Fujairah, essentially a city state, is one of the smaller Emirates, covering just 440 square miles (1,150 sq km), which represents less than two hundredths of the land mass of the UAE. It's also sparesely inhabited, with just 130,000 people. Unlike the other Emirates, Fujairah is located in the Gulf of Oman, it is mountainous rather than desert-like, and its inhabitants farm the land, although the economy is heavily dependent on subsidies from Abu Dhabi. To spur economic activity, the emirate created a free-trade zone similar to that of Dubai.
Tourism, too, helps the Emirate's economy. Fujayrah benefits from elegant beaches, good diving locations and a number of historical sites, including Fujairah Fort, a 360-year-old structure on a hill surrounding date gardens. British bombardments damaged the fort in the 20th century, but it has been restored.
Al Fujayrah was once part of another Emirate, Sharjah. It took its independence from Sharjah in 1952. Since 1974, Al Fujayrah has been ruled by Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, who rules over the Emirate autocratically. The emirate is dominated by the al-Sharqi tribe.
Fujayrah is seldom written about in the West. In 2007, Austin Considine, writing for The Times, described the way into the emirate from Dubai: "The hour-and-a-half drive east of Dubai takes you through the peaks and foothills of the Hajar Mountains, which run southeast from the tip of the Omani-controlled Musandam Peninsula at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and parallels the emirates’ east coast. Clusters of roadside vendors flank the roads, dealing everything from ceramics and fresh fruit to rugs depicting iconic images of the emirates’ ruling class. Just on the other side, wedged between the mountains and the sea, lie some of the country’s most beautiful beaches, clearest waters and best spots for diving and snorkeling."
The emirate is richer in resorts than press coverage.