Khor Fakkan, on the UAE’s east coast, is a great place for a getaway when you need a change of scenery.
The seaside town in the emirate of Sharjah is surrounded by the emirate of Fujairah and has plenty to see and do, from family-friendly activities to hiking trails and historical discoveries.
Sitting on the Gulf of Oman, the Sharjah enclave boasts cooling winds, golden shorelines and a rugged Hajar mountain backdrop.
Here are ten things to do on your next visit.
1. Khor Fakkan Waterfalls
This man-made waterfall towers 45 metres high on a natural cliff overlooking the town's Corniche. Its thundering waterways carved out of the rocks makes for a worthy stopping point on any visit to the town. There are a few cafes and ample parking spaces nearby, and its right next to Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre – a sprawling Roman-inspired structure that’s become something of a local landmark. It’s also worth visiting the falls in the evening when strategically placed lighting illuminates the cascading water.
2. Al Rafisah Dam
Get out on the water at Al Rasifah Dam just off the Sharjah-Khor Fakkan highway. Originally built in the 1980s, the dam has recently been upgraded and has a visitors' centre, a rest area and a whole host of watersports on offer. Go kayaking, head out on a pedalo or spin around the dam on a doughnut boat. It’s also a great place to enjoy a picnic with picturesque views of the sandstone mountain range and bright blue reservoir.
3. Shees Park
Shees Park is a relatively new addition to Khor Fakkan, having opened in 2020 and is a great place to stop off on a road trip, or to take the family to during the cooler months. Nestled among the Hajar Mountains, it is spread over 11,000 square metres and has a 25-metre-tall waterfall, an artificial lake, play areas, barbecue spots, an open-air amphitheatre and 500 metres of mountain walkways leading visitors to a main viewing deck with epic vistas.
4. Al Rabi Tower
Perched on a hill overlooking Khor Fakkan town is Al Rabi Tower. This stone structure was built in 1915 as part of the town’s defence network of watchtowers. Today, it’s also the start of a picturesque hiking trail. Winding through the hills, this 5.3km trail is well-marked and zigzags up to a 395-metre summit with fantastic views. Post-hike, head to The View by Wave — a boho-chic cafe with barista-art coffees and light bites served with amazing views from the outdoor terrace.
5. Al Suhub Rest House
Looking like it's straight out of a sci-fi film, the flying-saucer-shaped Al Suhub Rest House is about a 30-minute drive from Khor Fakkan town. Perched high on a hillside, it’s a great place to go for ample views of the destination's mountains and coastlines. There's also service amenities and Fen Cafe & Restaurant, which serves up tasty bites alongside panoramic vistas.
6. Najd Al Maqsar Heritage Village
The restored village of Najd Al Maqsar offers a glimpse into life in a different era. Nestled on the slopes of the Hajar Mountains, it is made up of 13 mud and stone houses dating back centuries. Al Maqsar Tower is the village's 300-year-old fortress, perched atop the highest peak and constructed as part of Khor Fakkan’s watchtower defence network. Restoration work is ongoing at the village, with plans to turn the buildings into heritage hotel units and to add a terrace on the fort to make the most of its views over the surrounding valley. Visitors will soon be able to check-in for the night at this historical destination which will operate as a new retreat by The Sharjah Collection - the same hotel group that operates the Kingfisher, Al Faya and Al Badayer Retreats as well as Sharjah's luxury glamping site Moon.
7. Khor Fakkan Beach
As a seaside town, Khor Fakkan is famed for its golden shorelines and Khor Fakkan Beach is one of the town's highlights. Having recently been redeveloped, the 2.5km shoreline and corniche now includes an inflatable water play area, various food trucks, fountains, a skate park, play parks and even a beach library. History buffs should head to the southern end of the palm-lined Corniche to see the triangular Portuguese Fort which dates back to 1635.
8. Souq Sharq
Step back in time with a visit to Khor Fakkan’s old souq, designed in the style of a traditional heritage village. Souq Sharq is the place to shop for spices, herbs, handicrafts and more in this cluster of restored buildings. On-site there's also a traditional crafts museums that sheds more light on what life was like in the region in years gone by, and entrance is free.
9. Shark Island
A short boat ride away from Khor Fakkan bay's south-eastern side is Shark Island, a small rocky isle that’s a great place to visit for a day of beachside chilling. Huge shoals of coral surrounding the island make it a fantastic snorkelling destination and the island is also popular with scuba divers who come to spot blacktip reef sharks and other marine life.
10. Hisn Khor Fakkan museum
Step back in time with a visit to Hisn Khor Fakkan museum. Designed to replicate the nearby fort, it opened in 2019 and houses a fantastic collection of artefacts. Step inside the fortress-like building to see exhibits, photographs and 3D models that narrate important parts of Sharjah's rich east coast history. There are also treasures that archaeologists have unearthed in Khof Fakkan and the surrounding areas, including carvings depicting people hunting or dancing, walking or riding on horseback, and others of animals that would have been common in this region.
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Super Rugby play-offs
Quarter-finals
- Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
- Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
- Lions 23, Sharks 21
- Chiefs 17, Stormers 11
Semi-finals
Saturday, July 29
- Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
- Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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THREE
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
How Voiss turns words to speech
The device has a screen reader or software that monitors what happens on the screen
The screen reader sends the text to the speech synthesiser
This converts to audio whatever it receives from screen reader, so the person can hear what is happening on the screen
A VOISS computer costs between $200 and $250 depending on memory card capacity that ranges from 32GB to 128GB
The speech synthesisers VOISS develops are free
Subsequent computer versions will include improvements such as wireless keyboards
Arabic voice in affordable talking computer to be added next year to English, Portuguese, and Spanish synthesiser
Partnerships planned during Expo 2020 Dubai to add more languages
At least 2.2 billion people globally have a vision impairment or blindness
More than 90 per cent live in developing countries
The Long-term aim of VOISS to reach the technology to people in poor countries with workshops that teach them to build their own device
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
