Dhadna, Fujairah

Dhadna is a village in the emirate of Fujairah set against the Al Hajar Mountains. It is alternatively known as ‘Dadna’ and is home to the renowned Dhadna Beach in Dubai. Dhadna is made up of mountainous terrain and it is adjacent to the coastal side.

Made up of previously built villas and low-rise buildings, the town has a few restaurants, government schools, grocery stores and farms. The area is popular amongst tourists for its proximity to various resorts and abundance of rugged mountains and agricultural sites.

The economy of Dhadna is largely dependent on agriculture and fishing, since it has many farms as well as the sea nearby, while tourism also plays an important role.

• Village in the emirate of Fujairah
• Also known as ‘Dadna’
• Rugaylat Road (E99) runs through the village
• Houses the infamous Dhadna Beach
• Consists of farms and agricultural sites
• Best-known as a tourist destination

A site for the farms of many of the UAE’s royal families, Dhadna attract many tourists during the holidays. Hajar Mountains and the Dhadna Beach are a popular tourist spot in the UAE.

Points of interests in the community include:

• Presence of the Dhadna Beach
• Easy access to nearby resorts and hotels
• Scenic views of Al Hajar Mountains

Properties in Dhadna include:

• Villas
• Shops

The villas are owned by the locals in the community, many of which are rented out to the tourists. Shops are available for both rent and sale and can be used to open restaurants, cafes or other retail outlets.

The location of Dhadna on the east coast renders it close to many of the top resorts in the UAE. By driving south, you can reach these hotels and resorts:

• Mirage Hotel Al Aqah – 3-star hotel
• Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa – 5-star resort
• Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort – 5-star resort
• InterContinental Fujairah Resort – 5-star hotel
• Miramar Al Aqah – 5-star resort
• Sandy Beach Hotel & Resort – 4-star resort

 Hotels on the northern route from Dhadna include:

• Mirage Bab Al Bahr Hotel and Resort – 4-star resort
• Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort – 5-star resort
• Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah – 5-star resort

You can reach all of these hotels in Fujairah by driving from 10 to 20 minutes. Many of these are also amongst the best resorts in Fujairah and attract a number of local and international tourists through out the year.

Most of the community is abundant, hence provide ample open spaces for parking.

For commuting in and around Dhadna, residents have to rely on their cars, as there is no means of public transport available in proximity. The E99 highway that passes through all the communities in Fujairah can be used for accessing other parts of the emirate.

Grocery shopping can be done with ease from many of the local supermarkets in Dhadna. Most of these stock up on all sorts of essentials, including kitchenware, clothing, home improvement products and other items.

A few of these supermarkets include:

• Ahad Al Madina
• Al Dya Grocery Store
• Ayoob Supermarket
• Al Masrour Supermarket
• Mohammed Khameis Grocery
• Supermarket Fereejnah

Muslims can pray in any of the mosques in Dhadna, such as:

• Al Sadiq Masjid
• Saad Bin Ubaid Masjid
• Khalifa Bin Udai Mosque
• Rabia Bin Amer Mosque

Christians can head over to Good Shepherd AG Tamil Church Fujairah, which is minutes away in Dibba Al Fujairah.

There are many government and a few private schools near Dhadna, such as:

• Yanabee Al Marifa Private School – Dibba
• Al Marifa Girls Secondary School – Dibba
• Al Yaqeen Private School – 132a, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Roadmixed
• Hamad Bin Abdullah Al Sharqi Secondary School – Dibba
• Modern Indian School Dibba – 2, Wasett Street, Al Khazan, Dibba
• Anas Ibn Al-Nadr School for Basic & Secondary Education – 635a, Dibba – Khor Fakkan Road

You can reach all of these within a drive of 15 to 25 minutes. Modern Indian School follows the curriculum of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and offers classes from Junior Kindergarten till Grade 12.

For medical treatment, there is Dadna Health Centre within the community that provides different kinds of laboratory exams, school health services, vaccinations, pregnancy and childcare and preventive services for different kinds of diseases.

