Khorfakkan day trip: beach, waterfall, fort and dam

Khorfakkan is Sharjah’s town on the east coast, 137 km from Sharjah city, set against the Hajar mountains. Go for the 3 km crescent beach and corniche, the amphitheatre with its 45 m waterfall, Hisn Khorfakkan fort museum, and Al Rafisah Dam on the road in. It is a full day trip by car from Dubai or Sharjah.

Our Sharjah visitor guide gives Khorfakkan one short section. This page is the full day out: what each stop is, what it costs where a price is published, and the order that works.

Getting to Khorfakkan from Dubai and Sharjah

Visit Sharjah puts Khorfakkan 137 km from Sharjah city, roughly halfway between Dibba and Fujairah on the east coast. Visit Sharjah also notes that the town is surrounded by the emirate of Fujairah, so expect to cross into Fujairah territory on the way.

• By car: the simplest option, because the sights below are spread along the road and around the bay. Visit Sharjah describes Al Rafisah Dam, which sits on the road to Khorfakkan, as under an hour’s drive from Sharjah. We found no official driving time from Dubai, so check a live map on the day.
• By intercity bus: Sharjah’s Roads and Transport Authority publishes an intercity bus timetable whose stop list includes Khorfakkan stops. Choose your start and end stops in the timetable tool to see the route, fare and times before you rely on it.
• Getting around once there: the beach, corniche, amphitheatre and fort are in town, but Al Rafisah Dam and Al Suhub Rest House are up in the mountains and need a car.

What to see in Khorfakkan

The amphitheatre and waterfall

Visit Sharjah calls the amphitheatre newly built; it is designed for events, with a cooling system for outdoor shows. The waterfall next to it has viewing windows at the top that Visit Sharjah says are “sometimes open to the public”, so treat the climb as a bonus, not a plan. Visit Sharjah does not publish hours or prices for either. Check the events listings before you drive over for a show. Our listing for the Khorfakkan Amphitheatre and Waterfall has the location.

Khorfakkan Beach and the corniche

The beach runs 3 km around the bay, with the commercial port at one end and the Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort and Spa at the other. Visit Sharjah lists swimming, fishing, kayaking, parasailing, sailing and diving, plus a walk along the corniche. Snorkelling trips head to Sira Khorfakkan, tucked behind the port at the southern end of the beach. See our Khorfakkan Beach listing for the map.

Hisn Khorfakkan and the Resistance Monument

Both are run by the Sharjah Museums Authority. Hisn Khorfakkan rebuilds the 1950s–1960s design of the original fort nearby and tells the story of the east coast with finds, photographs and 3D models. It stands in the old market area, opposite the fruit and vegetable market. The Resistance Monument is in Al Qadisiya, on Khorfakkan Square.

• Hours for both: Saturday to Thursday 8am to 8pm, Friday 4pm to 8pm. In Ramadan, Saturday to Thursday 9am to 2pm, closed Friday.
• Both close on the 29th and 30th of Ramadan, the first day of Eid Al Fitr, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah and the first day of Eid Al Adha.
• Free entry at the fort for under-2s, visitors 60 and over with one companion, and people with disabilities with one companion. The fort is also free on UAE National Day (2–3 December on the museum page) and on Sharjah Heritage Days.

Further south in Kalba, the SMA also runs Bait Sheikh Saeed Bin Hamad Al Qasimi, a heritage house built between 1899 and 1901, if you want to extend the drive.

Al Rafisah Dam on the way in

Built in the 1980s, the dam holds the water of Wadi Shie in the Hajar mountains. Visit Sharjah lists:

• a 55 m man-made waterfall into the lake
• a 730 m walkway with benches towards the mountain edge
• kayak and pedalo rental on the lake (no prices published)
• a castle (Al Hosn) reached by a short climb up mountain stairs
• a mosque, toilets with disabled access, three play areas and about 45 parking spaces, with separate parking for hikers
• Rafisah Lounge, open daily 8am to 10pm, and a Sharjah Coop mini mart open daily 7am to midnight

A marked hiking trail runs from the dam up to Al Suhub, rated easy to moderate. Visit Sharjah’s advice: carry more water than you think you need, wear proper shoes and a hat, check the weather, tell someone your route and do not go alone unless you are experienced.

Free things in Khorfakkan

• The beach and the corniche walk.
• The Resistance Monument, where entry is free.
• Walking the 730 m path at Al Rafisah Dam. Visit Sharjah does not mention an entry fee for the dam area.

A sample day from Dubai or Sharjah

1. Morning: drive out and stop at Al Rafisah Dam for the walkway and the waterfall, or a kayak.
2. Late morning: Hisn Khorfakkan and the Resistance Monument (both open from 8am, except Friday when they open at 4pm).
3. Afternoon: the beach, or a boat out to Sira Khorfakkan.
4. Evening: the corniche, then the amphitheatre waterfall after dark, before the drive back.

On a Friday, swap the order: beach first, museums after 4pm. If you want to stay overnight, see the Sharjah directory for hotels and services.

Where to check before you go

• Visit Sharjah — Khorfakkan: the official overview of the town and its sights.
• Visit Sharjah — Al Rafisah Dam: facilities, outlets and their hours.
• Sharjah Museums Authority — Hisn Khorfakkan: hours, tickets and closures.
• Sharjah RTA intercity buses: timetables to the east coast.

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.