Day 104, Thurs, April 27, 2023 Fujairah, United Arab Emirates 9-6:00

Day 104, Thurs, April 27, 2023 Fujairah, United Arab Emirates 9-6:00

No exposed knees, cleavage or upper arms.  Shopping hours 9-1:00 & 4-9:00.

East Coast City Tour (FUJ-005)

April 27, 2023

Port: Fujairah

Tour Length: Half-Day (Approximately 4 1/2 hours)

Tour Description

The lush, fertile landscapes of the United Arab Emirates are yours to discover during this memorable tour of the scenic East Coast.

Depart the pier via coach for the scenic drive along the East Coast of the UAE, a region characterized by excellent beaches, the rugged Hajjar Mountain range and lush green expanses. Along the way, a photo stop will be made at the 300-year-old Fujairah Fort, which is currently under renovation. This landmark museum was inaugurated in 1991 with exhibits that are both interesting and educational. During your visit, WE DID NOT take a guided tour through the various rooms and view displays of old weapons, traditional costumes and artifacts excavated from around the East coast. Other exhibits provide a glimpse at local lifestyle, past and present.

Next, a photo stop will be made at the Oasis in Bithna, whose impressive fort guards the mountain pass.

Your tour will continue with a visit to the Friday Market, a famous and colorful roadside market featuring an abundance of souvenirs, clay pots and artifacts for sale. Your drive continues through Omani Dibba en route to Al Bidiyah Mosque, the oldest mosque in the Emirates. A stop at the exterior of Bidiya allows for one last photo opportunity before commencing the approximately 40-minute drive back to the pier.

The UAE has a federation of emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain,  Fujairah, and  Ras Al Khaimah.  

We went to a museum, Fujairah Museum.  We saw a u-shaped collective burial site.  Collections of stone pottery, bronze vessels and bracelets, stone beads, ceramics, living quarters display, fishing models and illustration of harvesting dates.  

                                    The mountain is covered with mud to prevent landslides.  

                                        Rugged Hajjar Mountain range 

                                                                    This is a 300-year-old Fujairah Fort.  The fort is from the 14th to the 16th century.  Houses were built around the fort for safety.  

 Today we traveled over the mountain to the other side of the point (Sharjah) and back again.  

                                                   This mosque is in Fujairah,

 We are at a mosque on the other side (Arab Gulf) of the peninsula in the UAE.

Al bidya Mosque is the oldest mosque in the UAE. It was built using local materials from large

and small stones.The prayer hall has small mihrab and simple minbar. It takes a square

shape and it has four domes based on one central column. Through collaboration between Heri-

tage and Antiquities department - Fujairah - and University of Sydney - Australia - a study con-

ducted during the excavation season 97/1998 AD which analyzes by carbon 14, it find out that the

mosque was built around 1446 AD.

Al bidya Mosque

                                                                Men's College Campus

The house on the top of the hill belongs to the ruler of Oman,

                                            There is a lot of oil stored near Fujairah.

Courtyards around the houses allow women to dress normally at home without the need to be covered.

  

                                            Villagers built their houses near the fort.  

                                                The villagers built their houses near the fort.  

Friday Market has fruit, vegetables, carpeting, household goods etc. 

The Oasis in Bithna is where palm trees grow and vegetables are planted around the perimeter.

Al bidya Mosque is 53 square meters or 570 square feet.  The roof has four squats, or helical domes that are supported by only one centrally placed pillar.  The mosque hosts daily prayers and is a tourist attraction.  This picture was taken from the area above where the watchtower is located.  

                                                                watch tower

 

                                            The railway connects people all around the gulf.