hot springs at Ain Al Ghamour have also suffered the same fate.

Reputation for Mineral Springs

For years the hot springs in Madhab have been frequented by people wanting to benefit from the medicinal properties that eased rheumatism, arthritis and other aches.

Early Tourist Resort

In the mid-1970s the Fujairah Government’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fish Resources spent Dh6 mill on creating the 15 acre Madhab Sulpheric Spring Park, developing swimming pools (male and female), beautifying the place with trees and flowers and establishing a resort with overnight cabins for families, recreational facilities, children’s equipment, aviaries and a cafeteria.

Large musical and cultural concerts have been staged over the years in the park where there is an outdoor platform and sound shell.

The 15 acre Madhab Park (or ‘National Park’) has over the years become associated with the wider Madhab development that includes the Heritage Village, a cricket ground and an animal enclosure where new work is progressing at the moment.

Tired and Worn

Today, the trees are well established and there’s plenty of space for picnics. Most who visit come to use the swimming pools. The cabins are old and are not very attractive, according to some who work at the park. The playground equipment is old. The bird enclosures are sad. The sign in the cafeteria listing the items on sale looks like it hasn’t changed for decades.

Potential

People continue to visit and enjoy their time at the Madhab Park, especially in the weekends.

The location is superb under the magnificent Hajar Mountains. The many types of trees are mature.

This park could have a bright future if new signs indicated the new reality about the mineral water and if it received a fresh injection of funds for renovation and development.

Location

The northern end of Al Ittihad Street, which runs down the left side of the Ruler’s Palace.

GPS Coordinates (courtesy of one tourist): 25 08’ 26.41” N; 56 18’ 59.01”E

See it on Google Maps

View Madhab Sulpheric Spring Park and Surrounds in a larger map

Open every day except Sunday.

Current Fees (this will inevitably increase)

Entrance to the Park: Children Dh1; Adults Dh2

Swimming Pool: Children Dh5; Adults Dh5 (Children under 8 need parental supervision)

Rooms for Rent (Only for families not bachelors): Dh150, Dh200, Dh300

Take a Look

Visit and draw your own conclusions or have a look at the pictures in this photo album.

Geoff Pound

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

Arab Proverb: “To Understand a People Acquaint Yourself with…”

“To Understand a People Acquaint Yourself with their Proverbs.”

-Arab Proverb.

More Arab Proverbs

“Visit Rarely and You Will Be…” FIF, 1 May 2011.

“Look for the Exit Before You Enter.” FIF, 30 April 2011.

“They Planted So We Ate and We Plant…” FIF, 28 April 2010.

“Marriage is Like a Fort…” FIF, 21 April 2011.

“Write the Bad Things that are done to you in sand but…FIF, 20 April 2011.

“Give the Bread Dough to the Baker Even…” FIF, 18 April 2011.

“A Chameleon Does Not Leave One Tree Until…” FIF, 17 April 2011.

Geoff Pound

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

Fujairah Surveyors Begin Knocking on Doors Tonight

One of 110 surveyors (women and men) will be knocking on your door in Fujairah sometime between today (1 May 2011) and the end of the month, as part of the Fujairah Data Updating or Tehdees ul Bayanat (Census).

The surveyors completed their training on Saturday and they serve under one of eight supervisors that cover the emirate of Fujairah.

Stages 1 & 2

The first two stages of the Data Updating (which started on 16 January 2011) involved a counting of all the residences and establishments in the emirate.

Stage 3

This third and final stage is the updating of statistics on the Fujairah population. It involves talking with residents and asking them a series of questions about themselves and other Fujairah-based family members in the home.

Ruler’s Decree

Each of the trained surveyors will be identified by the wearing of a Statistics Center name tag and ID.

They will also be carrying copies of the official letter from His Highness, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and the Ruler of Fujairah, in which he decreed that this census be undertaken in 2011.

In this letter, His Highness explains that information will be received with respect for personal privacy and that the information given by residents will be valuable as the government continues its work of urban and rural planning.

Process

The surveyor will ask you questions, your information will be put into a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant or hand-held computer) and at the end of the day the surveyor’s supervisor will lodge that information into a government server (main computer) for collecting and analysis.

Language Challenges

The Fujairah population is comprised of people from many different cultures and languages and to this end the Statistics Center is matching surveyors according to known concentrations of language groups. Many of the surveyors know more than one of the main languages spoken in Fujairah.

Visiting Hours

All surveyors have jobs during daytime hours so they are most likely to visit homes between 4.00pm-8.00pm.

Related

Data Collection in Fujairah is a Team Affair, FIF, 18 January 2011.

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 in the Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page.

Images: From top to bottom— Mr. Abdullatif and Mr. Amer, two of the eight supervisors; Mr Raheel Anwar, a member of the team at the Fujairah Statistics Center with special responsibility for IT and the technological training for the Data Updating process; M. Walayat Khan, a civil engineer from Peshawar, who will be surveying people in the Al Hayl area of Fujairah where the predominant languages are Asian—Urdu, Hindi, Bengali .

One Dirham a Day at Fujairah Marine Club Gets All These Benefits

The team at the Fujairah International Marine Club (FIMC) led by Major Ahmed Ebraheim Al Blooshi has come up with the nifty idea of ‘A Dirham a Day’ for an annual Marine Club membership.

Mutual Benefits

This is the first time that the FIMC has established a formal membership. It will help the Club to know the people they can count on and it will give to people the many benefits that come to those who are committed.

Annual Investment

Major Ahmed said that those who pay their 365 AED will receive a FIMC Member’s Card so that they can show it at all the places where they can obtain member’s discounts (see below).

ID and Pic

Those at the Marine Club processing the cards need to see your Emirates ID Card (so they get your name right) and receive your photo (which goes on the card).

