The Emirate of Fujairah, dominated by theSharqiyin tribe, sits at the mouth of the important trade route, theWadi Ham (which is guarded by the SharqiyinAl Bithnah Fort), through themountains to the interior and the Persian Gulf Coast. Known as theShamaliyah, the east coast of what is now the UAE was subject toMuscat until 1850, when it was annexed byAl Qasimi ofSharjah, in an agreement made betweenSheikhSultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi and theSultan of Muscat.[4] The Shamaliyah was governed by Al-Qasimi Wali atKalba although frequently seceded and in 1901 SheikhHamad bin Abdullah Al Sharqi, chief of the Sharqiyin, declared independence from Sharjah. This was recognized by a number of the Trucial Sheikhs and also by Muscat, but not the British, who were frequently provoked by the independently minded Ruler.[5] At this time, The Emirate of Fujairah consisted of some 150 houses and 3,000 date palms and its people lived mainly through pearling and date cultivation.[6] Since the absorption of Kalba by Sharjah in 1952, the Shamaliyah is shared by the emirates of Fujairah and Sharjah.[7]
In 1952, the Emirate of Fujairah entered into treaty relations with Britain, becoming the last of the emirates to join theTrucial States. Having withheld this recognition for over fifty years, the British government only granted it because theoil exploration company Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL) needed to sign a concession with a recognized ruler.[8] On 2 December 1971, The Emirate of Fujairah joined theUnited Arab Emirates.
Archaeological finds in the Emirate of Fujairah point to a history of human occupation and trading links stretching back at least 4,000 years, withWadi Suq (2,000 to 1,300 BC) burials located at Bithnah and theQidfa' Oasis.[9] A third millennium BCE tower was used to construct the Portuguese fort atBidiyah, identified with the Portuguese 'Libedia', a fortress recorded in de Resende's 1646 map - the fortress itself has been carbon dated to 1450–1670.[10]
The Emirate of Fujairah is also rich in late Islamic fortresses, as well as being home to theoldest mosque in use in the United Arab Emirates,Al Badiyah Mosque, which was built in 1446 of mud and bricks.[11][a] It is similar to other mosques found inYemen, easternOman, andQatar. Al Badiyah Mosque has four domes (unlike the other similar mosques which have between seven and twelve) and lacks aminaret.
The Emirate of Fujairah covers approximately 1,166 km2 (450 sq mi), or about 1.5% of the area of the UAE, and is the fifth-largest emirate in the UAE.
The weather is seasonal, although it is warm most of the year. The months of December to March are generally the coolest, with daytime temperatures averaging around 25 °C (77 °F) and rarely venturing above 30 °C (86 °F)—with temperatures climbing to over 40 °C (104 °F) degrees in the summer. The winter period also coincides with therainy season and although by no means guaranteed, this is when the Emirate of Fujairah experiences the bulk of its precipitation. Rainfall is higher than the rest of the UAE, partly because of the effect of the mountains that encircle the Emirate, and partly because theprevailing winds are easterly bringing with them water-laden clouds off the warm Indian Ocean. The variability of the east coast climate is partly due to the presence of theHajar mountain range. As with other mountainous areas, precipitation is higher, and this allows for a more varied micro-environment in the area. Tourist visitor numbers peak just before the school summer months.[citation needed]
Climate data for Fujairah International Airport (1990-2016)
The Emirate of Fujairah had a population of 125,698 at the last census, held in 2005. Its population is around 225,360 inhabitants (in 2016);[17] only theEmirate of Umm al-Quwain has fewer occupants. The 2019 population estimates is 256,256 inhabitants.[18]
The Sheikh heads the cabinet of the Emirate of Fujairah, and a few members of respected local families in the emirate make up the advisory committees. The Sheikh must ratify any decisions by the cabinet. After the ratification, such decisions may be enacted into law.[citation needed]
The Emirate of Fujairah's economy is based on subsidies and federal government grants distributed by the government of Abu Dhabi (the seat of power in the UAE). Local industries consist of cement, stone crushing, and mining. A resurgence in the construction activity helped the local industry. There is a flourishingfree trade zone,[21] mimicking the success of the Dubai Free Zone Authority[22] which was established aroundJebel Ali Port.