By driving outside the area, you can reach other clinics and hospitals near Dhadna, including:

• Dibba Hospital – Dibba
• Al Sharq Medical Centre – Dibba
• Dibba Al Hisn Health Care Centre – Al Akd Al Fareed Street
• Khorfakkan Hospital – Khorfakkan Road

Dibba Hospital, Al Sharq Medical Centre and Dibba Al Hisn Health Care Centre are reachable within 22 minutes, while Khorfakkan Hospital is 30 minutes away. Dibba Hospital and Al Sharq Hospital are amongst the best hospitals in Fujairah. Khorfakkan Hospital, which is a government hospital, has received accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI) after a rigorous assessment process.

Immediately neighbouring Dhadna to the south is Al Aqah, which is best known for housing a number of resorts and the Al Aqah Beach. Going further south, you will come across Sharm, Al Bidya and Zubara before finally reaching Khorfakkan, which falls under the jurisdiction of Sharjah emirate. Khorfakkan shares a border with Mirbah, a coastal district home to the community mall Souq Extra.

By taking a drive towards the north on the E99 highway, you can reach Suwayfah, located alongside the Gulf of Oman. It consists of Mina Al Fajer, a mixed-use development spanning 777,025 sq. ft. Located off Rugaylat Road (E99), the waterfront residential project is home to Mountain Villas, a marina, apartment buildings and the 5-star Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort.

From Suwayfah, you can turn towards the left on Rugaylat Road (E99), you can reach Dibba Al Fujairah, which borders Dibba Oman. Dibba Al Fujairah is a large area, made up of apartments, villas, an industrial area and leisure spots.

There are no malls within the village or in proximity, which is why residents have to drive for around 20 minutes to reach Dibba China Mart, the closest option for a mall. You can access Dibba China Mart by driving towards the northern side on Rugaylat Road (E99).

Al Safeer Centre is 27 minutes away in Khorfakkan, a town under the jurisdiction of Sharjah.

Most of the popular malls in Fujairah, such as Century Mall and City Centre Fujairah are more than 40 minutes away through the E99 highway.

Within the community, you will find a number of restaurants that offer food under affordable pricing.

• Rukn Al Riyadh Restaurant 
• Hadiya Restaurant
• Rahina Restaurant 
• Little Indian Restaurant
• Chocolate Dose Café Dhadna

Rukn Al Riyadh Restaurant, Hadiya Restaurant and Rahina Restaurant offer Middle Eastern and Arabic items while Little Indian Restaurant is a choice for Indian cuisine, primarily Indian street food. Chocolate Dose Café Dhadna is a local café, from where you can get caffeinated beverages and different kinds of snacks.

The neighbouring Al Aqah community consists of many eateries too, such as:

• Waves
• Estacoza Seafood
• Subway

Waves is located in Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa and offers a vast range of items, ranging from Middle Eastern to Asian, American, Indian and dessert items too. The restaurant is known for its romantic ambience and delicious steak with views of the beach.

Estacoza Seafood Restaurant serves Egyptian seafood whereas Subway is an American fast food restaurant, notorious for its marine sandwiches.

For some high-end cafes, you can head over to the hotels and resorts in proximity, where you can indulge in breakfast, tea, coffee and other café items amidst a chic atmosphere. Some of these nearby cafes are:

• Coffee Planet – Radisson Blu Resort
• Al Moltaqa – Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort
• Tea & Dates Lobby Lounge – Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort

The presence of these nearby resorts and hotels provides easy access to a few fine dining restaurants near Dhadna, such as:

• Taste – Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort
• Al Nokhada – Radisson Blu Resort
• Sensasia – Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort

Al Nokhada is an Arabian restaurant while Taste deals in Thai and Indian cuisines. At Sensasia, you can order from Thai, Japanese, Indonesian and Chinese cuisines. It ranks as one of the best restaurants in Fujairah and serves some of the most delicious wasabi pawns in the emirate.

