Built around 1830, this small, well-preserved fort is tucked deep into the jagged Hajar Mountains near the village of Al Hayl, about 13km southwest of Fujairah. Constructed from mud-brick and plaster, it's a good example of traditional architecture. There's not much inside, but the surrounding views of the palm-speckled valley backed by mountains – best seen when the sun is low – make it worth a visit. There’s usually a caretaker to show you around (tip appreciated).

To get there (usually possible without 4WD), turn south off Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hwy near the Fujairah City Centre mall and follow the signs.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Fujairah City attractions

1. Sheikh Zayed Mosque

6.79 MILES

Fujairah’s grand mosque is the second largest in the UAE, after the one in Abu Dhabi. Festooned with six 100m-high minarets, the white granite and marble…

2. Fujairah Fort

7.62 MILES

Enter the double-turret gate of the fort compound with its vestiges of Fujairah's old village and spy this dollhouse of a fort, draped over a rocky mound…

3. Fujairah Museum

7.7 MILES

This old-school local-history museum holds a wealth of significant archaeological finds from local sites at Badiyah, Dibba and Qidfa inside its two ornate…

5. Corniche

20.18 MILES

Khor Fakkan's long corniche, meandering for several kilometres from the port to the Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort, is flanked by well-tended gardens with…

6. Hatta Heritage Village

21 MILES

This sprawling village recreates the Hatta of yore. It's housed in the ruler’s restored historic fort with a majlis (reception room), a traditional…

7. Hatta Dam

21.84 MILES

Snuggled between craggy mountain peaks which tumble straight down to the shore, this reservoir, built in the 1990s, is the main reason for a Hatta trip…

8. Founding Fathers Mural

21.9 MILES

This huge mural, painted as part of the Dubai Street Museum Project, encompasses the entire outer wall of the Hatta Dam, which you pass by on the road up…