1 SightS
b diyah Mosquea Mo Sque
( diyah; ba h7am-10pm) Located in the small
village of Badiyah (also spelt Bidyah and
Bidiya), around 20km south of Dibba on the
E99, this tiny mosque is thought to be the
oldest in the UAE (possibly dating back to
the early 15th century). It’s a simple struc-
ture, adorned with four pointed domes and
resting on an internal pillar. A sign says
that non-Muslims are not allowed to enter,
but the resident imam will not take offence
if you do catch a peek, as long as you are
modestly dressed; take off your shoes and
cover your head (women only). Behind the
mosque, up on a hill, is a pair of ruined
watchtowers. Walk up for superb 360-
degree views of the Hajar Mountains, the
gloriously blue ocean and a lush date-palm
plantation.f iday Marr KeT MarkeT
(Masafi; h8am-10pm) The road from Dubai
towards the coast is strangely desolate, a
dune landscape punctuated only by power
poles. However, a popular roadside attrac-
tion is Masafi’s Friday Market. Contrary to
its name, this strip of nearly identical stalls
is actually open daily. It’s a good place to
stock up on fresh fruit, particularly locally
grown bananas and mangoes; the wares on
sale are mainly restricted to rugs, pottery
and household goods.d bbai VillaGe
From Masafi, point the compass north and
cut through the dramatically rugged Hajar
Mountains to the sleepy fishing village of
Dibba. This is the northernmost point of
the 65km scenic East Coast highway to
Fujairah, hemmed in by the Hajars, shim-
mering beaches and the turquoise expanse
of the Gulf of Oman. The diving and snor-
kelling are still good here, despite the dam-
aging effects of a prolonged red tide.
Dibba is unique in that its territory is
shared by two emirates and the Sultanate
of Oman. The most interesting section is
the harbour in the Omani section – take
your passport if you want to cross the bor-
der. Here you can watch grizzled fishermen
haul in their catch, visit the fish and fresh
produce market and take a dhow trip to
unspoilt dive sites along the remote east-
ern coast of the Musandam Peninsula.Khor faKKan corniche b aeCh
( or Fakkan; kh c) Continuing south you’ll
soon arrive in Khor Fakkan, home to a
super busy container port. Still, the town
is not without its charms, especially along
the corniche, which extends for several
kilometres and is flanked by palm trees,
gardens, kiosks and a playground, making
it popular with families for picnics and
waterfront strolls.s eepinl G on The uae coasTIf you decide that one day is not enough on the East Coast, consider staying over-
night at one of the following places:
s ndy a beach hotel & resort (%09-244 5555; http://www.sandybm.com; d Dh500, ocean-
view d Dh625, 1-/2-bedroom chalet Dh700/900, apt Dh1200; Ws) At this expat favourite
near the Badiyah Mosque, lodging ranges from basic ocean-view rooms to small
cabins with private barbecues to a newer wing with sparkling, modern apartments
with balconies� On the downside the lunchtime buffet is overpriced and poor� Beach
access passes for nonguests cost Dh75�
h tel Jo al fujairah resort & spa (%04-204 3111; http://www.jalfujairahresort.ae; 6km south
of Dibba; d from Dh700; is) Zen minimalism meets Arabian hospitality at this
sprawling Japanese-owned outpost where you can open up the balcony door of your
oversized room to let in the ocean breezes�
l eridien al-e M aqah beach resort (%09-244 9000; http://www.lemeridien-alaqah.com;
d from Dh850; isc) Just north of the Sandy Beach Hotel, this upmarket resort does
everything to put you in the mood for a beach vacation� The balconied rooms give
you plenty of elbow space and overlook the lush gardens, private beach and ocean�
Dive, waterski, play volleyball or spend lazy days by the pool�d
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