The east coast, one stretch at a time.

Three stretches, three different days

People say “the east coast” as if it were one place. By road it is a single strip with the Hajar Mountains behind it, but a day in the south feels nothing like a day in the north, and the choice is worth making before you book.

Kalba, in the south, is quiet and green at its edge. It has a protected mangrove reserve, one of the oldest in the region, and a town that does not get many coaches. It suits birdwatchers, school science trips and groups who like to be somewhere nobody else is.

Fujairah, in the middle, is the heritage day. A fort and a heritage village in the city, mosques and old watchtowers up and down the road, and a working port. It suits cultural groups, schools studying local history, and anyone who wants a day with a clear story.

Dibba and Al Aqah, in the north, are the beach day. This is where people come for clear water, a snorkel and a long seaside lunch. It suits families, company away days and sports clubs.

Which road over the mountains

Almost every trip from Dubai or Sharjah crosses the mountains by one of a few roads, and the one the driver picks depends on where you are heading and the traffic that day. Through Masafi is the usual way to Fujairah and the north. For Kalba, groups often come over from Sharjah.

It is fine, and often fun, to go over one road and come back by another. That is a conversation to have with us when you plan the pick-up times, because a loop adds a little to the day and changes where you stop for coffee. Our Fujairah and east coast page explains how the coast is split across emirates and what that means for planning.

A timed sample day: Fujairah to Dibba

This one runs south to north, heritage in the morning and the beach in the afternoon. Hours are set by each venue, so check before you commit, and book boat and snorkel trips directly.

• 06:30, pick-up in Dubai, a long first leg with one short stop
• 08:45, coffee at the Masafi area, or at a stop of your choice
• 09:30, Fujairah Fort and the heritage village, about 75 minutes unhurried
• 11:15, Al Bidyah Mosque, with time to change or cover up, and an eye on prayer times
• 12:30, lunch near Al Aqah, a table booked ahead for groups of 20 or more
• 13:45, beach time, or a snorkel trip to Snoopy Island with a licensed operator
• 15:45, a short drive to Dibba and a walk by the water
• 16:30, depart for Dubai, with a rest stop on the road
• 19:00, back in Dubai, an hour later than you might hope, because the road home is the longest part

If that is too much driving for your group, cut Dibba and finish at the beach.

The Kalba morning, if you prefer it

A different day, built around the mangroves. Leave Sharjah at 07:00 so the group reaches Kalba around 08:45 or 09:00, when the light is good and the mangrove walk or kayak trip is cool. Mangrove tours are run by local operators, so book first and send us the slot.

After the water, drive up to Fujairah for lunch and one heritage stop, and be back on the road by 14:30. The day is deliberately light. Schools and nature clubs get more from the mangrove than from a list of sights.

Weather, water and modest dress

Winter, from November to March, is the ideal season: mornings are cool and the water is comfortable. From June to September the coast is hotter and more humid than Dubai, so go early, take lunch indoors and leave before the afternoon heat peaks.

Heavy winter rain fills the wadis fast, and valley roads can close for a while. If official warnings make the trip unsafe, we call you and offer a later start or another date.

Mosques and heritage sites ask for modest clothes. Tell the group ahead of time, and bring a cover-up for the water too, because the sun on the road home is stronger than people expect.

Choosing the vehicle

For up to 13 people, a 13-seater van is the economical choice. A Sprinter is the more comfortable one for up to 16, and worth the extra on a four-hour road day. For 17 to 30, take a 30-seater. For larger groups, a 35-seater or 50-seater coach has under-floor holds for beach bags and cool boxes.

Some beach car parks and heritage sites are tight for a full-size coach, so we check every stop when we quote. If the group is big and the plan includes narrow stops, we may suggest two smaller vehicles.

What it costs

Our Dubai to Fujairah transfer starts from AED 550 one way for a 14-seater van, against a typical market range of AED 600 to 850 for the same journey. A day trip with the driver waiting is quoted for your route and hours, with extra stops and waiting shown before you confirm.

Example: 12 people going one way in a 14-seater. From AED 550 works out at about AED 46 a head for the vehicle, before any extra stops.

Example: 40 people, one day. That needs a 50-seater coach, quoted for the route and the hours, with the stops checked for coach parking first.

Our Dubai to Fujairah by bus guide covers the public service and when it stops making sense for a group, and the Dubai to Fujairah transfer page has the point-to-point detail. For the one town that deserves its own day, read the Khor Fakkan day trip.

Booking

Send the date, headcount, pick-up point and the stretch of coast you prefer through the booking form, or write to info@emiratesbushire.com. Weekends from October to April book up first, so give us two to four weeks for those dates.

Related: Dubai to Fujairah & Khor Fakkan · Bus rental Fujairah · Dubai to Fujairah by bus · Khor Fakkan day trip · Bus size guide · Get a quote

Keep reading

• Dubai to Fujairah & Khor Fakkan: East-coast day trips by bus: Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and Al Bidyah, with your own driver all day.
• Bus rental Fujairah: Vans, minibuses and coaches with drivers for Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, Kalba, Dibba and the resorts on the Gulf of Oman.
• Ras Al Khaimah group day: Heritage, coast or mountain? Three shapes for a Ras Al Khaimah group day, and a timed heritage-and-coast plan that leaves Jebel Jais for another day.
• Dubai to Fujairah by bus: The RTA intercity bus from Dubai to Fujairah: where it leaves, roughly what it costs, how long it takes, and when a private bus suits a group better.
• Khor Fakkan day trip: A group day in Khor Fakkan, planned hour by hour: the mountain road, the waterfront, the hills behind the town and the drive home.
• Abu Dhabi day trip by coach: Your own coach for a group day in Abu Dhabi: the Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan, the Louvre or Yas Island.