Fujairah
Encyclopedia
Fujairah is one of the seven emirate
s that make up the United Arab Emirates
, and the only one on the Gulf of Oman
in the country's east instead of Persian Gulf
(the other six emirates).
, becoming the last of the emirates to join the Trucial States
. On 2 December 1971, Fujairah joined the United Arab Emirates
.
Fujairah is also home to the oldest mosque
in the United Arab Emirates which was built in 1446 of mud and bricks. It is similar to other mosques found in Yemen
, eastern Oman
, and Qatar
. Al Bidyah Mosque has four domes (unlike the other similar mosques which have between seven and twelve) and lacks a minaret
.
has fewer occupants.
Fujairah is the only Emirate of the UAE that is almost totally mountainous. All the other Emirates, like Dubai
and Abu Dhabi
are located on the west coast, and are largely covered by desert
. Consequently, Fujairah boasts a higher than average yearly rain
fall of the UAE, allowing farmers in the region to produce one crop every year.
The weather is seasonal, although it is warm for most of the year. The months of October to March are generally regarded as the coolest, with daytime temperatures averaging around 25 °C (77 °F) and rarely venturing above 30 °C (86 °F)—with temperatures climbing to over 40 °C (104 °F) degrees in the summer. The winter period also coincides with the rainy season
and although by no means guaranteed, this is when Fujairah experiences the bulk of its precipitation. Rainfall is higher than the rest of the UAE. partly because of the effect of the mountains that encircle the Emirate, and partly because the prevailing winds
are easterly bringing with them water-laden cloud
s off the warm Indian Ocean
.
The variability of the east coast climate is partly due to the presence of the Hajjar mountain range. As with other mountainous areas, precipitation is higher, and this allows for a more varied micro-environment in the area. Tourist
visitor numbers peak just before the school summer months.
Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, who has been in power since the death of his father in 1974. The Sheikh supposedly makes money himself through his own business, and the government funds are used for social housing
development and beautifying the city, although there is little distinction between the state and his personal wealth. The ruler can make any decisions regarding any aspect of law, although federal laws take precedence.
The Sheikh and his immediate family heads the cabinet of Fujairah, and a few members of respected local families make up the advisory committees. The Sheikh must ratify any decisions by the cabinet. After the ratification, such decisions may be enacted into law as Emiri decrees, which are usually effective immediately.
, mimicking the success of the Dubai Free Zone Authority which was established around Jebel Ali Port
.
The federal government employs the majority of the native, local workforce, with few opening businesses of their own. Many of the locals work in the service sector. The Fujairah government prohibits foreigners from owning more than 49% of any business. The free zones have flourished, partly due to the relaxation of such prohibition within the zones, as full foreign ownership is allowed there. Shaikh Saleh Al Sharqi, younger brother to the ruler, is widely recognized as the driving force behind the commercialization of the economy.
The ruler is planning to make changes that will affect Fujairah. Among tourism projects in the pipeline is an $817m resort, Al Fujairah Paradise, near Dibba Al-Fujairah
, on the northern Omani border, next to Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort. There will be around 1,000 five-star villas as well as hotels, and it is expected that all the construction work will be finished within two years.
The Sheikh is trying to improve opportunities for the local workforce, by trying to entice businesses to locate in Fujairah and diverting Federal funds to local companies in the form of development projects.
The Habshan–Fujairah oil pipeline
has been announced which will create an oil export terminal in the Emirate.
is delivered in a mixed public and private system. Locals are treated free at the federal government hospitals, while foreigners have to pay for medical care. The national government funds the federal hospitals and subsidize health care with petrodollar
revenues. There are criticisms that the government is not providing health care sufficiently for those with low income, who have to pay for critical treatment themselves.
The Fujairah government has built clinics, known locally as "medical houses", such Madena Medical House in Madab, and Moresheed Medical House in Moresheed. These clinics complement and help lighten the load on the main Fujairah Hospital by allowing walk-in appointments and providing ancillary medical services. These clinics turned out to be a success, visited by the local populace.
The chief of surgery
and emergency medicine
, Dr Subash Gautam
, is recognized as the protagonist behind the modernization of health care within Fujairah. As the standards of surgical and emergency care improve in the country, Dr. Gautam became the director of the Advanced Trauma Life Support
program, which helped introduce a measure to improve emergency treatment and survival rates amongst the thousands of trauma patient
s admitted across the country every year.
