Fujairah

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The flag of Fujairah

Fujairah (Arabic: الفجيرة) is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, on the Gulf of Oman in the country's east.

1 Geography
2 Government
3 Land
4 Economy
5 Future Developments
6 Healthcare
7 Education
8 Travel
9 Living in Fujairah
10 The Flag of Fujairah
11 See also
12 External Links

[edit] Geography

The Emirate (State) of Fujairah is the fourth largest in area, covering 1150 square kilometres, or about 1.5% of the area of the U.A.E.; in population it is sixth, with around 130,000 inhabitants. Only the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain has fewer occupants.

Fujairah is the only Emirate of the U.A.E. that is almost totally mountainous. All the other Emirates, like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are located on the west coast, and are largely covered by desert. Therefore, Fujairah boasts a higher than average yearly rainfall, allowing farmers in the region to produce one meaningful crop every year.

The weather is seasonal, although it is warm for most of the year. The months of October to March are generally regarded as the coolest, with daytime temperatures averaging around 25 and rarely venturing above 30 Celsius with temperatures climbing to over 40 degrees in the summer. The winter period also coincides with the rainy season and although by no means guaranteed, this is when Fujairah experiences the bulk of its precipitation. Rainfall is higher than the rest of the U.A.E. partly because of the effect of the mountains that encircle the Emirate, and partly because the prevailing winds are westerly bringing with them water-laden clouds off the warm Indian Ocean.

The variability of the east coast climate is partly due to the presence of the Hajjar mountain range. As with other mountainous areas, precipitation is higher, and this allows for a more varied micro-environment in the area. Tourists are inevitably drawn to the uniqueness of Fujairah, with visitor numbers peaking just before the school summer months.

[edit] Government

Power is ultimately held by the ruler (Shaikh) of Fujairah, Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, who has been in power since the death of his father in 1974. There is little distinction between the state and his personal wealth. The Shaikh makes his own money by doing business, and the Governent funds are used for social housing development and beautifying the city. Any decisions regarding any aspect of law can be made by the ruler, although Federal laws are never repealed. But, it must be stressed that the ruler of the Emirate can choose to operate in a completely autonomous fashion.

The Cabinet of Fujairah is headed by the Shaikh and his immediate family, with a few members of respected local families making up the advisory committees. Any Cabinet decisions must be ratified by the Shaikh himself, after which they may be enacted into law as Emiri Decrees. Emiri Decrees are usually effective immediately, and without proper public consultation processes, can sometimes be confusing, causing not inconsiderable consternation amongst the inhabitants of the city.

[edit] Land

Foreigner or visitors can’t buy land. Only Emiratis can buy land. Emirati nationals can purchase land from the Government, after proving their nationality, which is usually the less expensive method. If there is no suitable land available via the official Government offices, private purchases can also be made, with the eventual price being determined by the market and the individuals themselves.

[edit] Economy

Fujairah's economy is based around subsidies and Federal Government grants, distributed by the Government of Abu Dhabi (the seat of power in the U.A.E.). Local industry consists of cement, stone crushing and mining. These industries have witnessed a resurgence due to the frenzied construction activity taking place in Dubai, the commercial powerhouse of the country. Notably, there is a flourishing free trade zone (http://www.fujairahfreezone.com), mimicking the success of the Dubai Free Zone Authority (http://www.jafza.ae) which was established around Jebel Ali Port, the busiest seaport in the region since the eighties. It has witnessed an exponential growth from 2003 onwards (leading to an expansion project that would double its capacity).

Federal Government departments employ the majority of the native (local) workforce, with few opening businesses of their own. Local citizens (also referred to as locals) prefer to work within the service sectors and benefit from the generous commercial laws, which prohibit foreigners from owning more than 49% of any business or enterprise. Some of the reason why the free zone authorities have flourished to such an extent, is due to the relaxation of this rule within their boundaries, allowing full foreign ownership. Shaikh Saleh Al Sharqi, younger brother to the Shaikh, is widely recognised as the driving force behind the commercialisation of the economy.

