Excellent things to do in Fujairah

Be blown away by the marine life at Snoopy Island
Parrot fish, turtles, live coral – catch it all at Snoopy Island. One of the most revered snorkelling spots in the entire UAE, this protruding land mass just off the coast is reachable via a short swim (though we’d recommend bringing a floatation aid to minimise the strain) from the shores of Sandy Beach. For water babies it needs no introduction, but for those who have yet to dip their toe in the crystal clear H20, stuck it on your Fujarirah to-do list, pronto. The shallows of the 20m tall rock provide welcome retreat for all manner of marine life, including blacktip reef sharks. When visibility is at its sparkling beast the scenes are wicked cool. Bring a GoPro.
Open all day every day. Sandy Beach, Al Aqah.

Fill your boots at Masafi Friday Market
We’re all about authentic Friday markets, especially when they run every day of the week. Yup, vendors at Masafi Friday market have septupled their trading opportunity with daily bargains to be had on rugs, ceramics and fresh fruit and vegetables. It’s technically in Ras Al Khaimah, but at 20 minutes in the car, we’d argue its place on this Fujairah things to do agenda.
Find Masafi Market by driving along the E88.

Get back in touch with nature at The Retreat
Love the great outdoors? But not enough to spend the weekend covered in dirt? Experience Mother Nature’s warm embrace without leaving a lasting impact with a stay at The Retreat in Al Bidya. This ecologically friendly glamping spot is wall-to-wall natural, with solar heaters, an organic menu and locally sourced building materials underscoring the site’s green credentials. The camp’s en suite tents mean you’ll not be caught short when nature calls, and sleep two adults in either singles or a king-size bed, while there are four and five-bed options for families. On-site activities include kayaking and mountain hiking, yoga and guided walks. Sign us up.
From Dhs1,140. theretreat.ae

Grab awesome views while while stopping at Fujairah Fort
The UAE’s forts of old are iconic. Typically set into mountain sides, they would have provided strategic military advantage when in their pomp. Nowadays they serve as back drops and pit stops for hikers who love a bit of a history lesson while pacing Fujairah’s rugged terrain. This emirate’s premiere defensive structure is no different, and is set 20m above sea level 3km inland, and casts its steely gaze across the entire capital city. The rather irregular design – three circular towers plus a fourth square iteration setting it apart – make it a must-see for design buffs, too.
Open daily 8am-5pm. fujairahtourism.ae (09 223 9201).

Keep an eye on those talons at Kalba Bird of Prey Centre
Falconry is synonymous with the UAE and the Kalba Bird of Prey Centre strives to keep its legacy soaring. While this facility is technically based in Sharjah, it’s just a short flight of fancy from Fujairah and well worth touching down at on your next road trip. The centre has free-flying demonstrations, along with aviaries housing owls, eagles, buzzards, vultures and, of course, those iconic falcons. It’s edutainment in full flight, and kids will get more than a kick out of hanging with their new feathered friends. Just keep an eye on those talons.
Open Tue-Thu and Sun 9am-6pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Fri 2pm-6pm. visitsharjah.com (09 277 0880).

Jump into British and European cuisine at The Orangery
Looking for something a bit more elegant that won’t blow the budget. Bank on the fusion plates of British and European cuisine to knock your novelty socks off. We’d recommend not wearing them, but that’d be against restaurant dress code. (No relation of Dubai’s The Orangery, now open at Emirates Golf Club)
Daily 8am-midnight. Fujairah Tower, theorangery.ae (09 222 2787).