GMC Hospital is a private health care provider in Fujairah. It contains an emergency department
, operating theater, pharmacy
and outpatients clinic
s. It is located near the Ahli Club.
residents. Aside from government schools, there are also private schools, and due to the majority of the population of the Emirate hailing from the Indian subcontinent
, most of the private schools follow the India
n Central Board of Secondary Education
(CBSE) syllabus, accredited by the Central Education Board of India and kerala syllabus under KERALA BOARD.
http://www.gemsoo-fujairah.com/
Our Own English High School, Fujairah, caters to the needs of expatriates from many countries including the subcontinent. The school follows the CBSE, New Delhi
, India and the IGCSE (University of Cambridge
, UK) from Kindergarten
to Grade 11/12
. It is part of the larger Varkey Group, which owns and runs schools around the U.A.E.
The Our Own English High School in Fujairah is one of the premier institutions of learning in the East Coast. The new school wing opened a few years back catering to the educational needs of the ever growing expatriate student population. Many OOEHS , Fujairah alumni have gone onto complete their higher education in the field of medicine , engineering , business to the US,Australia,Egypt and India. OOEHS Fujairah also places a prime emphasis on the overall development of the student with many past and current students excelling in extra curricular activities like Model United Nations , Dramatics , Quizzes , Debates , Singing & Dancing etc. Our Own English High School Fujairah is among the best schools in the East Coast of the United Arab Emirates.
Three schools also provide the UK
General Certificate of Secondary Education
(GCSE) syllabus. These schools are aimed at students of the expatriate community who subsequently intend to study in other countries.
Fujairah has some professional tennis and cricket players such as: Vaibhaav dev, Talha naeem, Osama naeem, Brian gladson, qamar, ahmed, ahsan, sahil, joel prasad, Joel jacob, dmitri, etc.
Fujairah Private Academy, subjectively the top school in Fujairah, is a fee paying school for boys and girls from 3.5 to 18 years of age. There are 400+ pupils, with 120 in the Senior Section.
A few other schools serving other expatriate communities also exist, such as Iran
ian and Pakistan
i schools, educating a minority of the student population.
Pakistan Islamia School Fujairah (PISF) U.A.E. was established in 1982 with less than 35 students and classes in wooden cabins. The school has since then grown substantially and is now, with over 402 students and its own school purpose built-building, one of the leading Pakistani Community Schools in the UAE.
Fujairah Montessori
Nursery is the only pre-school in Fujairah. It admits children from the age of two years. It is located at building number 14 in the "16 Buildings". The location has recently changed.
There are several Nursery schools in Fujairah. 'Superbaby' in Fasseel and 'Little Stars' in Merashid are very popular with expat children.
, Kalba
and Masafi
has been made easy by the development of modern highway
s over the last 30 years, since gaining independence in 1971. Highways are funded by the federal government directly, and contracts are tendered centrally. This is meant to safeguard the quality and delivery of the contracts and prevent corruption from damaging the construction. Highways are vital due to the unavailability of any other means of transport. There are some bus
es in Fujairah but not for travel; they are for schools, colleges and some companies or they come from other cities. There are no railways
yet in Fujairah, though in 2008 a railway network connecting all the Persian Gulf states was planned. The car and the truck are the main mode of transport. Most daily activities can become impractical, if not impossible, without a private vehicle.
Newcomers and tourists can use the taxi
system, which operates all day and night. There is no central booking system for private companies, but the government is planning to apply one. Taxis are hailed by standing at the roadside and flagging one down. Fares within the city are fixed at AED
4 per journey, which equates to one dollar and nine cents(USD
), 50 pence (GBP
) or 78 Euro cents. Destinations which are slightly outside the main city, such as the Beach Motel, Fujairah Hospital and the Jail attract a higher fare of 6 AED.
As of 2007 all taxis are metered, uniform in color (mostly yellow with green stripes) and report to a head company known as Cars. The meter starts from a minimum of 3 AED. A ride cost an average of 6 AED.
The Fujairah International Airport
is near the city, with a large falcon
statue at the airport roundabout
.
is allowed at designated hotels, and as of 2000, at a few bars. Until 1998, gambling
in the form of slot machine
s was allowed in certain hotels, but personal petitions by locals to the Sheikh outlawed the activity. It transpired that some players were losing entire monthly wages on the slots, leaving nothing for the upkeep of their families.
Fujairah is one of the safest cities in the UAE. Cinemas
are generally open till late and de-sexualised versions of the Hollywood
blockbusters
are shown. However, the Hindi
cinemas are not constrained by the censors because they are not as raunchy as some Hollywood productions.
