Fujairah Tourism Articles

Summer Fair in Fujairah Opens, MENAFN, 28 May 2008.
Fujairah Hosts Arab Cultural Forum, MENAFN, 27 May 2008.
Fast Lane to Fujairah, Arabian Business, 26 May 2008.
Fujairah Tourism Bureau
Fujairah Tourism Targets: 100% Natural, FIF, 26 October 2007.
Greater Sharjah & Fujairah tourism Cooperation…, FIF, 1 November 2008.
Fujairah Targets Tourism for Growth, AMEINFO, 25 October 2007.
Fujairah to Spend Dh3b on Tourism, UAEInteract, 4 September 2005.

Renter Migration to Fujairah

Nubricks, the ‘online launch pad for international property developments and overseas property news alerts, has posted an article on the effect of the unacceptably high rent in Dubai.

Here is the punch line:

“In addition to the drastic measures of upping sticks lock, stock and barrel, many expatriate residents are considering a longer commute relocating to the neighbouring emirates of Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm al-Quwain and even capital Abu Dhabi , where the cost of living is notably lower.”

Cheaper rents in these far-flung areas, at least for the moment. This ripple effect is gradually raising the rent but not to the Dubai levels. It would be interesting to compare the other major costs of living between Dubai and the cities at the extremities of the Emirates.

Driving from Fujairah earlier this week to attend a breakfast meeting at the Dubai airport made me realize how many people make this 90+ minute commute from Fujairah to Dubai-Sharjah and back every day.

One attractive prospect is that the new highway (ready in 2009?) promises to cut the time spent in the car considerably (to 45 minutes) but with the Emirati love affair with the car, this tripping in and out is a breeze.

Check out the full article at: Mark Benson, ‘Soaring Dubai Rents Good for RAK…”, Nubricks, 7 May 2008.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: Dubai renters heading out east.

Pipe Links Fujairah with Largest Gas Field

Just in case you missed it The National ran an article commemorating the historic launch of the ‘Dolphin gas pipeline’ in May 2008.

The 364km pipeline will run from Ras Laffan in Qatar to Taweelah in Abu Dhabi, thence to Dubai, Al Ain, Fujairah and Oman (if there’s any gas left!).

This is a significant project in many ways:
* It is amazing that oil rich UAE is importing gas
* The source is the largest gas field in the world
* The project represents a partnership of three countries in the Gulf region
* It is part of the GCC plan in creating a single market and currency by 2010

Link to the article:
Tom Ashby, Leaders Launch Historic Pipeline, The National, 12 May 2008.

Image: Dolphin Gas Project pipeline construction.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Fishing: Quintessentially Fujairah

It must be that time of the year for great fishing because here is a link to another series of photos of Bengali fishermen in Fujairah going about their daily business.

They are assisted greatly these days by the jeeps that drag these mile long nets onto the beach but it is still an arduous routine, until the fish are pulled onto the beach.

Many thanks to photographer and blogger, Hans Mast, for posting a large number of fishing photos on his site.

Check out his great photos at HansMast.Com:

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: A sample of Hans Mast’s fishing fotography in Fujairah—‘the catch’

Also:
Fishing, Fish Farming & Eating Fish in UAE FIF, 25 May 2008.

Fishing, Fish Farming & Eating Fish in UAE

The National has recently posted an article that will make your mouth water and get your salivary glands working.

Fishing is a different game in the Arabian Sea and this article gives a thumbnail description of the main varieties—hammour (the UAE’s favourite fish), biah, helwayoo, safi, kingfish, silver pomfrey and sobaity.

Check out this article because most importantly, there are some tips on how to cook these fish (whether you hook them in or buy them from the fish market).

This article also focuses on the problem of over fishing and alludes to fish farming in Fujairah that produces up to 2,000 tonnes per year, with more facilities in the pipeline.

Link: James Brennan, ‘Plenty More Fish’, The National, 13 May 2008.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: How’s this for a hammour? The link to this web site (which is about fishing in the UAE) and it is in French.

Further Fish or Fishing Articles:
Fujairah Fly-fishing capital of the UAE, FIF, 15 November 2007.
Fujairah: Salt Water Fish Capital of the UAE, ETE, 3 June 2007.
Fishing in Fujairah, ETE, 27 April 2007.
Dead Fish, Oil and the Fujairah Beaches, ETE, 12 April 2007.

Fujairah: Gearing Up for Tourist Boom

An Emirates Business 24-7 article describes the way the different emirates (including Fujairah) are gearing up to cope with the growing tourist boom in the UAE. Here is a snippet from Karen Remo-Listana’s article, 24 May 2008:

“Fujairah has between 1,500 and 1,600 hotel rooms and is aiming to increase its capacity to 5,000 in the next five years. The Fujairah Government allocated Dh2.94bn in 2006 for the development of tourism over five years. One of the biggest moves was building a 76km road costing an estimated Dh1.2bn to connect Fujairah to Dubai. The highway is expected to open by the end of this year. The establishment of the new Creativity City, the enhancement of the facilities at Fujairah Airport plus entertainment facilities and shopping malls are expected to further stimulate tourism.”

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: One of Fujairah’s popular landmarks—the Coffee Pot Roundabout, Faseel. This is very near the Hilton Hotel.

Fujairah: Trashing Beautiful Environment

Vesela Todorova has an article in The National (22 May 2008) entitled, ‘Fujairah Wadis Choking on Waste’. It begins:

“Visitors are leaving between 260 and 840kg of rubbish per square kilometre at popular recreation sites each week, a Sharjah-based scientist has estimated.”