Unemployment, however, remains a grave concern for the government, and it is on this agenda that the present incumbents will be judged. Conservative figures put the unemployment rate at around 50% - 60%, which is amongst the highest in the world. Without affirmative and decisive action, there is a real danger that apathy and discontent could spread amongst the youth, which could prove to be an extremely volatile situation for future administrations.

Poor wages are also a source of embarrassment for the authorities, with construction workers at the bottom of the pyramid. On average a 12 hour working day, starting at 7 am and ending at 8 pm, will only provide about US$5 - US$10, out of which the workers pay for meals, transport and entertainment. Some companies pay the workers per day and some of them per month. It depends on the company which they work for and on the workers (if they work for all the time they were assigned.). They don’t have special healthcare. The company doesn’t care about the workers if they are injured. They have to be responsible about themselves if they get hurt, and they pay for the treatment in hospital and the medicine from their own money.

[edit] Future Developments

The present Shaikh is planning to make changes that will affect Fujairah in the future. Among other tourism projects in the pipeline is an $817m resort, Al Fujairah Paradise, near Dibba, on the northern Omani border, next to Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort. There will be around 1,000 five-star villas and hotels. It is expected that all the construction work will be finished within two years. The Shaikh is always trying to improve opportunities for the local workforce, by trying to entice businesses to locate in Fujairah and diverting Federal funds to local companies in the form of development projects.

[edit] Healthcare

Healthcare is delivered via a mixed public and private system. Locals are treated free within the Federal Government hospitals, whilst foreigners have to pay for this service. The Federal hospitals are funded by the Govt. of Abu Dhabi, which leverages its vast income of petro-dollars to subsidise medical care for its own citizens.

However, there are considerable problems arising with the new system, and the Government should be criticised for not providing for the lower strata of society, who have to pay for life saving treatment, which is a significant burden on their meagre incomes. It is hoped that the Government will eventually reverse their decision, for the benefit of the foreign labour workforce which has been indispensible to the economy of the country.

The Fujairah Government has built many clinics, known locally as "medical houses", for example, Madena Medical House (in Madab), Moresheed Medical House (in Moresheed). These clinics lighten the load on the main Fujairah Hospital by allowing walk-in appointments and providing important ancilliary medical services. These clinics have proved to be a success, with the local populace embracing them.

The Chief of Surgery and Emergency Medicine , Dr. S. C. Gautam, is recognised as the protagonist behind the modernisation of healthcare provision within Fujairah, and with lifting the standards of surgical and emergency medical care within the United Arab Emirates. Dr. Gautam is the director of the Advanced Trauma Life Support programme in the U.A.E, having introduced it as a measure to improve emergency treatment and survival rates amongst the thousands of trauma patients admitted across the country every year.

[edit] Education

There are many schools in Fujairah, Government schools which are mainly for Emirati people beside some numbers of Arab residents. Aside from Governments schools, there are also many private schools and due to the majority of the population of the Emirate hailing from the Subcontinent, most of the priivate schools follow the Indian C.B.S.E. (Central Board of Secondary Education) syllabus, accredited by the Central Education Board of India.

Indian School Fujairah - 09 2223441
Our Own English High School - 09-2227127 / 2221729 - http://www.ooehs-fuj.sch.ae/
St. Mary's Catholic High School - 09 2282828 / 2281183

Three schools also provide the UK. G.C.S.E. (General Certificate of Secondary Education) syllabus. These schools are aimed at students of the expatriate community who wish to study in overseas countries.

Fujairah Private Academy [also provides IGCSE, A, AS Level]
Our Own English High School
St. Mary's Catholic High School [also provides G.C.E A levels]

A few other schools, serving other expatriate communities also exist, such as Iranian and Pakistani schools, educating a minority of the student population.

Our Own English High School, Fujairah caters to the needs of expatriates from many countries including those from the subcontinent. The school follows the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi, India and the IGCSE (University of Cambridge, UK) from KG to Grade 11/12. It is part of the larger Varkey Group, which owns and runs numerous schools around the U.A.E.

