Fujairah: a practical visitor guide

Fujairah is the only emirate that lies on the UAE’s east coast, along the Gulf of Oman. A day there from Dubai gets you the country’s oldest existing mosque at Al Bidya, a 16th-century fort, coral-reef snorkelling and diving off Al Aqah, and a market at Masafi on the drive in.

Below is what each place is, how to get there by public transport or car, and where to check the hours before you set off. Every time and distance on this page comes from the Fujairah Tourism and Antiquities Authority, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) or UNESCO. Where they don’t state something, we don’t either. For listings of hotels, restaurants and beaches, see our Fujairah directory.

Getting to Fujairah from Dubai

By intercity bus (RTA route E700)

RTA lists route E700, Dubai to Fujairah, among its intercity bus services that are currently running. Since August 2024 it has started from Etisalat Bus Station, not Union Bus Station, so ignore older guides that send you to Union Square. Fujairah’s tourism authority puts the bus journey at about two hours.

RTA does not publish the fare or the departure times for E700 on its intercity page. Check both in RTA’s Wojhati journey planner or on the RTA timetable page on the day you travel, and check the last bus back before you leave Dubai.

By car or taxi

The tourism authority calls it an easy self-drive from every emirate and says that from Dubai International Airport or Abu Dhabi International Airport you can drive to Fujairah in less than three hours. It also says you can hire a taxi from Dubai or Sharjah, including shared taxis.

The main sights are spread out. Al Bidya Mosque is 35 km north of Fujairah city, and Wadi Al Wurayah is 42 km north. A car is the practical way to see more than one or two of them in a day. If you come by bus, plan on a taxi between sights.

The main sights

Al Bidya Mosque

The tourism authority calls Al Bidya Mosque the oldest existing mosque in the UAE. Scientific dating puts its construction in 1599, give or take nine years. There is no timber in the roof. A single central column carries four domes, and each dome is built as three domes stacked on top of one another. The mosque was restored and officially reopened in March 2003.

It is 35 km north of Fujairah city on the road to Dibba Al Fujairah, so it fits well with a morning on the Al Aqah coast. It is still a mosque, so plan your visit around prayer times and dress modestly.

Fujairah Fort and the other forts

Fujairah Fort stands on a high hill in the old part of Fujairah, about 3 km inland and roughly 20 metres above sea level. The authority dates it to the 16th century and describes it as one of the oldest and largest forts in the country. Its listed hours are 08:00 to 18:00.

If forts are your reason for coming, there are three more:

• Al Bithnah Fort: about 13 km from Fujairah city in Wadi Ham, built in the 17th century and restored by 2012
• Al Hayl Fort: about 13 km south-west of the city, on a hill above Wadi Al Hayl, believed to date from the 19th century
• Dibba Fort: in Dibba Al Fujairah, restored between 2012 and 2018, listed hours 09:00 to 18:00

The diving coast: Al Aqah and Snoopy Island

Full guide: Fujairah beaches and snorkelling

Fujairah’s tourism authority calls Al Aqah its best-known beach and says the coral reef there makes for some of the country’s deep-sea diving and snorkelling sites. Snoopy Island is the small rock island just off Al Aqah beach. The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism lists it among Fujairah’s main attractions for water sports. The name comes from its shape, which looks like the cartoon dog lying on his back.

Most of this shoreline belongs to hotels and resorts with private beaches. The authority notes that many of them sell day passes that include dining, pools and play areas, which is the simplest way to spend a day here with children. The beach itself is listed as open 24 hours. Book dives and snorkel trips with a licensed operator, and check the day’s sea conditions with them before you go.

Wadi Wurayah: check access before you drive

Wadi Wurayah was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2026. It covers 22,000 hectares of the Hajar Mountains and was recognised for its naturally functioning freshwater ecosystems in an arid landscape. The Fujairah Environment Authority manages the site. According to UNESCO, its responsibilities include enforcement and visitor control.

The tourism authority’s page still shows visiting hours of 09:00 to 18:00. Since the UNESCO listing, though, access is regulated, so don’t drive out expecting to walk in. Contact the Fujairah Environment Authority or the tourism authority first to find out whether you need to book a guided visit. Wherever you are allowed in, the authority’s rule is to leave the wadi as you found it, because it is a very fragile ecosystem.

Masafi and its Friday Market

Masafi is on the inland road between Dubai and the east coast. Its Souq Al Juma, the Friday Market, is described by the tourism authority as Fujairah’s best-known traditional market. It sells carpets, fruit, antiques and souvenirs, and haggling is normal. The authority’s own page gives two different sets of opening hours, so confirm them before you plan a stop.

Free things to do

• Al Aqah beach, which is listed as open 24 hours
• Walking around the Friday Market at Masafi, with no need to buy anything
• Seeing Al Bidya Mosque and the forts from outside. The authority’s pages don’t list an entry fee for them, but they don’t say they are free either, so be ready to pay

How long to spend, and a sample day

One full day by car covers the main sights. If you want a dive or a hotel beach day, stay one night. A day trip from Dubai could look like this:

1. Leave Dubai early and stop at the Friday Market in Masafi.
2. Drive on to the coast and see Al Bidya Mosque.
3. Spend the middle of the day at Al Aqah beach, snorkelling or on a hotel day pass.
4. Head south to Fujairah city and see Fujairah Fort before it closes at 18:00.
5. Drive back to Dubai, or catch the E700 bus after checking the last departure.

The sights listed with hours close at 18:00, so start early. In summer, keep outdoor walking to the morning. If this is your first trip to the UAE, our first-time-in-Dubai guide covers the general rules that apply here too.

Where to check hours and prices

• Fujairah Tourism and Antiquities Authority: hours and details for each site
• RTA timetables and the Wojhati journey planner: E700 times and fares
• UNESCO World Heritage decision on Wadi Wurayah: what the site protects and who manages it

Hours on official pages are sometimes out of date. Fujairah’s own pages give conflicting hours for the Masafi market. Call or check on the day if a site is the main reason for your trip.

Checked against the official sources listed on this page on 7 October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so confirm on the official site before you go. See our editorial policy.