Khor Fakkan (sometimes written as
'Khawr Fakkan') is geographically situated within the Emirate of
Fujairah on the East coast of the United Arab Emirates on the Gulf
of Oman, but is actually an isolated enclave belonging to the Emirate
of Sharjah. It is the site of a shallow draught port and oil refining
facilities.
History
In 1580 the Venetian jeweller Gasparo Balbi noted "Chorf"
in a list of places on the east coast of the UAE, which is considered
by historians to indicate Khor Fakkan. The Portuguese built a fort
at Khor Fakkan, which was a ruin by 1666.
This fort and another one is mentioned
in the log book of the Dutch vessel the Meerkat, which describes
"Gorfacan" as place on a small bay, with about 200 small
houses built from date branches, near the beach. It refers to a
triangular Portuguese fortress on the northern side, in ruins, and
a fortress on a hill on the southern side, also in ruins, without
garrison or artillery. As well as date palms, the Meerkat's log
also mentions fig trees, melons, watermelons and myrrh. It notes
several wells with "good and fresh water" used for irrigation.
One reason suggested for the ruinous
state of the forts is an invasion by the Persian navy, under the
control of Omani Sheikh Muhammad Suhari, in 1623. Suhari, facing
a Portuguese counter-attack, withdrew to the Portuguese forts, including
that of Khor Fakkan. When the Persians were expelled, the Portuguese
commander Ruy Freire urged the people of Khor Fakkan to remain loyal
to the Portuguese crown, and established a Portuguese customs office
as well.
In 1737, long after the Portuguese had
been expelled from Arabia, the Persians again invaded Khor Fakkan,
with the help of the Dutch, during their intervention in the Omani
civil war. In 1765 Khor Fakkan belonged to a sheikh of the Qawasim,
according to the German traveller Carsten Niebuhr, just as it does
to this day.
Archaeology
Khor Fakkan has a long history of human settlement. Excavations
by a team from the Sharjah Archaeological Museum have identified
34 graves and a settlement belonging to the early-mid second millennium
BC. These are clustered on rock outcrops overlooking the harbour.
One site of interest is the Rifaisa
Dam, in the mountains of Khor Fakkan. This is believed to have been
built over a village, and when the water is very still, the tops
of the old houses are still visible.
Tourism
Khor Fakkan is a popular tourism spot, surrounded with huge mountains
and attractive beaches. Its most famous hotel is the Oceanic. It
also features coral outcrops suitable for diving and snorkelling.
Tourism is somewhat held back by Sharjah's ban on alcohol.
The fish, fruit and vegetable souq is
located at the southern end of the corniche.
Al Wurrayah Falls is reachable by four-wheel-drive
around 4.5km north of the Oceanic hotel. |
