Alicia Gali Rape Case Puts Fujairah Back in the Australian News

The next stage in the legal proceedings today by Alicia Gali has put ‘Fujairah’ front and centre in the Australian news.

The Brisbane woman, who worked as a salon manager at Fujairah’s Le Méridien Resort, was jailed for adultery in June 2008 after she reported to the UAE police that she had been drugged and raped by three or four male co-workers at Le Méridien.

Gali v Le Méridien

Ms Gali and her legal team have already been given the go-ahead to pursue legal action against the resort for failure of the company to protect her against assault and the legal consequences of reporting a rape case to the UAE police.

Gali v Commonwealth of Australia

Today’s step (7 June 2011) involved another pre-court procedure in which Gali’s team filed a claim in the Brisbane Supreme Court. Leave was sought to sue the Australian Government for an oversight by an Australian consular official to adequately inform Gali of the local laws that apply in the UAE. According to reports, the consular official told Gali about the drug laws but not the assault laws in the UAE.

Gali’s lawyer, Michelle James, was successful today in being granted leave to sue the Australian Government over Gali’s ordeal. Afterwards Ms James told a media conference in Brisbane that the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had failed in its obligations to Ms Gali which directly led to her being jailed.

“She should have been told, as a bare minimum, of the local laws that apply in the UAE,” Ms James said.

“In the UAE rape is not a crime unless it is witnessed by four adult male Muslim witnesses. Alicia wasn't told this. She certainly wasn't told that if she reported the brutal rape to the police that she ran the risk of being jailed for 12 months.”

The lawyer said DFAT information read by Ms Gali before she left for Dubai provided no warning of the consequences of reporting a sexual assault.

Government Responsibility

It will be interesting to see how this case plays out and what the court determines regarding the alleged failure of the Australian Government to inform Ms Gali of UAE laws.

How responsible is a government for briefing its citizens who travel to different countries? Is the familiarization with the laws of a land as much the responsibility of the person as the making of the decision to travel?

The Australian department currently provides information and ‘travel advice’ on almost 240 countries and the statements on the UAE appear both comprehensive and up-to-date (This information may have been different in 2008).

If in the detailed information provided on the UAE about terrorist threats, local travel laws, extreme temperatures, passports, drugs, rape, homosexuality, preaching, rude gestures and Ramadan rules, there is an omission to state that reporting a complaint of rape could lead to a charge of adultery and imprisonment, is the government guilty of giving deficient information and failing to adequately inform one of its citizens?

Will the Australian Government be spared from a 'Guilty' verdict because it includes in its travel advice such statements as these?

“When you are in the UAE be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you.”

“You should familiarise yourself with local laws before you travel.”

The Case Continues

All these questions about the culpability of the government, the employer and the individual will eventually be thrashed out in the courts of law. Hopefully the resolution will enable Ms Gali to heal and move on with her life.

The highlighting of this case by the Australia and international media will undoubtedly lead to further allegations of harsh treatment by the UAE justice system toward people who have been raped. The discussion and the verdict about who is responsible for preparing people to visit different countries will hopefully benefit travelers and consulates around the world.

Links

‘She Wasn’t Warned’, Brisbane Times, 7 June 2011 and parallel reports in Melbourne Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, ABC.

Geoff Pound

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

Image: Alicia Gali (Photo courtesy of The Sunday Mail, Queensland)

Developing Tourism in Fujairah and the East Coast of the UAE

Survey Findings

Several weeks ago readers of Fujairah in Focus—Facebook Page were invited to participate in a market research survey conducted by Asma Ahmed and Khulood Saeed, second year Bachelor students at the Fujairah Women’s College (HCT).

These budding marketers have crunched the numbers and put together a Powerpoint Presentation to explain such things as what they were trying to discover, how they went about doing the survey, the people they were seeking to survey and their findings and recommendations.

What Do You Want to See?

While respondents want to see in Fujairah, animal shows (bull butting, camel racing etc), motor sports, tours of historic sites, beach events and sea activities the outstanding item that people desire is mountain activities (mountain tours, camping, mountain walks and mountain biking).

Exploring the Mountains

While on the mountain theme, there seemed to be good support for the establishment of a cable car in which people could go up and down the mountains and enjoy the magnificent scenery. What next? Bungee jumping?

