Fujairah is one of the seven independent city states that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE is a monarchy controlled by the royal families of each of the seven emirates, with the royal family of Abu Dhabi acting as the head of state. Each emirate has an elected parliament that creates laws and manages government business, but the royal family has the final say on everything. Oil is the country’s #1 export (they export 2 million barrels/day), but it makes up only 7% of the country’s total revenue. The royal families have income from their own businesses and (supposedly) do not keep the country’s oil revenue for themselves; instead that money is redistributed to the local people in the form of free healthcare, free education through college, and – an especially nice perk – a free 3-4 bedroom home when they marry. The government owns all the land, so individuals actually receive a 99-year lease on the homes and are free to sell them and purchase something else any time they like. The population of Fujairah is 80% foreigners and 20% locals. Foreigners do not share in the government benefits, may not hold more than 49% interest in any business there, and must leave the country when they turn 60.
Today’s tour included a stop by the Fujairah Fort, one of the oldest and largest remaining castles in the country. The royal family lived here consistently until 1975, when a new palace was built nearby.
Next stop was Friday Market, so named because it was originally only open on Fridays. There came a time when they decided to try being open two days a week; that went so well they tried three. That went so well they tried four…and now they’re open seven days a week, but they still call it Friday Market.
Final stop of the day was Al Badiyah Mosque, Fujairah’s oldest surviving mosque. It is uncertain when the mosque was built because the mud and stone structure contains no wood. It is impossible to do radiocarbon dating on mud and stone, so…. archaeologist believe it may have been built around 1446 AD. The mosque still hosts daily prayers.
The government gives newlyweds a free house like this one… …or this one …or this one. Friday Market You can get everything from food to furniture here. Al Badiyah Mosque – seats 28,000 Back of the Mosque The Arabian Rocky Mountains Different view of the Mosque
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