Groups of (Emirati) youths tend to socialize together on the streets and cafés or outside games arcades, cinemas and mini malls. It is unusual to see mixed gendered groups as the Emirati society is quite segregated.
On vacations occasionally, many Fujairah residents travel to Eastern emirates such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi for entertainment and shopping purposes. Or they might visit Wadi
s surrounding the emirate on camping and hiking
trips. While other Emirates residents visit Fujairah for relaxation purposes and to get away from the stifling heat of the desert. Watersports are becoming more and more popular amongst both locals and tourists. Examples of watersports are Jet Ski
, windsurfing
, waterskiing and diving
. Professional diving instructors can be found in Le Meridien or in Royal Beach Hotel, where one can even obtain an International Diving license for a fee.
Emirate
An emirate is a political territory that is ruled by a dynastic Muslim monarch styled emir.-Etymology:Etymologically emirate or amirate is the quality, dignity, office or territorial competence of any emir ....
s that make up the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, and the only one on the Gulf of Oman
Gulf of Oman
The Gulf of Oman or Sea of Oman is a strait that connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, which then runs to the Persian Gulf. It is generally included as a branch of the Persian Gulf, not as an arm of the Arabian Sea. On the north coast is Pakistan and Iran...
in the country's east instead of Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
(the other six emirates).
History
In 1902, Fujairah accepted a British protectorateProtectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
, becoming the last of the emirates to join the Trucial States
Trucial States
The Trucial States were a group of sheikhdoms in the Persian Gulf.-General aspects:The sheikdoms included:*Abu Dhabi *Ajman...
. On 2 December 1971, Fujairah joined the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
.
Fujairah is also home to the oldest mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
in the United Arab Emirates which was built in 1446 of mud and bricks. It is similar to other mosques found in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, eastern Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
, and Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. Al Bidyah Mosque has four domes (unlike the other similar mosques which have between seven and twelve) and lacks a minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
.
Geography
The Emirate of Fujairah covers approximately 1,450 sq km, or about 1.4% of the area of the UAE, and is the fifth largest Emirate in the UAE. Its population is around 130,000 inhabitants. Only the Emirate of Umm al-QuwainUmm al-Quwain
Umm al-Quwain is one of the emirates in the United Arab Emirates, located in the north of the country. The emirate was ruled until his death by Rashid bin Ahmad Al Mu'alla, who was a member of the UAE's Supreme Council since 1981. The emirate had 62,000 inhabitants in 2003 and has an area of 750...
has fewer occupants.
Fujairah is the only Emirate of the UAE that is almost totally mountainous. All the other Emirates, like Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
and Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi (emirate)
Abu Dhabi, officially the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, , is one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates . It is the capital of UAE and is the largest emirate by area , and second-largest by population , accounting for approximately 86% of the total land area of the UAE...
are located on the west coast, and are largely covered by desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
. Consequently, Fujairah boasts a higher than average yearly rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
fall of the UAE, allowing farmers in the region to produce one crop every year.
The weather is seasonal, although it is warm for most of the year. The months of October to March are generally regarded as the coolest, with daytime temperatures averaging around 25 °C (77 °F) and rarely venturing above 30 °C (86 °F)—with temperatures climbing to over 40 °C (104 °F) degrees in the summer. The winter period also coincides with the rainy season
Wet season
The the wet season, or rainy season, is the time of year, covering one or more months, when most of the average annual rainfall in a region occurs. The term green season is also sometimes used as a euphemism by tourist authorities. Areas with wet seasons are dispersed across portions of the...
and although by no means guaranteed, this is when Fujairah experiences the bulk of its precipitation. Rainfall is higher than the rest of the UAE. partly because of the effect of the mountains that encircle the Emirate, and partly because the prevailing winds
Prevailing winds
Prevailing winds are winds that blow predominantly from a single general direction over a particular point on Earth's surface. The dominant winds are the trends in direction of wind with the highest speed over a particular point on the Earth's surface. A region's prevailing and dominant winds...
are easterly bringing with them water-laden cloud
Cloud
A cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. They are also known as aerosols. Clouds in Earth's atmosphere are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology...
s off the warm Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
.
The variability of the east coast climate is partly due to the presence of the Hajjar mountain range. As with other mountainous areas, precipitation is higher, and this allows for a more varied micro-environment in the area. Tourist
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
visitor numbers peak just before the school summer months.