Further Ideas

Other survey questions revealed what respondents wanted in terms of the quality of accommodation, the average length of stay in Fujairah and the East Coast, whether there should be regular business and entertainment events and the type of restaurants people enjoy most.

Tourism Video

In addition to the survey and the development of a wiki, Asma and Khulood put together a video of Fujairah’s tourist sites, hotels, restaurant and shopping possibilities.

Successful

When asked if she was happy with the project and the results of the survey, Asma said:

“Yes, of course. I’m very happy with the results because in this survey we found out what foreign and local people want to see in the East Coast of UAE. We went on three trips to take photos for the video which were in Masafi, Dibba and Fujairah. We explored different places on the East Coast. This project has helped us to know how to develop the tourism on the East Coast of the UAE and what local and foreign people expect to see.”

Mabrook! Well done to Asma and Khulood! Things are starting to look brighter for the future of Fujairah tourism.

Links

Have a look at the Powerpoint Presentation by Asma and Khulood.

Enjoy the video Asma and Khulood have produced entitled, ‘Tourism on the East Coast’.

Related

One of Fujairah’s Greatest Tourism Assets, FIF, 5 June 2011.

Geoff Pound

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

One of Fujairah’s Greatest Tourism Assets

Much has been made of Fujairah’s status as the UAE’s ‘Getaway Destination’ but one of its greatest assets is the emirate’s proximity to Dubai’s burgeoning tourist gateway (pictured).

Top 10

Congratulations to Dubai for being ranked in the world’s top ten tourist destinations in 2011 (according to research commissioned and published by Mastercard).

Dubai is now #9 in the world in terms of international visitor arrivals after these cities:

1. London

2. Paris

3. Bangkok

4. Singapore

5. Hong Kong

6. Madrid

7. Istanbul

8. Frankfurt.

9. Dubai

10. Rome

Middle East’s Top Destination

Dubai is ranked the top destination in the Middle East and Africa region and is the only destination city in the Middle East that is in the world’s Top 20 by visitor arrivals.

8 Million!

Close to 8 million tourists are expected to visit Dubai in 2011.

This represents an annual increase of 17.3% which is the sixth best growth rate among the global Top Twenty.

These visitors are expected to spend $7.8 billion during their stay in Dubai!

Only 45 Minutes

Fujairah has been tagged as the ‘far-flung emirate’ and the perception that it is ‘out in the sticks’ has made many tourists think that it is too far to travel. The ‘boondocks’ label has made Fujairah appear primitive and rustic so why would tourists besotted with modern skyscrapers and tall towers bother to make the effort?

With the new super highway due to open in July 2011, the 90 minute journey to the east coast will soon become an easy 45 minute trip. For tourists who arrive in Dubai jetlagged after their 4 hour trip from Delhi, 7 hour flight from London or 15 hour over night haul from Sydney, the jaunt to Fujairah will become much more attractive.

The Fujairah International Airport is luring investors to Fujairah by hailing the new highway as being “only a 45 minute drive from a population of 4 million people.”

45 Minutes from 12 Million People

If businesses are making the claim of being “45 minutes away from 4 million customers,” the tourism industry in Fujairah needs to be shouting from the fort that the eastern emirate is only 45 minutes from 4 million residents plus 8 million international tourists!

‘UAE is So Much More’

Dubai has marketed itself so well that many foreigners know ‘Dubai’ better than the ‘UAE’. Fujairah needs a marketing campaign to let these 8 million tourists know that the UAE is much more than Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Much Work to Do

Fujairah needs more than a marketing campaign to grab a slice of the 8 million tourists and capture a chunk of the 4 million residents.

Many top quality hotels and restaurants have been established. The fast highway will soon be opened.

The emirate of Al Fujairah now needs:

• A Marhaba (welcome) Centre for tourists to relax and plan their stay. The Fujairah Fort seems like an ideal, central location.
• A performance arena below the Fujairah Fort, surrounded by a heritage village and which caters for the one day tourist.
• 12-15 tourist sites need to be open 7 days a week and upgraded to an international standard with quality signs, multi-lingual brochures and trained tourist guides. These tourist attractions should represent a diversity of activities including the visitation of ancient sites, exploration of the natural wonderland, ventures into the mountains and the enjoyment of water pursuits, including fun on the beaches.

