Fujairah Day Trips from Dubai

Dubai is one of the most interesting destinations in the Middle East; however, it is not the only pleasant place in the United Arab Emirates. Therefore, I invite you to learn all the details about a tour that would take you from Dubai to the city of Fujairah.

Keyvis Montilva

Keyvis Montilva

9 min read

Fujairah Day Trips from Dubai

Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Fujairah Fujairah United Arab Emirates | ©Nick Fewings

When you are on a trip to a place like Dubai it is logical that you want to explore every single detail of the city, knowing that it is one of the most touristic destinations on the planet. However, when you have enough time for an excursion to the outskirts of the city it also happens to be one of the best things to see and do in Dubai. Knowing that you will eventually return to this modern and cosmopolitan city.

With that in mind, in this post I will explain everything you need to know about a trip to Fujairah. Fujairah is one of the best places in the UAE to enjoy water activities on the beautiful and picturesque coast of the Gulf of Oman.

1. What is a diving or snorkelling trip to Fujairah from Dubai like?

Snorkel| ©Subtle Cinematics
Snorkel| ©Subtle Cinematics

Fujairah as such is not a very touristy destination in the United Arab Emirates, it is actually a relatively small city compared to Dubai and has few tourist attractions knowing that the capital of the Emirates and Dubai itself are the most interesting destinations for international visitors.

However, one of its main attractions is the kilometres of coastline directly on the Gulf of Oman. The Gulf of Oman is a section of the Arabian Sea that has a significantly large diversity of marine flora and fauna. This makes it one of the best destinations for professional diving off the coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

These excursions are designed for groups of no more than eight people. At the same time, you also have to take into account that Fujairah is a city that is approximately one hour away from the centre of Dubai. Therefore only 2 hours of the excursion are dedicated to go and return to this site which is located at the other end of the country.

I highlight the fact that this type of excursion includes all the necessary equipment to enjoy the diving or snorkelling session. As well as access to rest areas to shower before returning to Dubai and there is an accompaniment of soft drinks, beverages and natural fruit juices. There are no age restrictions, but it is essential that you have a diving licence. Pick up and drop off in Dubai is directly at your hotel.

Details of interest

  • Price: Knowing that this is one of the best tours or excursions in Dubai it is logical that the price is a little high. The rate per person is between 110 and 140 € approximately, keep in mind that this price includes the transfer, the guide's fee, all accompanying drinks, the boat and also the two dive sessions or the conventional snorkelling tour.
  • Duration: the total duration of this excursion is usually around eight hours. I would point out that two of those hours are exclusively for the transfer from Dubai to Fujairah which means that the dive sessions and the boat ride to get to the site usually takes about 4 to 5 hours.
  • Means of transport: This is usually a group of no more than eight people, so a minibus, minivan, or two seven-seater vehicles with room for dive equipment is possible. The boat is usually a conventional sport fishing boat.
  • Advantages of these excursions: This option is convenient in that the Gulf of Oman has better marine diving and snorkelling sites than the section of the Gulf of Peshawar that is closer to Dubai. In addition, the price is economical knowing that there are two dives on the excursion in the case of scuba diving.
  • Disadvantages of these excursions: Some people don't have the time to travel from Dubai to another city and back, or simply don't feel comfortable travelling across the country. If this is your case I invite you to read about 10 practical tips for travelling to Dubai, which will make you feel safe at all times.

Learn about the best tours and excursions from Dubai

How to book a tour to Fujairah from Dubai?

Dubai Bus Tour| ©Pixabay
Dubai Bus Tour| ©Pixabay

There are several options available to you if you want to book a tour to Fujairah from Dubai. However, the most comfortable, the most convenient and the most practical at all times is an online purchase of this service. With an online booking you can select a date and time that suits you. At the same time, you can also see the price variations at different times of the year and it also allows you to guarantee that you will have a place exactly when you need it.

Please note that most of the tourist services in Dubai are booked online. Just like the Dubai Marina cruises that take you to one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in Dubai or tickets for the best Dubai sightseeing buses that offer a much more extensive tour.

You also have the option of buying these types of tours directly from a Dubai tour agency. The problem with that idea is that you would have to shop around to arrive at a price that really works and even then you are not guaranteed to make a relative saving.

Marina Cruises

Duration of excursions to Fujairah from Dubai

Boat Tour| ©Get Your Guide
Boat Tour| ©Get Your Guide

All excursions that take you to Fujairah from Dubai usually last a minimum of five hours. However, if they include entertainment activities such as the ones I've mentioned, then they usually extend beyond seven hours.

You have to appreciate the fact that a snorkelling session, a trip to the beach or a scuba diving trip are the main assets of this city. Fujairah is a much more modest place than Dubai and lacks monuments of any significance. At least beyond the forts located about 2 km from the city centre.

Anyway, you should know that a diving excursion to this destination is one of the best things to do in Dubai on a seven-day trip or even one that extends a little longer. For the truth is that the United Arab Emirates is a country to be admired in its entirety. A trip to Abu Dhabi or to the Gulf of Oman is therefore recommended.

