Fujairah Fort’s origins trace back to between 1500 and 1550, according to carbon-14 dating — one of the oldest forts in the UAE. It was rebuilt once in the 1600s, renovated again in 1925, then left to fall into disrepair until a national restoration programme, launched in 1997, brought it back to life by 2000.
About 90 minutes from Dubai through the mountains, Fujairah City is a refreshing change of scene, as part of our main Fujairah guide.
Getting your bearings in Fujairah City
The city runs along the coast, with the corniche and beaches on one side and Fujairah Fort and the old town set against the mountains inland.
A second landmark, five centuries apart
A short drive from the fort sits Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the second-largest in the UAE after its Abu Dhabi namesake — 65 domes, six minarets up to 100 metres tall, and room for roughly 28,000 worshippers across the prayer hall and courtyard. Built from the ground up in just 700 days, it opened for worship in 2015.
Where to eat in Fujairah City
Seafront cafes and seafood restaurants line the corniche, best enjoyed with a mountain-and-sea backdrop.
Beaches and things to do in Fujairah City
The fort, the mosque and the corniche anchor a day here; there’s more in things to do in Fujairah and the UAE’s best beaches.
Where to stay
Beachfront hotels along the coast make Fujairah City an easy overnight base for exploring the east coast.
Getting there, and the best time to go
About 90 minutes from Dubai through the mountains; best reached by car. The cooler months from October to April are ideal for the beaches and mountain drives.
Exploring Fujairah City and beyond
Fujairah City is the natural base for the emirate’s diving, wadis and mountain drives: our roundup of 20 things to do in Fujairah and our complete Fujairah guide map out the best of it. From the city you can strike out to Al Aqah‘s beaches or Dibba up the coast.
Explore more of Fujairah
Head back to the main Fujairah guide to explore more of the emirate.
Top things to do in Fujairah City
- Fujairah Fort — origins trace back to 1500-1550 (carbon-14 dated), one of the oldest forts in the UAE, rebuilt in the 1600s, renovated in 1925, then restored under a national programme launched in 1997.
- Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Fujairah — the second-largest mosque in the UAE after its Abu Dhabi namesake: 65 domes, six minarets up to 100 metres tall, and room for roughly 28,000 worshippers. Built from the ground up in just 700 days, it opened in 2015.
Is there more than one Sheikh Zayed Mosque in the UAE?
Yes — Fujairah has its own, the second-largest in the country after the famous Abu Dhabi original, with 65 domes and room for roughly 28,000 worshippers, opened in 2015.