Government
Power is ultimately held by the ruler of Fujairah, His Highness SheikhSheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, who has been in power since the death of his father in 1974. The Sheikh supposedly makes money himself through his own business, and the government funds are used for social housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
development and beautifying the city, although there is little distinction between the state and his personal wealth. The ruler can make any decisions regarding any aspect of law, although federal laws take precedence.
The Sheikh and his immediate family heads the cabinet of Fujairah, and a few members of respected local families make up the advisory committees. The Sheikh must ratify any decisions by the cabinet. After the ratification, such decisions may be enacted into law as Emiri decrees, which are usually effective immediately.
Land
Foreigners or visitors are not allowed to buy land. Emirati nationals can purchase land from the government, after proving their nationality. If there is no suitable land available via the official government offices, private purchases can also be made, with the eventual price being determined by the market and the individuals themselves.Economy
Fujairah's economy is based on subsidies and federal government grants distributed by the government of Abu Dhabi (the seat of power in the UAE). Local industry consists of cement, stone crushing and mining. A resurgence in the construction activity helped the local industry. There is a flourishing free trade zoneFree trade zone
A free trade zone or export processing zone , also called foreign-trade zone, formerly free port is an area within which goods may be landed, handled, manufactured or reconfigured, and reexported without the intervention of the customs authorities...
, mimicking the success of the Dubai Free Zone Authority which was established around Jebel Ali Port
Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali is a port town, located 35 kilometres southwest of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates . The village has a thriving expatriate community with over 300 residents. The area is also home to "5,500 companies from 120 countries"....
.
Developments
Dibba Al-Fujairah
Dibba Al-Fujairah is a name of a settlement in the emirate of Fujairah located on the North east part of the United Arab Emirates. It is geographically part of the Dibba region. Dibba is considered to be the 2nd largest city in the emirate of Fujairah...
, on the northern Omani border, next to Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort. There will be around 1,000 five-star villas as well as hotels, and it is expected that all the construction work will be finished within two years.
The Sheikh is trying to improve opportunities for the local workforce, by trying to entice businesses to locate in Fujairah and diverting Federal funds to local companies in the form of development projects.
The Habshan–Fujairah oil pipeline
Habshan–Fujairah oil pipeline
Habshan–Fujairah oil pipeline is an under construction oil pipeline in the United Arab Emirates. It starts from the Habshan onshore field in Abu Dhabi and will run to Fujairah.-History:...
has been announced which will create an oil export terminal in the Emirate.
Health care
Health careHealth care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
is delivered in a mixed public and private system. Locals are treated free at the federal government hospitals, while foreigners have to pay for medical care. The national government funds the federal hospitals and subsidize health care with petrodollar
Petrodollar
A petrodollar is a United States dollar earned by a country through the sale of petroleum. The term was coined by Ibrahim Oweiss, a professor of economics at Georgetown University, in 1973...
revenues. There are criticisms that the government is not providing health care sufficiently for those with low income, who have to pay for critical treatment themselves.
The Fujairah government has built clinics, known locally as "medical houses", such Madena Medical House in Madab, and Moresheed Medical House in Moresheed. These clinics complement and help lighten the load on the main Fujairah Hospital by allowing walk-in appointments and providing ancillary medical services. These clinics turned out to be a success, visited by the local populace.
The chief of surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
and emergency medicine
Emergency medicine
Emergency medicine is a medical specialty in which physicians care for patients with acute illnesses or injuries which require immediate medical attention. While not usually providing long-term or continuing care, emergency medicine physicians diagnose a variety of illnesses and undertake acute...
, Dr Subash Gautam
Subash Gautam
Dr Subash C Gautam FRCS Eng, FRCS Ed, FRCS Glasg, FACS MD is the Founder and Director of the Advanced Trauma Life Support programme in the United Arab Emirates...
, is recognized as the protagonist behind the modernization of health care within Fujairah. As the standards of surgical and emergency care improve in the country, Dr. Gautam became the director of the Advanced Trauma Life Support
Advanced Trauma Life Support
Advanced Trauma Life Support is a training program for medical doctors in the management of acute trauma cases, developed by the American College of Surgeons. Similar programs exist for nurses and paramedics...
program, which helped introduce a measure to improve emergency treatment and survival rates amongst the thousands of trauma patient
Patient
A patient is any recipient of healthcare services. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, veterinarian, or other health care provider....
s admitted across the country every year.