What will I see on such an excursion?

Camel Trekking in the Desert| ©Yasin Gündogdu
Camel Trekking in the Desert| ©Yasin Gündogdu

The first thing you'll see on a tour like this is the impressive expanse of desert that separates Dubai from the coast of the Gulf of Oman. Along the way you'll enjoy driving along a rather impressive network of highways that came out of nowhere as a result of the economic success of this Islamic nation.

As you approach the city of Fujairah you'll begin to ride through mountainous terrain that forms part of the only relatively elevated area in the entire country. Eventually you reach the city and at this point you will approach the marina where a boat will be waiting for you to take you to the sites where you can enjoy a snorkelling or scuba diving session.

Clearly, they are different routes, as snorkelling is a shallow exploration whereas scuba diving needs to take place in a section of the sea deep enough to make it worthwhile. Either way after this tour you will visit a beach club where you can wash up in showers created specifically for this purpose and enjoy a good rest before heading back to Dubai.

Keep in mind that on this part of the tour you have the option of having lunch if you wish or you can also keep your appetite for a nice elegant dinner at one of Dubai's best restaurants. On your return to the city you will certainly be able to embark on a sightseeing tour of Dubai's top 5 must-see neighbourhoods.

Tips for a trip to Fujairah from Dubai

Bring sunscreen and a camera| ©Wendy Wei
Bring sunscreen and a camera| ©Wendy Wei

There really isn't much advice I can give you regarding a trip to Fujairah from Dubai because it's an excellently planned trip where all the logistical aspects are taken care of by the travel agency that takes you to the coast of this city.

However, one thing I can make clear is that you don't have to worry about what to wear in and around Dubai for this type of plan. There are no restrictions on the type of clothing you should wear, especially in the case of scuba diving where you will use special equipment with a very specific suit.

I can also advise you to take a very good sunscreen with you to protect you from the sun's radiation. As well as enough snacks to deal with your appetite in case it comes up at an inopportune moment. I would also advise you to go for this experience if you are in the emirates during the winter, as this is the best time to travel to Dubai and other parts of the country due to the drop in temperatures which makes the Arabian heat more bearable.

How much does a trip to Fujairah from Dubai cost?

Wonderful night in the Dubai Dunes| ©GFFW PHOTOGRAPHY
Wonderful night in the Dubai Dunes| ©GFFW PHOTOGRAPHY

On average, an excursion from Dubai to Fujairah will always cost around 100 euros. The most expensive part of the trip is the private transfer through the desert, which is an ideal place to enjoy the best sanbording in the dunes of Dubai.

Please note that these types of excursions are almost always focused on a very specific activity such as snorkelling or scuba diving. In reality, Fujairah is not a tourist destination par excellence. It is actually a community for businessmen and entrepreneurs who need to live in this part of the country because of its proximity to some oil extraction fields.

That means that the rates of 150 euros and 110 euros that I have mentioned are totally convenient, especially knowing that the diving excursion includes two dives in two different locations.

What are the sites I shouldn't miss when going on a Fujairah excursion from Dubai?

Diving| ©tslane888
Diving| ©tslane888

Beyond the beach and beyond the beach club that you will also visit on these tours there are unlikely to be any other sites of interest worth visiting. At least on an excursion that is focused on enjoying a scuba diving or snorkelling session.

However, it is also common for such tours to have a short stop before returning to the Fujairah Fort. This historic fortress was built in the 16th century and has three round towers that remain virtually intact to this day.

Why take a trip to Fujairah from Dubai?

Arabian Sea| ©Dutchflavour
Arabian Sea| ©Dutchflavour

Such excursions are recommended due to the fact that they allow you to explore the United Arab Emirates in a more extensive and complex way. It is also a significantly economical experience considering that it includes a private transfer to another part of the country and a return directly to your accommodation in Dubai.

The fact that you also have the opportunity to enjoy a diving session in a sea as interesting as the Arabian Sea is another factor that also makes this experience a highly recommendable plan when visiting Dubai.

What are the advantages of taking a guided tour vs. visiting Fujairah from Dubai on my own?

Dubai Sightseeing Bus| ©Alan & Flora Botting
Dubai Sightseeing Bus| ©Alan & Flora Botting

A guided tour in which you only have to worry about getting on a minibus and then return to your hotel is the best alternative you have at your disposal if you want to see the natural attractions of the coast. The truth is that the other option available to you would be to take a public transport route.

In this case you are faced with a journey time of approximately two and a half hours. Whereas by car it would only take you an hour. You would also have to adjust specifically to the timetables that these bus routes operate, which are changeable throughout the year, giving more relevance to the tourist seasons.

Also, when travelling without a logistical planning by an agency you will have to go all over the city to find a company that offers diving services. So when you add up all the prices of what this service would cost you, plus the bus trip, plus the transfer costs from the public transport station to the different places in the city, you could double the initial cost of the guided excursion.