The youngest of all 7 emirates, Fujairah joined the United Arab Emirates in 1971. Prior to joining as the seventh emirate, Fujairah was a British protectorate. Covering nearly 450 square miles, Fujairah is the least developed of the emirates. It's primary sources of economic income are agriculture, boatbuilding and fishing. A fishing town until oil was discovered in the region, Fujairah was one of the areas in the Middle East in which little oil of worth was ever found. In 1987, the coasts of Fujairah were cleared of all landmines, making the ports in and around Fujairah safe for shipping and boating. In 2002, leaders of the Fujairah Department of Archaeology agreed to allow archeaologists to come excavate parts of the city to unearth more historic remains, forever preserving the culture of this amazing city.

Museums

One of the best ways to experience the intriguing history of a city or a country is to go to local museums. Luckily, Fujairah is home to 3 museums that all offer insight into everything about this region. The Fujairah Museum, the Fujairah Heritage Village and the Fujairah Fort all display historic garments, tools, pottery, currency and much more that give children and adults alike an educational look into the history and culture of Fujairah. The Fujairah Fort and the Fujairah Heritage Village are right next to one another so experiencing both archaeological marvels is easy to do on a time crunch.

Archaeological Remains

One of the most interesting aspects to the history of Fujairah is the number of ancient ruins in and around this traditional fishing village. Built in 1670 is the Fujairah Fort, a large castle surrounded by the old ruins of houses built during this era. During the 1600s, the Fujairah Fort was used as a fortress to protect the city from invaders but is now a popular tourist attraction. The Al Bidya Mosqye dates back to over 400 years ago and was once used in traditional Muslim religious ceremonies. The Al Heil Castle is a short drive from Fujairah, was once home to the ruler of this country and was used for surviellance and patrolling. Much like the Fujairah Fort, this ancient building was also used to protect the city. West of Fujairah is the Al Bithnah Forte that was used to guard the route across the Hajar Mountains.