A Slice of the 8 Million Tourists

Not all the 8 million tourists who arrive in Dubai will have the time available to include Fujairah on their itinerary but it is opportune with the opening of the new highway to target a proportion of these people and tantalize them with the unique attractions that Fujairah has to offer.

Geoff Pound

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

Images: Thanks to the Fujairah Observer for the photo of the new Dubai-Fujairah highway, the Fujairah International Airport for the map of Fujairah and the UAE, the Mastercard Report for the tables and Google Images for the photo of the Dubai International Airport.

Arab Proverb: “Live Together Like Brothers…”

“Live together like brothers, do business like strangers.”

More Arab Proverbs—Link.

Geoff Pound

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

The Fight Against Malaria in Fujairah and the UAE

Since 1998 the UAE has been free from malaria transmission so why are there still Malaria Control units in Fujairah city, Dibba, Masafi, Khor Fakkan and Kalba?

The high numbers of expats entering the UAE from countries where malaria is prevalent means that the disease is brought into the Emirates and these people are coming for treatment.

Prevention by Spraying

A variety of measures are currently used to keep the UAE free of malaria. Spraying is one of the major preventative measures. In Fujairah seven men and their drivers undertake weekly spraying of insecticide in more than twenty areas in the emirate.

Water collection areas are potentially the main problem areas for the breeding of the malaria-carrying mosquitoes. 65% of the breeding sites in the UAE are on farms and fewer in wadis which are mostly dry. Construction sites where water supplies are left open to the elements are attractive to mosquitoes.

Larva-Eating Fish

Where mosquitoes are found around a water supply fish are often introduced to eat the larvae and prevent them from developing into fully grown insects. More than 4,000 farms in over 146 localities in the UAE have fish placed in water supplies to eliminate the mosquito larvae.

Fujairah Technician

Mr. Quriakose has just completed 34 years of service as a malaria technician in Fujairah and Sharjah. He says, “I like this job. It has been rewarding to fight against malaria and know that the UAE is now malaria-free.”

Over the years this native of Kerala has spread his time between the different Malaria Centres on the East Coast testing 150-200 people per month. Only 1-2 people turn out to be positive each month, sometimes up to five.

All of the UAE’s East Coast, the Central Area and Ras Al Khaimah were high risk malaria areas until 1982.

Mr. Quriakose said that in his early days in the 1970s he was getting 10-15 positive cases per day in Fujairah and on the UAE’s East Coast.

Those who are tested are usually referred by a clinic and if they are positive they are given medicine and vitamins free of charge.

Success Story

UAE officials are proud of their efforts in fighting malaria and believe their success is due to the effective combination of political commitment, sound scientific and operational planning and the cooperation of the public and private sectors.

This success story has led the UAE to work with GCC neighbours in sharing their strategies to eliminate the transmission of malaria in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, especially in Yemen.

Geoff Pound

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

Images: The Fujairah Malaria Unit is opposite the Fujairah Tower on the road leading to the Airport; Mr. Quriakose has worked as the malaria laboratory technician in Fujairah and the East Coast for over three decades.

Keeping Wild Animals in the UAE

Wild Animals on the Loose

Several months ago when an escaped monkey or baboon was terrorizing people in the backyards of Fujairah’s suburb of Faseel the question was raised about the law and the keeping of wild animals in the UAE.

The question has recently been raised again when an injured cheetah was found in the streets of Abu Dhabi.

In today’s Gulf News (1 June 2011), Abdul Rab Al Hameri, the Manager of the Scientific Authority office of CITES (Convention on the Illegal Trade of Endangered Species) in Abu Dhabi, clarified the law.

UAE Laws

Mr. Al Hameri listed three relevant federal laws:

• The law prohibiting the importing of dangerous animals
• The law related to CITES prohibiting the importing or trading of endangered animals
• The law prohibiting the ill-treatment of an animal

Ministerial Decrees

Al Hameria also spoke of relevant ministerial decrees:

• The decree prohibiting the importing of fighting dogs, poisonous snakes and dangerous animals like big cats into the UAE
• The decree prohibiting the importing of primates into the UAE

Further

See more detail on these laws and the penalties for breaking them:

Binsal Abdul Kader, Cheetah Owner Has Violated Three UAE Laws, Gulf News, 1 June 2011.

Geoff Pound

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

Image: The injured cheetah found in the streets of Abu Dhabi is soon to undergo surgery. (Image courtesy of Gulf News and the Abu Dhabi Wildlife Centre).

