Making the most of Fujairah
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise ships dock at the Port of Fujairah. A large container and oil transfer port. A free shuttle will transfer you to the gate. The distance to the town center is 5 miles. Taxis are available outside the main gate of the port. About 10 euro per taxi.
Look at portside and you see at least 50 large tankers waiting to be filled up with Arabian gold: Oil! An impressive sight.
Fujairah, one of the seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates lies on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, alongside the Indian Ocean and thus outside the Gulf. With a stunning setting of wide sandy beaches set against a backdrop of the rugged Haijar mountains, Fujairah is an emirate of contrasts, attracting slowly a growing number of visitors, especially those in search of a different kind of sun, sea and sand vacation. Economically, Fujairah experienced considerable development in recent years, thanks to its strategic location at the crossroads between east and west. Today, the emirate has a bustling economy based on…
Ladies – instead of shorts, pack below-the-knee trousers or skirts. No exposed knees, cleavage or upper arms.
Getting around
There’s nothing around the port. So spend the day in one of the beach resorts: Khor Fakkan in the Emirate of Sharjah is an OK beach town and is the closest's, 12 km from the port or about a 20 euro taxi ride away. As Sharjah is one of the more conservative emirates, western style bathing suits are not allowed at the beach.
Or head off into the sand dunes in a jeep.
For old forts around the area and other ancient spots, a cruise organized tour probably will be your best bet.
Food and shopping
Pottery, rugs, electronics and garments may be of interest. Cameras and photographic equipment are considered good buys. Main shopping areas are the Dana Plaza, 3 miles from the port, and the Fujairah Trade center, 6 miles away. Bargaining is normal in the souqs and most small shops; larger establishments and department stores have fixed prices.
There are around 7 duty-free stores within the port area. Good for a few minutes of browsing around.
Money
The currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED, local abbreviation dhs). The Dirham is pegged to the USD, so rate variations with this currency are unlikely.
Staying connected
The official language is Arabic, but it is safe to say that the majority of the population doesn't speak it (Iranian, Indian, Asian and Western expatriates are more numerous than Arabs in Dubai, and usually have very limited knowledge of Arabic). English is the lingua franca.
Opening Hours and
Shopping hours Daily 0900-1300 and 1600-2100, but many shops are open all day. Shops close for prayers Fri 1130-1330.