Fujairah is a different sea. Dubai faces the Arabian Gulf; Fujairah lies entirely on the Gulf of Oman. The Hajar Mountains come almost down to the water, there’s a coral reef off Al Aqah Beach, and the oldest mosque in the country stands by the road to Dibba.
I suggest coming here once you’ve seen Dubai and want nature: snorkelling, mountains, old forts. Below is what to see, an hour-by-hour plan for the day and what to bring.
Fujairah at a glance
- Distance: about 120 km from Dubai Mall to Fujairah Fort, roughly an hour and a half without traffic. Al Aqah Beach is about 2 hours away.
- What it’s like: the east coast, mountains, beaches, coral, forts.
- How long: a full day. With a beach hotel, 2–3 days.
- Best season: October to April.
- What makes it different: it’s the only emirate that lies entirely on the country’s east coast.
Fujairah Fort
This is where I start the day. The fort stands on a hill in the old part of town, about 3 km from the sea and some 20 m above sea level. According to Fujairah Tourism, it was built in the 16th century and is one of the oldest and largest forts in the country. The emirate’s forts guarded the coast against invaders.
The fort is open 8:00 to 18:00. In the morning there are few people and the light is soft for photos. Climb to the top for the view over the town, the mountains and the sea.
Fujairah Fort, today one of the emirate’s main symbols and a good place to start the day. Photo: Marko, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Fujairah Tourism lists several other forts too: Al Bithnah, Al Hayl with its village, and Dibba Fort. If you love old places, keep them for a second day.
Al Bidya Mosque: the oldest in the UAE
Al Bidya Mosque stands by the road to Dibba, about 35 km north of Fujairah. It’s the oldest surviving mosque in the country. Its age is debated: a study by Fujairah’s Department of Archaeology and the University of Sydney suggested 1446. Then, in 2017, uranium-thorium analysis of samples from the foundations gave a date of around 1599, accurate to within nine years.
The mosque is tiny: 6.8 by 6.8 metres, with room for about 70 people inside. There’s no minaret. Four domes rest on a single central column, and each dome is built as three domes nested inside one another. No wood was used for the roof. The mosque was restored and reopened in March 2003, and it’s still in use.
Al Bidya Mosque: mud-brick domes, with the watchtower on the hill behind. Photo: Bobak Ha’Eri, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.
It’s open 8:00 to 18:00. This is a mosque, not a museum: cover your arms and legs, women wear a headscarf, and shoes come off at the door. During prayer, wait outside.
Al Aqah Beach and Snoopy Island
Al Aqah is Fujairah’s most popular beach and, in the words of the emirate’s tourism office, one of the best places in the country for diving and snorkelling: just offshore there’s a dense coral reef full of marine life. The beach is lined with resorts that have their own stretches of sand. Many sell a day pass: beach, pool, lunch, a kids’ area.
Right opposite the Sandy Beach hotel lies Snoopy Island, a rocky islet whose outline looks like Snoopy from the comics lying on his back. The reef around the island is the point. A mask, fins and a calm morning are all you need. Check day-pass prices with the hotel: they change with the season and the day of the week.
For snorkelling I always send people to Fujairah rather than to Dubai’s beaches. My guests come here for big fish too: you leave at about 6 in the morning and fish for around four hours. People fish in Dubai as well, but the catch there is mostly small, if tasty.
Safety: swim only in the marked zones, don’t stand on the coral or touch it. On windy days visibility drops and currents get stronger.
Wadi Wurayah: a protected gorge
Wadi Wurayah is a rocky gorge covering 192 km², 42 km north of Fujairah. It’s protected with the help of EWS-WWF because of its unique plants and wildlife, and the ecosystem is very fragile. It’s open 9:00 to 18:00, and a visit takes about three hours. The rule is simple: leave the gorge as you found it.
Dibba: one town, three countries
At the northern end of the coast is Dibba. The town is split three ways: Dibba Al Fujairah belongs to Fujairah, Dibba Al Hisn to Sharjah, and Dibba Al Baya to Oman, the gateway to the Musandam Peninsula. For the Omani part you need your passport and a visa under the rules for your nationality.
A one-day plan from Dubai
| Time | What we do |
|---|---|
| 7:30 | Leave Dubai |
| 9:00 | Fujairah Fort |
| 10:00 | Drive north along the coast |
| 10:45 | Al Bidya Mosque |
| 11:30 | Al Aqah Beach: snorkelling at Snoopy Island, lunch on a hotel day pass |
| 15:30 | Dibba: a walk by the sea |
| 16:30 | Back to Dubai, about 2 hours |
| 18:30 | At your hotel in Dubai |
If you’d like more sea and less driving, take the Fujairah cruise instead: a full day on a boat with lunch, snorkelling over the reefs and views of the Hajar Mountains from the water. On the way you can stop at Kalba and Khor Fakkan, Sharjah’s east coast; the route is in my Kalba and Khor Fakkan day trip guide.
Where to eat
There aren’t many restaurants worth the trip in themselves, so I plan lunch where we swim: a day pass at one of the Al Aqah beach resorts often includes lunch or dinner. Fujairah and Dibba also have simple cafes if you want a quick bite on the road.
Good to know
- Clothing: for the mosque, covered arms and legs, and a headscarf for women. Swimwear only on the beach and by the pool.
- Snorkelling: your own mask fits better than a rented one. Bring reef shoes and reef-safe sunscreen.
- Passport: you need it if you plan to visit Omani Dibba or Musandam.
- The road: the drive back through the mountains in the evening takes about two hours. Don’t book a dinner with a fixed time right after the trip.
When to go
October to April. The water is pleasant then, and the drive and walks are comfortable. In summer, leave very early and plan only the beach and snorkelling.
How I can help
The east coast is easiest to see from the water: I book the Fujairah cruise with lunch and snorkelling gear, and for Oman the Musandam cruise. If you want to compare Fujairah with the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah, read Ras Al Khaimah: things to do and my guide to all seven emirates. And for what to wear to a mosque, see my Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque tips.
Checked on 11 October 2026. Sources: Fujairah Tourism (the emirate’s tourism office), Gulf News, u.ae, What’s On. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go.
Practical answers
Frequently asked questions
What can you see in Fujairah in one day?
Fujairah Fort in the morning, then north along the coast to Al Bidya Mosque, snorkelling at Snoopy Island off Al Aqah Beach and an evening in Dibba. It's a full day, leaving Dubai at about 7:30.
How long is the drive from Dubai to Fujairah?
About 120 km from Dubai Mall to Fujairah Fort, roughly an hour and a half without traffic. Al Aqah Beach in the north is about 2 hours away.
What is the oldest mosque in the UAE?
Al Bidya Mosque in Fujairah. A 2017 study dates it to around 1599; an earlier study suggested 1446. It's a working mosque, and visitors are welcome in modest clothing.
Where is the best snorkelling in Fujairah?
Off Al Aqah Beach. Fujairah Tourism calls it one of the best spots in the country for diving and snorkelling, with a dense coral reef. Snoopy Island sits right opposite the Sandy Beach hotel.
Why is it called Snoopy Island?
Its silhouette looks like Snoopy, the cartoon dog, lying on his back. The island itself is small and rocky; the reef around it is the real draw.
Do I need a visa to visit Dibba?
Not for the Emirati parts. But the town is split three ways: Dibba Al Fujairah, Dibba Al Hisn (Sharjah) and Omani Dibba Al Baya. For the Omani part you need your passport and a visa under the rules for your nationality.