GMC Hospital is a private health care provider in Fujairah. It contains an emergency department
Emergency department
An emergency department , also known as accident & emergency , emergency room , emergency ward , or casualty department is a medical treatment facility specialising in acute care of patients who present without prior appointment, either by their own means or by ambulance...
, operating theater, pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
and outpatients clinic
Clinic
A clinic is a health care facility that is primarily devoted to the care of outpatients...
s. It is located near the Ahli Club.
Education
There are many government schools in Fujairah, which are mainly for Emirati people, beside some numbers of ArabArab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
residents. Aside from government schools, there are also private schools, and due to the majority of the population of the Emirate hailing from the Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
, most of the private schools follow the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Central Board of Secondary Education
Central Board of Secondary Education
The Central Board of Secondary Education is a Board of Education for public and private schools, under the Union Government of India.-History:...
(CBSE) syllabus, accredited by the Central Education Board of India and kerala syllabus under KERALA BOARD.
- Indian School Fujairah(Kerala Board)
- Our Own English High SchoolOur Own English High SchoolOur Own English High School is a chain of schools started by the Varkey Group of Schools across the cities of the United Arab Emirates. The first Our Own school was started in 1968 in Dubai.-Dubai branch:...
http://www.gemsoo-fujairah.com/
Our Own English High School, Fujairah, caters to the needs of expatriates from many countries including the subcontinent. The school follows the CBSE, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India and the IGCSE (University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, UK) from Kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
to Grade 11/12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
. It is part of the larger Varkey Group, which owns and runs schools around the U.A.E.
The Our Own English High School in Fujairah is one of the premier institutions of learning in the East Coast. The new school wing opened a few years back catering to the educational needs of the ever growing expatriate student population. Many OOEHS , Fujairah alumni have gone onto complete their higher education in the field of medicine , engineering , business to the US,Australia,Egypt and India. OOEHS Fujairah also places a prime emphasis on the overall development of the student with many past and current students excelling in extra curricular activities like Model United Nations , Dramatics , Quizzes , Debates , Singing & Dancing etc. Our Own English High School Fujairah is among the best schools in the East Coast of the United Arab Emirates.
- St. Mary's Catholic High School, Fujairah
Three schools also provide the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
General Certificate of Secondary Education
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
(GCSE) syllabus. These schools are aimed at students of the expatriate community who subsequently intend to study in other countries.
Fujairah has some professional tennis and cricket players such as: Vaibhaav dev, Talha naeem, Osama naeem, Brian gladson, qamar, ahmed, ahsan, sahil, joel prasad, Joel jacob, dmitri, etc.
- Fujairah Private Academy, also provides International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), A level, AS Level
Fujairah Private Academy, subjectively the top school in Fujairah, is a fee paying school for boys and girls from 3.5 to 18 years of age. There are 400+ pupils, with 120 in the Senior Section.
- St. Mary's Catholic High School, Fujairah, also provides General Certificate of EducationGeneral Certificate of EducationThe General Certificate of Education or GCE is an academic qualification that examination boards in the United Kingdom and a few of the Commonwealth countries, notably Sri Lanka, confer to students. The GCE traditionally comprised two levels: the Ordinary Level and the Advanced Level...
(GCE) A levels
A few other schools serving other expatriate communities also exist, such as Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i schools, educating a minority of the student population.
Pakistan Islamia School Fujairah (PISF) U.A.E. was established in 1982 with less than 35 students and classes in wooden cabins. The school has since then grown substantially and is now, with over 402 students and its own school purpose built-building, one of the leading Pakistani Community Schools in the UAE.
Fujairah Montessori
Montessori method
Montessori education is an educational approach developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori. Montessori education is practiced in an estimated 20,000 schools worldwide, serving children from birth to eighteen years old.-Overview:...
Nursery is the only pre-school in Fujairah. It admits children from the age of two years. It is located at building number 14 in the "16 Buildings". The location has recently changed.
There are several Nursery schools in Fujairah. 'Superbaby' in Fasseel and 'Little Stars' in Merashid are very popular with expat children.
Travel
Travel in and around Fujairah and the surrounding towns of Khor Kalba, Khor FakkanKhor Fakkan
Khor Fakkan is a town located along the Gulf of Oman on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates . The town is set on the picturesque bay of Khor Fakkan, which means "Creek of Two Jaws". Khor Fakkan belongs to the emirate of Sharjah but is geographically surrounded by the emirate of Fujairah...
