Fujairah (UAE)

Fujairah is a port city located on the Gulf of Oman (UAE's east coast). This is United Arab Emirates' only emirate without any territory on the Persian Gulf. The Fujairah emirate covers a total area of 1166 km2 (450 ml2) and has metro population around 150,000.

Fujairah port's main business is bunkering. Cargo shipping and marine vessel related services are well developed and are among the city's main businesses. Most vessels anchor in Fujairah for loading provisions, bunkers, or to receive repair and technical support.

In 2016, Fujairah and other UAE cities introduced a new (multi-entry) visa system allowing cruise passengers to visit various UAE tour destinations with 1 permit. Previously, UAE visas were only for tourists arriving and leaving the country on a cruise ship. The new visas allow toursts to fly to Dubai Airport, embark on a cruise vessel in Mina Rashid and cruise to Abu Dhabi and also to other Persian Gulf countries with a single visa rather than obtaining 2 or 3 separate visas. The new visas are also cheaper (AUD 59) in comparison to Dubai's 96-hours visa (AUD 44).

The city of Al Fujayrah boasts a heritage craft village and the United Arab Emirates' newest museum. Visitors can also drive out in the mountains to Bithna Oasis to view some of the extraordinary archaeological sites or take a scenic drive through the mountains to Dibba, a beautiful coastal town. Several tiny towns in the area, such as Khor Fakkan, are part of Sharjah Emirate. There is even a little enclave of Omani territory between Khor Fakkan and Fujairah (the youngest of the 7 emirates as until 1952 it was part of Sharjah).

The economy of Fujairah is based on subsidies and government grants distributed by Abu Dhabi's government (the seat of power in UAE). Local industries consist of stone crushing and mining. A revival in construction activity helped local industry. The flourishing free trade zone mimicks the success of Dubai Free Zone Authority, established around Jebel Ali Port.

Fujairah is also a minor bunkering port with big scale shipping operations that take place every day. Ship related services and shipping are city's thriving businesses. Due to the ease of logistic support and business friendly environment, ships that trade from Persian gulf anchor there for bunkers, repair, technical support, spares, stores and provisions before proceeding on long sailings. The city is geographically well suited for this kind of ship service related activities.

The emirate's ruler (emir) Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi is planning several tourism-related construction projects. The largest among those is the USD 817 million resort complex named "Al-Fujairah Paradise". Its location is near the resorts "Dibba Al-Fujairah" and "Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach". The new leisure complex features around 1000 luxury villas plus several hotels.

In 2020, BESIX Group (1909-founded, Brussels Belgium-based construction company) and Jan De Nul Group (1938-fouded, Luxembourg City-based family-owned company that specializes in maritime projects - dredging, marine engineering, port infrastructure construction and maintenance) were contracted for Dibba Al Hisn's Dibba Bulk Handling Terminal's expansion project. Dibba is Fujairah Emirate's second-largest city. For the project was established the Six Construct consortium (BESIX + Jan De Nul). The contract is design-and-build and includes dredging/deepening the port's navigation channel and turning basin, land reclamation, shore protection works, building breakwaters, constructing a new quay wall (length 765 m / 2510 ft), building foundations for rail-mounted gantry cranes, port infrastructure development. The contract was valued at AED 371 million (~EUR 90,4 M / ~USD 101 M). The project was scheduled for completion in 19 months.