Fujairah
is a revelation, particularly after the rest of the Emirates.
It shares the East Coast, the Shimailiyyah, with the Emirate of
Sharjah and the Sultanate of Oman. If you can tear yourself away
from the beach and head into the emirate, the differences are
plain to see: for centuries the local economy has been based on
the rich fishing of the Gulf of Oman and farming on land that
is well irrigated by rainwater which runs down the Hajar Mountains.
The drive
through the mountains from Dhaid -- on the other side of the mountains
and in the Emirates 'proper'-- is a breathtaking experience in
itself. Small man-made terraces make the most of whatever level
land is available. Running through these are some of the most
beautiful wadis to be found in the UAE. Fujairah city is dominated
by the fort, a massive structure which is under restoration. The
view from the top of the fort is nothing less than spectacular:
the charming city below; the forests of date palms beyond and,
out to sea, the active symbols of an age-old maritime tradition.
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UAE