Cement Factory in DibbaNational Bank of Fujairah
The federal government employs the majority of the native, local workforce, with few opening businesses of their own. Many of the locals work in the service sector. The government of the Emirate of Fujairah prohibits foreigners from owning more than 49% of any business. The free zones have flourished, partly due to the relaxation of such prohibition within the zones, as full foreign ownership is allowed there. Shaikh Saleh Al Sharqi, younger brother to the ruler, is widely recognized as the driving force behind the commercialization of the economy.[citation needed]
The Emirate of Fujairah is a minor bunkering port.[citation needed]
The government of The Emirate of Fujairah is a major shareholder in the National Bank of Fujairah, a UAE local bank. Incorporated in 1982, the National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) is active in the areas of corporate and commercial banking, trade finance and treasury. NBF has also expanded portfolio to include personal banking options and Shariah-compliant services. NBF supports industries ranging from oil and shipping to services, manufacturing, construction, education, and healthcare.[citation needed]
Foreigners or visitors are not allowed to buy land. Emirati nationals can purchase land from the government, after proving their nationality. If there is no suitable land available via the official government offices, private purchases can also be made, with the eventual price being determined by the market and the individuals themselves.[citation needed]
The ruler is planning to make changes that will affect the Emirate of Fujairah. Among tourism projects is an $817m resort, Al-Fujairah Paradise, nearDibba Al-Fujairah, on the northern Omani border, next to Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort. The planned development would have around 1,000 five-star villas as well as hotels, but has since been cancelled.[citation needed]
The Sheikh is trying to improve opportunities for the local workforce, by trying to entice businesses to locate in the Emirate of Fujairah and diverting Federal funds to local companies in the form of development projects.[citation needed]
Health care is delivered in a mixed public and private system. Locals are treated for free at the federal government hospitals, while foreigners have to pay for medical care. The national government funds the federal hospitals and subsidize health care withpetrodollar revenues. There are criticisms that the government is not providing health care sufficiently for those with low income, who have to pay for critical treatment themselves.[citation needed]
The government of the Emirate of Fujairah has built clinics, known locally as "medical houses". These clinics complement and help lighten the load on the main Fujairah Hospital by allowing walk-in appointments and providing ancillary medical services. These clinics have turned out to be a success, visited by the local populace.[25]
There are many government schools in the Emirate of Fujairah, which are mainly for Emirati people, besides some numbers ofArab residents. Aside from government schools, there are also private schools, and due to the majority of the population of the Emirate hailing from theIndian subcontinent, most of the private schools follow theIndianCentral Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) syllabus, accredited by the Central Education Board of India.
FujairahMontessori Nursery is the oldest pre-school in the Emirate of Fujairah.[citation needed] It admits children from the age of two years. It is located in the Al Faseel area. There are several nursery and kindergarten schools in the Emirate of Fujairah. 'Superbaby' in Al Faseel 'Smart kids', 'Mom and Kids' and 'Little Stars' are used by expat families.[citation needed]
Travel in and around the Emirate of Fujairah and the surrounding towns ofKhor Fakkan, Kalba andMasafi has been made easy by the development of modern highways since independence in 1971. Highways are funded by the federal government directly, and contracts are tendered centrally. This is meant to safeguard the quality and delivery of the contracts and prevent corruption from damaging the construction.[citation needed]
As of 2014, the Emirate of Fujairah had very limited public transport, with a single bus service operating within the emirate and two bus services, with one operating to Sharjah via Al Dhaid (116 and 611 route) from the SRTA and another service (E700 from RTA) operating to Dubai. Aside from private transport, there are several taxis operated by the government-owned Emirate of Fujairah Transport Corporation (FTC).[26]
TheSheikh Khalifa Highway linking Dubai andFujairah was officially inaugurated on Saturday, 4 December 2011, following delays to the originally scheduled opening date of July 2011. It is a road that shortens the distance by 20 to 30 km (12 to 19 miles). TheFujairah International Airport is near the city, with a largefalcon statue at the airportroundabout. However, as of 2015, it only offers commercial service toAbu Dhabi, a domestic destination within the UAE.[citation needed]
TheUAE culture mainly revolves around the religion ofIslam and traditionalArab culture. The influence of Islamic and Arab culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine, and lifestyle are very prominent as well. Five times every day, Muslims are called to prayer from theminarets of mosques which are scattered around the country. Since 2006, the weekend has been Friday-Saturday, as a compromise between Friday's holiness to Muslims and the Western weekend of Saturday-Sunday.[28] However as of January 2021 it has been changed to Saturday-Sunday to align with the rest of the world and make trading with other countries easy and efficient.[29]
Drinking alcohol is allowed at designated hotels, and as of 2000, at a few bars. Until 1998, gambling in the form ofslot machines was allowed in certain hotels, but personal petitions by locals to the Sheikh outlawed the activity. Some players were losing entire monthly wages on the slots, leaving nothing for the upkeep of their families.[citation needed]
Groups of Emirati youths tend to socialize together on the streets and cafés or outside games arcades, cinemas, and mini-malls. It is unusual to see mixed-sex groups due to gender segregation in Emirati society.[citation needed]
On vacations, many Fujairah residents travel to western emirates such asDubai andAbu Dhabi, for entertainment and shopping purposes. They also visit theWadis surrounding the emirate on camping and hiking trips. At the same time, other emirates' residents visit the Emirate of Fujairah for relaxation purposes and to get away from the stifling heat of the desert.Watersports such asjet skis,windsurfing,waterskiing anddiving are becoming more and more popular amongst both locals and tourists. Professional driving instructors can be found inLe Méridien or in Royal Beach Hotel, where one can obtain an International Driving License, for a fee.[citation needed]
^Heard-Bey, Frauke (2005).From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates : a society in transition. London: Motivate. p. 73.ISBN1860631673.OCLC64689681.
^Said., Zahlan, Rosemarie (2016).The Origins of the United Arab Emirates : a Political and Social History of the Trucial States. Taylor and Francis. p. 239.ISBN9781317244653.OCLC945874284.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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