Live life under the sea at Dibba Rock
There’s a real escapism to diving in the UAE, and Dibba Rock is one such breathtaking (there’s not much air down there, you know) site to plumb if you’re at home on the ocean’s bed. Dives go as deep as 30m, but with 10m visibility on a good day, it’s a site to behold once you’ve hit the bottom. Swaying corals wave hello to open water divers while sting rays, green turtles and colourful scales can all be spied floating above a small shipwreck (recommend getting behind the steering wheel for a mega Insta flex) and artificial reef that is breathing new life into the site.
nemodivingcenter.com

There’s a real escapism to diving in the UAE, and Dibba Rock is one such breathtaking (there’s not much air down there, you know) site to plumb if you’re at home on the ocean’s bed. Dives go as deep as 30m, but with 10m visibility on a good day, it’s a site to behold once you’ve hit the bottom. Swaying corals wave hello to open water divers while sting rays, green turtles and colourful scales can all be spied floating above a small shipwreck (recommend getting behind the steering wheel for a mega Insta flex) and artificial reef that is breathing new life into the site.
nemodivingcenter.com

Make yourself king of the hill at the Hajar Mountains wadis
We said Fujairah was one for the kids of Mother Nature, and it doesn’t get much better than a hike in the Hajar Mountains. The most famous range in the country is sahred by a number of the seven emirates, but with views out to the Gulf of Oman, Fujairah’s slice takes some beating. Three valleys to stick on your hit list next time you’re in Fujairah are Wadi Al Waruyah, Wadi Al Hayl and Wadi Siji, which are noted for their distinctive flora and fauna and those postcard views.

Pinch a bite at The Copper Lobster
Named for the Omani rock lobster commonly found in this region’s waters, punch yourself some cracking fruits of the sea at The Copper Lobster. The UAE’s seafaring history is as deep as the ocean is blue, and you’ll experience a serious nod to that here.
Daily 7pm-11pm. Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort, fairmont.com (09 204 1080).

Shop ’til you drop at City Centre Fujairah Mall
Okay, it doesn’t have all the grandeur of Dubai or Abu Dhabi iterations of modern shopping destinations, but the emirate’s flagship shopping mall still has a bargain for savvy shoppers. More than 100 high-street stores, an impressive food court, 11-screen cinema and Magic Planet entertainment centre make for a cool mid-adventure pitstop.
City Centre Fujairah, citycentrefujairah.com (09 201 2310).

Take an insightful tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
This looks an awful lot like its Abu Dhabi namesake, right? Well, so it should, because it’s styled on the UAE’s largest mosque (this being the second largest), with has enough space to serve 28,000 worshippers. Tours run nearly every day of the week (Friday being the exception), and guides will be able to share details of its construction and significance to the emirate and the UAE as a whole.
Sat-Thu 9am-12pm. fujairahtourism.ae (09 297 7777).

Witness raw power at the bull-butting
In a region where camel and horseracing are revered sporting events, it’s a bit of a throwback to catch Fujairah’s famed bull-butting in the flesh. The non-blood sport is watched by hundreds of spectators each Friday at Fujairah Corniche. An open and flat stretch of dusty, bare land is the arena for two beasts to lock horns and demonstrate their raw power. Think of it as bull sumo. Makes us feel bad for not doing that extra rep in the gym this morning…

Drive to the Oman end of the Corniche and turn right. Crowds start to appear at 5pm.

Understand the history of the emirate at Fujairah Heritage Village
The UAE’s rich heritage are placed front and centre at this namesake village, and with a wealth of displays and exhibitions its once of the best spots in Fujairah to discover past ways of life and how they have shaped the emirate today. Based close to Madhab Spring Park and Madhab Palace, the open air ‘living’ museum showcases the rich tapestry of Bedouin life, demonstrating to guests the art of fishing boat-building, cooking, dance and song. An immersive experience to sample, just as soon as the site reopens. It’s temporarily closed, but keep close to timeoutadubai.com for updates on when you can swing by.
fujairahtourism.ae

You can’t leave without stopping in at McGettigan’s Fujairah
The Irish chain casts its net far and wide, and Fujairah is not without its own slice of the Emerald Isle. Expect to find all the usual suspects on the menu, including the famed McGettigan’s breakfast and hops-battered fish and chips.
Open Sat-Wed noon-1am, Thu & Fri noon-2am. Tennis & Country Club, mcgettigans.com/fujairah (09 224 4880).

Looking for other top picks from across the emirates? Click here for all the best things to do in Ras Al Khaimah.