Pakistan Islamia School Fujairah (PISF) U.A.E was established in 1982 with less than 35 students and classes in wooden cabins. The school has since then grown tremendously and now with over 402 students and its own school purpose built-building is one of the leading Pakistani Community Schools in the UAE.

Fujairah Academy is a fee paying school for boys and girls from 3.5-18 years of age. There are currently approximately 400 pupils, with 120 in the Senior Section. Entry is by interview with parents and children.

[edit] Travel

Travel in and around Fujairah and the surrounding towns of Khor Fakkan, Kalba and Masafi has been made easy by the development of modern highways over the last 30 years, since gaining independence in 1971. Highways are funded by the Federal Government directly, and contracts are tendered centrally. This safeguards the quality and delivery of the contracts and prevents any corruption from damaging the construction. Highways are vital due to the unavailability of any other means of transport. There are some buses in Fujairah but not for travel; they are for schools, colleges and some companies or they come from other cities. There are no railways in Fujairah. As in America, the car and the truck are the king and most daily activities can become impractical, if not impossible, without one.

Newcomers and tourists, therefore must take advantage of the local taxi system. There are numerous taxis plying the streets at any given time, day and night. There is no central booking system for private companies, (but the government is planning to apply this system.) The only way to hail a taxi is to stand by the roadside and flag one down. There isn't normally a problem and there will be at least one taxi, if not more, immediately available for hire. Fares within the city are fixed at AED 4 per journey, which equates to approximately 80 cents (USD) or 50 pence (GBP). Destinations which are slightly outside the main city, such as the Beach Motel, Fujairah Hospital and the Jail attract a higher fare of AED 6. It is wise to negotiate the fare before boarding the taxi, as the drivers have a tendency to inflate the prices randomly. However, it must be stressed that most taxis are relatively clean and offer good value for money, when compared to their western counterparts.

[edit] Living in Fujairah

Life in this Emirate is quite simple. It is ruled by a well educated Shaikh and therefore is not lumbered with archaic interpretations of the Shariah. Common sense normally prevails, but as with anywhere, it is advisable to keep on the right side of the law. On some Fridays, one can still witness lashes meted out for minor offences, such as being drunk in public, with the unfortunate victims usually from the poorer segments of society. Punishments such as these are delivered outside the main court, located next to Fujairah Tower, in the centre of the city.

Drinking alcohol is allowed in designated hotels and, as of 2000, a few bars. Until 1998, gambling in the form of slot machines (one arm bandits) was allowed in certain hotels, but personal petitions by locals to the Shaikh outlawed the activity. It transpired that some unlucky players were losing their entire monthly wages on the slots, leaving nothing for the upkeep of their families. The petition was taken to the Shaikh's wife, who then influenced her husband.

At night, there is quite a lot to keep one amused. Fujairah is one of the safest cities in the UAE. Cinemas are generally open till late and de-sexualised versions of the Hollywood blockbusters are normally being shown. It is very amusing to watch movies, which after editing can run for a little over an hour. It is interesting to note that the Hindi cinemas are not constrained by the censors because they are not as raunchy as Hollywood productions, even though the trend is moving that way. It is noticeable that most of the cinema-goers are male youths.

Groups of local (Emirati) youths tend to socialise together on the streets and cafes or outside games arcades, cinemas and mini malls. It will be unusual to see females in these groups as Emirati society is quite segregated. Large groups tend to be boisterous and will play up if given the chance. As with groups of youngsters anywhere, it is best to steer clear to avoid trouble, although serious incidents are rare.

On the weekends, many Fujairah residents travel to Dubai, to shop, and into the wadis means valley surrounding the Emirate on camping and hiking trips. There is also a weekly invasion of west coast residents trying to get away from the stifling heat of the desert. Watersports are very popular amongst the youth - jetskiing, windsurfing and waterskiing being the top three.

[edit] The Flag of Fujairah

From 1902 to 1975 the flag of Fujairah was plain red, but shortly after he came to power, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed al Sharqi abolished the red flag and adopted, instead, the Federal flag for Fujairah.