Fujairah Fort & Heritage Village, Fujairah - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 4 km from Fujairah Airport, Fujairah Fort is an ancient fort located on a small rocky hill in the old Fujairah region, UAE. It is one of the oldest forts in the UAE and among the must-visit places in Fujairah as part of Dubai Tour Packages.

Established in the year 1670, Fujairah Fort is probably the oldest as well as the largest castles in the country and was occupied by the Wahhabists between 1808 and 1810. The Fujairah Fort once served as a defensive structure, as well as the residence of the ruling family. It was the only stone building along the Fujairah coast for many centuries. The fort was badly damaged by a British attack in 1925 as it moved into the country and took up positions along the coast. The fort was abandoned after that and remained in a state of neglect until 1997 when a national renovation program began. The restoration was completed in 2000.

The Fujairah Fort is characterized by its position on a high hill and is 3 km away from the coast. The design of the Fujairah Fort differs completely from the usual engineering designs of the rest of the forts of the state. This irregular design has emerged because of the irregular shape of the rocks upon which the fort was built. It covers an area of 610 sq. m and features circular watchtowers, one main square-shaped tower, known as a Murabaa and a tall building with a section similar to the tower. Each tower reaches more than 2.5 m above the top of the walls. The fort was built of local materials, mostly rocks, gravels, mud, hay, and plasters. In recent years, it has been fully restored to its former glory.

The Department of Archaeology and Heritage of Fujairah has set up a Heritage Village in the area, which surrounds the fort. Here, visitors can see restored old houses, exhibits about traditional life, and a sample of the irrigation system of the AI Yazrah, which was used by the Emirati farmers in their fields.

Timings: 8 AM - 6.30 PM from Saturday - Thursday, 2.30 PM - 4.30 PM on Friday

Entry: Free