Many of the aforementioned hotels and resorts house a number of bars and lounges, hence offering nightlife options near Dhadna. Some of these include:

• Baywatch Beach Bar – Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort
• Bahari Bar & Grill – Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort
• Horizon Lobby Lounge & Bar – InterContinental Hotel & Resorts
• Ocean View Bar – Sandy Beach Hotel & Resort

The community is home to Dhadna Beach, which is a popular camping site for tourists too. Some other beaches near Dhadna include:

• Al Aqah Beach
• Sambraid Beach
• Dibba Beach

The adjacent Al Aqah community houses the popular Al Aqah Beach. Here, you can enjoy water sports such as water-skiing, jet-skiing, surfing, snorkelling, scuba diving along with beach camping too. In fact, Al Aqah Beach is ranked as amongst the top camping spots in the UAE. Many of the popular hotels are situated near to it.

By taking a 15-minute drive towards the northern side, you can reach Sambraid Beach, another well-known family-friendly beach. The beach shares border with Sambraid Park, further proving ideal for families.

Dibba Beach is counted as one of Fujairah’s best beaches. Open 24 hours a day, the beach consists of a dedicated camping site namely the Dibba Camping Area. The beach is popular for hosting picnics and barbecue parties too.

The emirate of Fujairah is bustling with a number of activities and leisure options, which can be reached by taking a drive outside the community.

Some of the notable landmarks near Dhadna are:

• Snoopy Island
• Al Bidyah Mosque
• Aqua Bounce Waterpark Fujairah

Snoopy Island is located at a 10-minute drive, around a hundred metres from the Sandy Beach Hotel in Al Aqah. It consists of three sections of rocks that rise up to create a unique shape to the outcrop. Here you can enjoy diving, kayaking, snorkelling, as well as eating the Snoopy’s Bar and Grill.

Al Bidyah Mosque is 11 minutes away in the Al Bidyah community. Dating back to the 15th century, Al Bidyah Mosque or Ottoman Mosque, as it is also known, is one of the oldest mosques in the United Arab Emirates. Covering an area of only 53 sq. m. the mosque has a walled rectangular courtyard for prayers while ablution (wudu) can be done thanks to the ancient water well nearby.

Aqua Bounce Waterpark Fujairah is 18 minutes away in Dibba Al Hosn. While there are plenty of water-based activities in the emirate, Aqua Bounce is the first bouncy waterpark in Fujairah. The water park is located in Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort and is suitable for ages 6 and above.

Since Dhadna enjoys a spot in the open areas of Fujairah, it is close to the Hajar Range and the wadis in the emirate too. Those interested can visit any of the wadis in Fujairah that can be reached by driving around the emirate.

As far as parks are concerned, they are located within a drive of 21 minutes or more. The closest options are Dibba Park in Dibba Al Hisn with Zubara Park and Lulayyah Park in Zubara community being the other two.

Fujairah is a well-known emirate for outdoor sports such as hiking that is available through many local tour agencies. You can go for any of the hiking trails in the UAE, such as the Wadi Tayyibah hike. It is the closest option especially if you are an amateur and wish to explore the natural pools, museums and scenic views of Fujairah.

A number of events take place in the nearby resorts and hotels from time to time. Those interested can find out more by contacting the concerned hotels or by visiting their websites. Moreover, tours and marathons also occur sporadically, for which you can register by visiting the concerned entities.

The community houses a farmhouse, namely The East Coast Tourism Farm House that is situated in the Valley of Hajar Mountains. It entertains all kinds of family, educational and company trips.

Dhadna is a place that is suitable for tourists who are exploring the emirate of Fujairah and are looking for short-term stays. However, the village does not boast of many facilities or does not consist of many properties for long-term living.

• 50-minute drive to the city of Fujairah
• Fujairah International Airport is 56 minutes away
• Sharjah city is reachable within 1 hour and 30 minutes
• The city of Dubai is 1 hour and 40 minutes away