The Work of a Fujairah Petrol Station Attendant

Hot Stuff

Spare a thought for the many Fujairah petrol station attendants this summer, standing in 45 C degree heat, while looking after the needs of customers and their cars.

Unfortunate Experiment

The move in 2008 to lay off these attendants and have self-service stations met with great opposition in the UAE. The ENOC Company trialed this for a three month period and motorists voted by driving to the next station where there were attendants.

Locals claimed it was too hot in the UAE to get out of their air-conditioned cars to pump petrol. Others, rightly or wrongly, claimed it was culturally inappropriate to expect women to be checking the water in radiators and batteries.

Beyond all of this, the experiment was a failure because there was a lack of information and an absence of any effective way of customers giving feedback.

Genuine Service Stations

The UAE is one of the few countries in the world where gas stations are still service stations and the attendants pump gas, wash windscreens and inflate tyres as part of their duty.

This man (pictured), who is employed at the ADNOC station on the Fujairah Corniche, works six days a week. His labour involves an eight hour stretch and he can be scheduled to work on three different shifts:

6am to 2pm

2pm to 8pm

8pm to 6am

While the primary task is attending to motorists, when things are quiet there’s always the forecourt to sweep, petrol pumps to polish and oil containers to straighten.

The remuneration for Fujairah service station attendants is Dh 1,800 per month.

Geoff Pound

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

Will the UAE Make a U-Turn on Nuclear Power?

U-Turn

Germany has decided this week to close its nuclear power plants by 2022 and is committed to boosting its reliance on sustainable energy sources (wind, solar, hydro etc.) from the current level of 17% to more than 50% in the coming decades.

Switzerland, which currently gets 40% of its energy from nuclear power generation, has also agreed this week to phase the reactors out so it will be nuclear-free by 2034.

Many questions are being asked in Japan since the Fukushima nuclear crisis in March. Prime Minister Kan has talked of slowing the nuclear push while many are questioning the nation’s unwavering dependency on nuclear energy.

No U-Turn

While several countries are making a U-turn on their nuclear energy policies the United Arab Emirates continues to embark on its $20 billion plan to produce nuclear power by 2017 and it is currently in talks with its GCC neighbours about a shared Dh21.3 billion repository in which to store their nuclear waste.

Wrong Bus?

It’s fascinating to see the UAE catching the nuclear bus just at the time when some major industrialized nations are abandoning this mode and staking their future on the sustainable energy bus.

When more countries have abandoned their reactors, will the UAE leaders rue the decision at this time to go nuclear and declare that they have caught the wrong bus?

To what extent will the UAE’s commitment to nuclear power impede its innovation and development of sustainable energy sources?

Will the Masdar experiment become an interesting model for the world to witness or will its lessons be embraced throughout the Emirates?

Geoff Pound

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

Exploring the Establishment of a Fujairah Natural History Group

+ Ever thought you’d love to have a tour of Fujairah’s Bithna Fort and the surrounding area with somebody who knew its history stretching back to the Iron Age?

+ Ever wanted to do a gentle walk in the Hajar Mountains during the cool weather and be taught by an archaeologist how to recognize a petroglyph and read the language of Fujairah’s early rock artists?

+ Ever yearned to paddle around Khor Kalba in a kayak with somebody experienced in identifying the rich bird life of the region?

+ Ever longed to hear an illustrated talk on the rich resources of Wadi Wurayah by the scientists that work there on a regular basis?

It looks like some of these dreams could become a reality with the formation of a Fujairah Natural History Group later this year.

Some people have been dreaming about the formation of a group that exists to explore together, Fujairah and the surrounding area. Here is a letter from HCT teacher, David Edwards, who is dropping a seed thought on behalf of the group and asking if you are interested.

Shout Out!

A Fujairah Natural History Group shout out!

Greetings!

We are shouting out to you to determine the level of interest among the community in establishing a Fujairah Natural History Group.

An informal organizing group has been dreaming of the possibility of such a group and, if interest is sufficient, we would plan for an inaugural public meeting to be held in the latter part of September 2011.

Like other chapters of the Emirates Natural History Group (Abu Dhabi & Al Ain ENHG and Dubai DNHG), the Fujairah Natural History Group will endeavor to further knowledge and awareness in the local flora and fauna, geology and archaeology, environment and culture through a variety of lectures, workshops and fieldtrips.