Benefits Aplenty

See what you get for A Dirham a Day at all these different places:

Discounts at the Fujairah International Marine Club

• 20% discount on our charter boats (pleasure and fishing)
• 10% discount on the labour charges in the workshop
• 15% discount on berthing fees

Discounts at the The Harbour Club

• 15% discount to our members

Discounts at the Zhonghua Huiguan Chinese Restaurant and Nightclub

• 20% discount at Zhonghua Huiguan Chinese Restaurant

Discounts at the Barasti Coffee Shop & Shesha (above)

• 15% discount at Barasti Coffee Shop and Shesha

Discounts at Al Areesh

• 25% discount on jet ski renting
• 20% discount on cruise trips
• 10% discount in tackle shop

Discounts at the Barracuda Diving Center

• 20% discount on rental fishing boats
• 20% discount on diving trips
• 20% discount on refilling cylinders
• 20% discount on diving equipment
• 20% discount on dhow charter

Discounts at Darfeel Charter Boats and Jet Ski Rentals

• 20% on charter boats
• 20% discount on Jet Ski rentals

The sooner you get your FIMC Membership Card the sooner you are going to be eligible for these generous discounts.

Membership Information

The person handling the membership process is the FIMC Marketing and PR Officer, Mr. Shoaib O. Essa. His link on Facebook.

Email him at: fimscfuj@gmail.com to get more information, including the FIMC Membership Terms & Conditions and the FIMC Application Form (both need to be signed).

Downloads

You may download the FIMC Membership Terms & Conditions document at this link

You may download the FIMC Application Form at this link.

You may download the FIMC Brochure 2010-2011 at this link.

(Be aware that these documents are accurate as at 1 May 2011 but they will surely be altered in the months to come.)

Contact Details

Tel: +971 (0) 9 222 1166

Fax: +971 (0) 9 222 9711

Website: FIMC

Facebook Page: Fujairah International Marine Club

Related

Get Your New Brochure for New Season at Fujairah Marine Club, FIF, 23 November 2010.

Geoff Pound

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

Arab Proverb: “Visit Rarely and You Will Be…”

“Visit Rarely and You Will Be More Loved.”

-Arab Proverb.

More Arab Proverbs

“Look for the Exit Before...” FIF, 30 April 2011.

“They Planted So We Ate and We Plant…” FIF, 28 April 2010.

“Marriage is Like a Fort…” FIF, 21 April 2011.

“Write the Bad Things that are done to you in sand but…FIF, 20 April 2011.

“Give the Bread Dough to the Baker Even…” FIF, 18 April 2011.

“A Chameleon Does Not Leave One Tree Until…” FIF, 17 April 2011.

Geoff Pound

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

Thoban, Fujairah: The Craft Capital of the Emirates?

Thoban is a dusty unassuming town that one drives through on the way from Dubai to Fujairah but if you care to stop you’ll discover that it has more traditional crafts per shop than any other town in the UAE.

Wood and Metal Crafts

Slow down and you’ll see outside most of these little shops some cabins, offices, the traditional Emirati sabelah (sun shelters) and areesh (summer hut) for the backyard, swings and seats made from wood and steel. Perhaps it’s the proximity to the Friday Market that has turned Thoban into a manufacturing centre for traditional and modern crafts.

Traditional and Modern Pottery

The most famous craft centre is the Thoban Pottery Factory which has been producing traditional Arab terracotta pots for almost two decades.

Date Palm Crafts

The Al Nakheel Heritage and Craft Works is a fascinating shop. 85% of its stock is made from Al Nakheel—the common date palm. These palm products are made in a factory in Masafi.

They sell small items such as floor mats, food covers, baskets and trays but they also sell large furniture like chairs and tables and children’s play equipment, all made from the date palm.

Many of their products are UAE souvenirs and Emirati items like the traditional stick or cane that is used by men for dancing.

Other items (and those not made from Al Nakheel) include mountain honey, picnic equipment such as blankets, basic BBQs, grills that come in different sizes and lanterns.

Location

Approaching Thoban from Fujairah, Al Nakheel Heritage and Craft Works is in the second block of shops on the right side of the road.

Coming from Dubai/Sharjah go to the end of the Thoban shops, then drive for about 1-2 kilometres until you can do a U Turn. Don’t go too fast as it is in the second block of shops on the right coming from the direction of Fujairah, just after the 100 kpm speed limit sign and the blue road sign.

Thoban is 44 kilometres from Fujairah and 14 kilometres the Dubai side of Masafi.

More information in this article: ‘Directions from Dubai to Fujairah’.

Check Out the Location on Google Maps

View Al Nakheel Heritage & Craft Works in a larger map

Contact Details

Al Nakheel Heritage and Craft Works

Thoban

Fujairah, UAE

Manager: Mohamed Khames El Bady

Mob: 050 5850313; 050 1240812

Take a Look

Some photographs of some of the palm and other products at the Al Nakheel Heritage and Craft Works can be found in this photo album. Be aware that the range of products and the prices listed are bound to change in the months to come.

Geoff Pound

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

Image: A very comfortable furniture set made from Al Nakheel (date palm).

Arab Proverb: “Look for the Exit Before…”

“Look for the Exit Before You Enter.”

-Arab Proverb.

More Arab Proverbs

“They Planted So We Ate and We Plant…” FIF, 28 April 2010.

“Marriage is Like a Fort…” FIF, 21 April 2011.

“Write the Bad Things that are done to you in sand but…FIF, 20 April 2011.

“Give the Bread Dough to the Baker Even…” FIF, 18 April 2011.

“A Chameleon Does Not Leave One Tree Until…” FIF, 17 April 2011.

Geoff Pound

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