Rest and relaxation

Fujairah's sun-kissed golden beaches facing onto the Gulf of Oman are some of the best in the UAE. The coastline is known for its pale fine sand, clear waters and scenic mountain backdrop, ideal for long days spent dozing in the sun and cooling off in the shallows. Most beaches, such as those at Dibba and Al Aqah, have sunloungers for hire and places nearby to grab a bite to eat. Surrounded by Fujairah but actually part of Sharjah, the region's most picturesque bay of Khor Fakkan is well worth visiting on a day trip.

Many of Fujairah's high-end hotels have spas that specialize in inducing a state of total relaxation with a range of holistic and wellness treatments. But the emirate also boasts a number of natural springs where you can experience the healing power of nature. Fed by hot springs, Madhab Park at the edge of the Hajar Mountains has two pools and sulphuric springs where visitors can soak in the waters and benefit from health-enhancing properties. Said to ease aches and pains, the spring is the perfect stop after a half-day hike in the picturesque surrounds.
 

Local culture and heritage

To browse traditional Arabian souks and explore historic sites, travellers can take a tour of Fujairah City and see a clutch of places in one day. The city has several markets including a fish and gold souk where you can shop for goods and get a snapshot of day-to-day life. The tourist night souk, set along the seafront corniche, is not-to-be-missed, featuring stalls selling crafts and food as well as live entertainment. During Ramadan and Eid, the souk is a hive of activity open into the small hours and featuring fireworks.

On the outskirts of the city, you can find the impressive Fujairah Fort, which dates back to 1670 and is one of the oldest stone castles in Arabia. It was once the home of the ruling family and its cavernous halls and towers have been fully restored. Around the fortress is Fujairah Heritage Village, which showcases emirati traditions with restored buildings and items from local life. The city also has a fascinating museum housed in a Moorish-style mansion that charts the region's history and customs with ancient exhibits including archaeological finds from the Bronze, Iron and Pre-Islamic Ages.

As keystones of Islamic architecture as well as religious centres, Fujairah's mosques are well worth seeing, especially as the emirate boasts not only the second largest mosque in the UAE but also the oldest. The enormous dazzling white proportions of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque with no less than six minarets is a sight to behold in Fujairah City, while to the north the much more humble Al-Bidyah mosque, moulded from mud, exudes charm and history. Tiered domes and a heavily flanked entrance give it a very distinctive appearance and it was once part of a town by the same name. Archaeological digs show the site has been in use for thousands of years, with an Iron Age tomb located to the north and artefacts uncovered such as pottery and arrow heads dating to 1,000BC.

Similar archaeological finds from Bithnah, located beyond Fujairah City, are exhibited in Fujairah Museum and show that the area where Bithnah Fort now stands has been occupied for millennia. The fortress itself was built in 1735 in a rustic shape that resembles a giant sand castle. It overlooks Wadi Ham, which is Fujairah's longest valley. Fans of castles might also like to visit Al-Hayl fort, the former headquarters of the ruling family with a history dating back 250 years.

In the shadow of the Hajar mountains, the town of Masafi is known for its natural springs but it is also a particularly good spot to shop for Arabian goods. There's a great local market selling traditional arts and crafts, vases and urns, handmade rugs and oodles of exotic fruits and dates. The town also has an interesting history as a former stop on the old trade route through the mountains before roads were built to traverse the emirates.