If this appeals to you, should you wish further information or you would like to indicate what skills or expertise you might contribute, please email us at fnhg@ymail.com at your earliest possible convenience.

Thank you for your assistance, and for your attention here.

Sincerely,

David G. Edwards

FNHG Organizing Committee Member

Got Some Ideas?

I shared some of my ideas above—Bithna Fort area, reading petroglyphs, Khor Kalba, Wadi Wurayah etc.—what sort of things would you like to hear about and experience around Fujairah?

Not all ideas can be promised or executed by this group but the theme of the monthly activities and talks at the FNHG will come from interested people like you.

What would you like to learn and explore about the natural history of Al Fujairah?

Geoff Pound

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

Feel free to forward this link, cut and paste the above letter and put it in your staff news or use any other means to get the word out.

Don't forget to email your reply saying, 'I am interested'.

Image: Looking through a door in the small village at the watch tower of the partially restored fort near Khor Kalba. (Photo courtesy of David Edwards)

Arab Proverb: “The Dog’s Tail Will Never Be…”

“The dog’s tail will never be straight.”

More Arab Proverbs—Link.

Geoff Pound

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

Thanks to Shoaib O. Essa for suggesting this proverb.

Reviving the Traditional Art of Paper Camel Making in Fujairah

From LA to UAE

Darcy Harris first left her Los Angeles home in 1986 to travel to Japan where she heard they were desperately looking for English conversation teachers. She never suspected that she would meet her husband and travel the world for the next 25 years. Darcy and Paul have lived in such exotic places as Finland, the UK and Saudi Arabia.

Now based in Fujairah, Darcy is currently the Student Success Coordinator (SSC) for the HCT Men’s College.

Darcy’s first love is theatre and she is hoping to bring her love of theatre to Fujairah in December 2011 by directing an English pantomime. She’s plans to feature some of her paper sculptures in the production.

Paper Sculpting

Darcy has been the director and curator of an art gallery, but it may have been her production of live theatre and the need to create props that got her into the art of paper sculpting.

As a teacher, Darcy noticed the tremendous stack of paper that would mount up below the College photocopy machine and she wondered how the waste might be put to good use.

Paper Camels

Darcy has lived in the Gulf for sixteen years and the UAE for eleven years. She began to notice five to six years ago in the shops and souqs that the ubiquitous leather camels were fast disappearing.

When she started to make her first paper camels many Emirati young people said to Darcy, “That’s what my grandmother made!”

An old Emirati, seeing one of Darcy’s camels, reflected, “I had these when I was a child.”

Darcy lamented the disappearance of this traditional art form and said, “I wanted to bring back something I thought Emiratis and people of the Gulf were losing.”

She decided not to make leather camels but to apply lacquer to the paper and add decorations that might appeal to the youthful generations.

Last year was the first year that Darcy began to sell the camels which was a decision to get them into circulation, contribute to the growing craft culture in the UAE and as a way of recovering some of her costs.

Learning the Craft

To learn the camel making craft, Darcy bought up camels in shops and markets, especially those that were broken. She would take them apart, discover what materials were used and learn how they were constructed. Many of the old camels were stuffed with odds and ends that the maker could find in the house.

Darcy has made hippos and horses but she prefers to concentrate on making camels.

Building a Camel

Darcy makes the ‘building’ of a camel look easy. You take a ball of newspaper, fashion it into a shape, apply water or glue and keep adding strips of paper to make a knee or a hump.

It’s a slow process as the wet paper needs to dry before more paper is added. Darcy uses glue paste after which she sands the dry paper smooth. Gypsum and acrylic paints are applied along with decorative extras before the camel is fully presentable. Darcy offers this observation on camel construction:

“The longer the camels stand for drying the better they will look in the end.”

The smaller ones take two weeks to dry but the larger ones can take up to six weeks so Darcy has lots of camels on the go at any one time, and she will make scores of legs or tails in one burst.

Decorating the Camel

After the camels are dried, they are smoothed and painted before being decorated. Darcy buys up stickers at the markets and One Dirham shops. Her customers will ask for specific designs—camels draped in the Union Jack, camels decorated with Dutch tulips and the ever popular camels with the UAE colours.

