The first phase of a plan to transform Fujairah’s Umbrella Beach is slated for completion this year. Courtesy Umbrella Beach
The first phase of a plan to transform Fujairah’s Umbrella Beach is slated for completion this year. Courtesy Umbrella Beach
The first phase of a plan to transform Fujairah’s Umbrella Beach is slated for completion this year. Courtesy Umbrella Beach
The first phase of a plan to transform Fujairah’s Umbrella Beach is slated for completion this year. Courtesy Umbrella Beach

Fujairah's Umbrella Beach: shops, restaurants and cinema to open as part of transformation


Selina Denman
  • English
  • Arabic

The first phase of a project that will transform Fujairah’s Umbrella Beach is slated for completion this year.

The ambitious plan to enhance the emirate’s Al Faseel beach, better known as Umbrella Beach because of its multicoloured shelter and barbecue areas, will initially include the addition of 15 shopfronts.

This will be followed-up with restaurants and other tourist-friendly attractions, including a drive-in cinema, climbing wall, jogging tracks, and basketball and volleyball courts, along with recreational spaces for children and adults. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a range of watersports, including jet-skiing and parasailing.

Fujairah’s tourism offering remains relatively underdeveloped, in spite of its unspoilt coastline, dramatic mountainous topography and prime diving sites. The emirate is home to a handful of five-star hotels, largely clustered around Al Aqah Beach, but efforts are under way to upgrade some of its beaches. Next on the agenda is an enhancement of Fujairah Corniche.

“As one of the UAE’s smaller emirates, Fujairah is frequently overlooked by tourists and visitors to the country,” says Umbrella Beach project manager Abdullah Taleb. “The Umbrella Beach project plans to rectify this by drawing attention to Fujairah’s vast tourism potential, including its striking modernity, impressive work ethic and breathtaking natural beauty.

Taleb says the aim of these improvements is to show the world that “tourism in the UAE is about more than just Dubai and Abu Dhabi”.

“Umbrella Beach will have something for everyone, regardless of age, nationality or background. Along with local visitors from Fujairah and the next-door emirate of Sharjah, we hope to draw tourists from all over the region – and the world.”

Profile Periscope Media

Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)

Launch year: 2020

Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021

Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year

Investors: Co-founders

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

Liverpool's all-time goalscorers

Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228

The%20Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Movie
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Aaron%20Horvath%20and%20Michael%20Jelenic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Pratt%2C%20Anya%20Taylor-Joy%2C%20Charlie%20Day%2C%20Jack%20Black%2C%20Seth%20Rogen%20and%20Keegan-Michael%20Key%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE BIO

Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13 

Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier

Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife 

What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents. 

Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.

South Africa's T20 squad

Duminy (c), Behardien, Dala, De Villiers, Hendricks, Jonker, Klaasen (wkt), Miller, Morris, Paterson, Phangiso, Phehlukwayo, Shamsi, Smuts.

The bio

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France

Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines

Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.

Favourite Author: My father for sure

Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst

Updated: July 27, 2021, 10:03 AM