Khor Fakkan & Kalba

Khor Fakkan and Kalba are Sharjah's enclaves on the east coast, on the Gulf of Oman. The Hajar Mountains and Fujairah separate them from the rest of Sharjah, and for a visitor it is simply the other side of the country: mountains run down to the sea, the water is clearer and cooler and there are fewer people.

Why go

Khor Fakkan has a city beach about 4 km long, free and one of the best public beaches in the country. Above the town a mountain road climbs to the Al Suhub viewpoint, about 580 m up; below are a man-made waterfall and amphitheatre, both opened in 2020. Further south, in Kalba, is the wide, quiet Kalba Beach with very clear water, where turtles are sometimes seen near the shore.

How to get there

A mountain road with tunnels runs from Sharjah to Khor Fakkan — about an hour and a half by car; from Dubai it is 1.5–2 hours. A rental car or an east coast tour is the easiest option.