While Darcy makes camels in different stances—standing, kneeling or even balancing on a surfboard—it’s the detailed decorations that give each camel their distinctive personality. “Every camel is a canvas,” declares Darcy. “Every camel is sacred.”

Some buyers request that their multi-coloured camel be decked out with flashy beads or with elaborate palm tree ornamentation. As she says, “The world is full of different tastes and some colours appeal much more than others.”

After colouring, decorating and adding the bling the camels receive a lacquer to protect their surface and make them shiny. Water and sunlight will damage these paper creations so the camels are not to be kept outside or in the window light.

Camels for Sale

Darcy has a demanding fulltime job so camel making at the end of the day is a pleasurable hobby. She sets the prices at minimal levels simply to cover her costs.

Here are the current prices for the paper camels:

AED 25 Small

AED 50 Medium

AED 75 Large

AED 150 Extra Large

AED 275 Extra Extra Large

Art and Craft Markets

There’s a growing number of souqs in the UAE which bring together people who make handmade crafts.

These are some souqs where Darcy sells her camels:

Art and Craft Soukh—Times Square Center, Dubai (2^nd Friday of the month from 12pm-7pm). Website: www.arte.ae

Art and Craft market—Festival Centre at Dubai Festival City (1^st Friday of the month from 12pm to 9pm). Website: www.arte.ae

Art and Craft Soukh—Al Hamra Mall, Ras Al Khaimah (three Fridays a year from 2pm to 9pm). Website: www.arte.ae

Contact

For information and inquiries Darcy Harris may be contacted at this email address:

empressdarcy@hotmail.com

Geoff Pound

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

Your Suggestions to Solve the Oil Dumping Crisis in Fujairah Waters

Urgency

New Head of the Municipality’s Environment Protection Department, Eng. Fatma Hassan Sharary, said she would welcome suggestions from the public as her department puts together a plan to address oil dumping in Fujairah waters.

After the major oil dumping in April that killed fish and birds and closed the tourist beaches at Al Aqah and another blanket of oil this month, the issue of finding an effective solution must be marked URGENT and IMPORTANT.

Suggestions

Let your creative ideas flow about the following matters:

• Surveillance and policing
• Detection of oil entering the water
• Accurately tracing the oil to the rogue oil tanker
• Penalties for oil tanker owners
• Early alerting of stakeholders regarding oil in the water
• Preventing the spread of leaked oil and clean up operations
• Determining local government and federal government responsibilities
• Financing the oil dumping prevention plan
• Other aspects

Pass Them On

I’m happy to receive your ideas and plans on this matter and pass them on to the department.

Geoff Pound

Contact via the following:

Email geoffpound(at)gmail.com

Facebook

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

Rare Visit to Fujairah, UAE of Franklin’s Gull

'Is It a Bird?...'

Alarm bells started to ring when Dr Reza Khan posted in the UAE Birding Forum the names and photos of birds he had spotted on Tuesday 17 May 2011 at Fujairah and Kalba in three different locations.

‘Weird Black-Headed Thing’

Mark S, one of his birding colleagues added these comments to the forum:

“White-eyed Gull AND that weird white-eyed black-headed thing, Reza? Not only is White-eyed Gull a serious rarity, but that black-headed gull looks VERY interesting - similar to Laughing/Franklin's Gull. Reza-do you have any more photos of either bird?”

Franklin’s Finding Authenticated

The spotting and identification of the Franklin’s Gull in Fujairah was reported (25 May 2011) in The National along with news of a sighting on 12 May of a Cory’s shearwater which had also not been seen before and documented in the UAE.

Video Footage

On 27 May 2011 UAE birder Mike Barth posted an article about visiting Fujairah on Friday 20 May 2011 to discover this ‘extreme migrant’.

Mike found the Franklin’s Gull on the stretch of beach near the Fujairah Port and posted on his blog some photographs along with some video footage.

He writes about wading out among the high waves and getting drenched in order to get his photos. The lengths that bird spotters go to get their photos and video footage!

Take a look at Mike Barth’s post, his photos of the rare bird in Fujairah and the Franklin’s Gull starring on video.

Related

Fujairah is For the Birds, FIF, 3 November 2010.

Geoff Pound

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

Image: The Franklin’s Gull making his rare appearance in Fujairah and the UAE. (Photo courtesy of Mike Barth).