“Sandra Knuteson, the assistant professor of environmental science at the American University of Sharjah, collected and measured rubbish – including plastic bottles, glass, aluminium cans, paper, food wrapping and nappies – discarded at two popular wadis in Fujairah and Hatta.”

“‘Littering happens everywhere, but trying to regulate it is important,’ she said. ‘In other parts of the world, there is a big fine for dropping litter.’”

There is more to read in the article at this link.

Newspapers and blogs often cover articles on Fujairah’s sensational beauty but all too often there is a need to write about the trashing of our environment.

Dr Geoff Pound

Extra:

UAE Managers

UAE Expats

UAE Roads & Traffic

UAE Women

Fujairah at DH18,000 a night

Reena Amos Dyes has written an article for Emirates Business 24-7 describing the luxury penthouse at Fujairah’s Le Méridien Hotel.

More than Dh18,000 a night! How does one sleep when you are thinking about paying the bill the next day?

Check out this article and all the mod cons before you decide how many nights you want to book in this Royal Suite.

How does one get a Hotel/Resort journalist job that requires spending a weekend in luxurious surroundings researching these articles?

Link: Reena Amos Dyes, ‘Royal Treatment in Fujairah’, Emirates Business 24-7, 22 May 2008.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: The inside of what must be the most expensive hotel room in the Emirates (there are plenty more rooms at Le Méridien or elsewhere going for lower rates).

Fujairah: ‘So Much to See Here!’

Journalist for The National, Tala al Ramahi, has written a great article on the delights of the United Arab Emirates, especially Fujairah and the East Coast.

Here is a taste of Tala’s reflections after getting out of the Abu Dhabi office to show a friend the whole country:

“A three-hour drive to Fujairah, two weeks ago, provided me with enough evidence that I did not need to travel far to witness beauty on a par – if not surpassing – that which I have seen in places I could reach only through a long (and dehydrating) plane trip.”

“Fujairah’s geography, particularly, the mountainous terrain that lines its 90 kilometre coastline, brought flashbacks of my trip to Waikiki, Hawaii’s most famous beach. Not only were the similarities uncanny, but I was also pleasantly surprised you did not have to pay hefty hotel entrance fees to gain access to the crystal-clear waters of Al-Aqah beach. And while divers I met have constantly praised the rich marine life of the emirate, it took a snorkelling trip around Snoopy Island to make me realise they were not exaggerating.”

“Equally moving, I thought, was one of the wonders of the north to be found just a couple of minutes drive from Al Aqah beach: Al Bidya mosque, a mud structure built in the 15th century, making it the oldest mosque in the country.”

Tala’s final words are these: “Do not forget that this country has more to offer, historically, culturally and environmentally.”

To see the entire article follow this link, ‘So much to see here – and I just didn’t know’, The National, 20 May 2008.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: “Fujairah’s geography, particularly, the mountainous terrain that lines its 90 kilometre coastline, brought flashbacks of my trip to Waikiki, Hawaii’s most famous beach.”

Extra—Recent Articles at Experiencing the Emirates

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The Road: The Most Dangerous Place in the Emirates

New Steel Plant for Fujairah

A newly proposed steel plant in Fujairah will be one of the top ten new steel production projects in GCC countries.

This amounts to a staggering investment value of USD 9.5 billion.

The Sojitz Corporation Steel Plant is the Fujairah project at a cost of USD 1 billion. This is a plant that will turn iron ore pellets into steel billets with a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes a year.

To read more about the top ten steel projects planned for the GCC countries follow this link:

SteelGuru News, 20 May 2008.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: Steel billets.

Extra—Recent Articles at Experiencing the Emirates

UAE Report on Human Trafficking

Masdarize the Entire UAE

The Most Dangerous Place in the Emirates

Fujairah Growth at Expense of Fujairah Environment

In a wide-ranging and interesting interview with Gulf News, Eng Mohammed Saif Al Afkham, the deputy director of the Fujairah Municipality, speaks about the improved infrastructure (roads and drainage) and the growth in the Emirate’s tourism, recreation facilities, real estate as well as the forthcoming Al Hillel city, which will comprise residential, business and commercial strands.

It was heartening to read that twice in the interview the Deputy Director stressed the commitment of the municipality to ensure that the economic development of Fujairah was not at the detriment of the environment.

Eng Mohammed Saif Al Afkham said, “On marine pollution, we work closely with environmental clean-up companies who make recommendations on methods of keeping a watch on polluters and ways of dealing with oil spills.”

The three oil spills that have occurred in the last two months indicate that the municipality’s initiatives are insufficient and are not working effectively. The growth of the oil industry in Fujairah is significant but the trio of oil spills is endangering other industries including tourism, hotels, recreational sports and fishing.

The municipality’s close work with clean-up companies and detection groups is to be applauded. It would be good, however, for the public to learn more about the new recommendations and the steps that are being taken to prevent the pollution of the beaches and destroying the marine environment.

Source: Fuad Ali, ‘Fujairah Gears Up for Rapid Growth’, Gulf News, 20 April 2008.

Earlier reports of oil spillages in 2008:

Oil Damages Fujairah beaches, Marine Life and Tourism, February 2008.
Further Oil Spillages, March 2008.

Further commentary and solutions are offered in an article entitled: ‘Monitor the Oil Tankers and Keep our Beaches Clean’, The National, 11 May 2008.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: Fujairah foreshore.