, Kalba
Kalba
Kalba is a city in the United Arab Emirates. It is an enclave of the emirate of Sharjah, Kalba is north of Oman and south of the emirate of Fujairah. Khor Kalba , a mangrove swamp, is located further south of the town. The town was captured by the Portuguese Empire in the 16th century and was...
and Masafi
Masafi
Masafi is a village located on the edge of the Hajar Mountains in the United Arab Emirates. It developed along the old unpaved road which ran from Fujairah to Dubai via Sharjah. It was a trading post and refuelling stop for 4x4 vehicles and camel trains that plied the route before the modern...
has been made easy by the development of modern highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s over the last 30 years, since gaining independence in 1971. Highways are funded by the federal government directly, and contracts are tendered centrally. This is meant to safeguard the quality and delivery of the contracts and prevent corruption from damaging the construction. Highways are vital due to the unavailability of any other means of transport. There are some bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es in Fujairah but not for travel; they are for schools, colleges and some companies or they come from other cities. There are no railways
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
yet in Fujairah, though in 2008 a railway network connecting all the Persian Gulf states was planned. The car and the truck are the main mode of transport. Most daily activities can become impractical, if not impossible, without a private vehicle.
Newcomers and tourists can use the taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
system, which operates all day and night. There is no central booking system for private companies, but the government is planning to apply one. Taxis are hailed by standing at the roadside and flagging one down. Fares within the city are fixed at AED
United Arab Emirates dirham
The dirham is the currency of the United Arab Emirates. The ISO 4217 code for the United Arab Emirates dirham is AED. Unofficial abbreviations include DH or Dhs. The dirham is subdivided into 100 ....
4 per journey, which equates to one dollar and nine cents(USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
), 50 pence (GBP
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
) or 78 Euro cents. Destinations which are slightly outside the main city, such as the Beach Motel, Fujairah Hospital and the Jail attract a higher fare of 6 AED.
As of 2007 all taxis are metered, uniform in color (mostly yellow with green stripes) and report to a head company known as Cars. The meter starts from a minimum of 3 AED. A ride cost an average of 6 AED.
The Fujairah International Airport
Fujairah International Airport
Fujairah International Airport is an airport located 1 km from Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:*...
is near the city, with a large falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
statue at the airport roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
.
Daily life
Drinking alcoholAlcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
is allowed at designated hotels, and as of 2000, at a few bars. Until 1998, gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
in the form of slot machine
Slot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
s was allowed in certain hotels, but personal petitions by locals to the Sheikh outlawed the activity. It transpired that some players were losing entire monthly wages on the slots, leaving nothing for the upkeep of their families.
Fujairah is one of the safest cities in the UAE. Cinemas
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
are generally open till late and de-sexualised versions of the Hollywood
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
blockbusters
Blockbuster (entertainment)
Blockbuster, as applied to film or theatre, denotes a very popular or successful production. The entertainment industry use was originally theatrical slang referring to a particularly successful play but is now used primarily by the film industry...
are shown. However, the Hindi
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
cinemas are not constrained by the censors because they are not as raunchy as some Hollywood productions.
Groups of (Emirati) youths tend to socialize together on the streets and cafés or outside games arcades, cinemas and mini malls. It is unusual to see mixed gendered groups as the Emirati society is quite segregated.
On vacations occasionally, many Fujairah residents travel to Eastern emirates such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi for entertainment and shopping purposes. Or they might visit Wadi
Wadi
Wadi is the Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley. In some cases, it may refer to a dry riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rain or simply an intermittent stream.-Variant names:...
s surrounding the emirate on camping and hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trips. While other Emirates residents visit Fujairah for relaxation purposes and to get away from the stifling heat of the desert. Watersports are becoming more and more popular amongst both locals and tourists. Examples of watersports are Jet Ski
Jet ski
Jet Ski is the brand name of a personal watercraft manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The name is sometimes mistakenly used by those unfamiliar with the personal watercraft industry to refer to any type of personal watercraft; however, the name is a valid trademark registered with the...
, windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
, waterskiing and diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
. Professional diving instructors can be found in Le Meridien or in Royal Beach Hotel, where one can even obtain an International Diving license for a fee.
Flag
From 1902 until 1952, the flag of Fujairah was plain red. In 1952, the Sheikh included the name of the emirate, in white, on the red flag. This continued to be the official flag until Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi abolished the red flag and adopted, instead, the Federal flag for Fujairah.See also
- Creative CityCreative CityCreative City launched by Fujairah Media, as an alternative to Dubai Media City aims to attract regional and International broadcast TV and radio providers to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. While also providing creative media related services....