As the UAE celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Union, many expatriates living in Fujairah will make the best of their vacation time and enjoy the best of what the emirate has to offer. But how much do we know about the history of the emirate and what it was like in 1971, when the Union was first announced?
Most of us expatriates arrived here many years after that historic day, but some were here at that moment and experienced firsthand the old Fujairah and its subsequent transformation into the contemporary emirate complete with modern infrastructure, buildings and amenities.
One of those very few people is still living and working here and in a unique position of seeing Fujairah through a historical panoramic view.
When the Union was first declared on the 2nd of December 1971, Fatima Behroozian, was a mere young bride from Iran, just arriving in the UAE and on her first visit to Fujairah, with her Emirati husband of Iranian heritage, Fujairah entrepreneur, Abdul Ghafoor Behroozian.
Fatima sat down with Fujairah Observer to recall some of her first memories and impressions of Fujairah and the changes she witnessed over the years.
Fujairah Observer: Why and how did you come to Fujairah at that particular time?
Fatima Behroozian: I was married in August of 1971 and a month later I moved to Dubai, where my husband was working at the time. A couple of months later my husband thought it was time to make, what was at that time, the long journey to Fujairah where he was born and where his family lives.
FO: What do you remember of that journey and what were your first impressions of Fujairah at the time?
FB: Well, everyone probably knows there were no proper roads at the time and the journey can only be made with a Range Rover. The route from Dubai to Al-Dhaid was just sand dunes and from then on it was rocky and gravel tracks and the whole journey took about 6 to 7 hours.
When we first entered Fujairah city, my husband said “We’re here; this is Fujairah” to which I replied in amazement “This is Fujairah?” My husband use to go on about Fujairah and he loved it just the way it was then. It was not what I expected at first with very few buildings or structures of any kind. Most houses where small and with only palm trunks on the roofs.
Then we went in further and arrived at the beach and began to realize why Abdul Ghafour loved it so much; the simple and wild nature of the place was just beautiful. I am a nature person and straight away I fell in love with the nature of Fujairah, especially the sea and mountain areas which were full of wild life at the time.
The beach was full of seagulls, crabs and tadpoles, among other things, and there were no ships or pollution...it was special.
FO: How about the local people at the time; what was your first impression of them?
FB: The city was sparsely populated at the time because most people still did not make the move to the city and were still living in their villages along the coast and in the mountainous areas. The few people we met were very respectful and kind and I was struck by that; it made an impression on me.
FO: That was just a visit, you went back to Dubai. When did you move out here permanently?
FB: We built the family house in 1976, but we continued to live in Dubai and later London and did not take the decision to finally settle in Fujairah until 1986 when the Sheikh Hamad School was built and we thought it was time. We left our 14 year old daughter in London to continue her education there and have live here ever since.
FO: You’ve had the opportunity to see the old Fujairah and how it has turned out 40 years later; what are your thoughts on things then and now?
When I first came here there was almost nothing, no infrastructure, buildings or services of any kind so as you can imagine we have come such a long way since and it is both inevitable and welcome. As an environmentalist, however, I do have lots of concerns and feel very sad at how things have changed to the worst.
The Fujairah I knew and loved was beautiful in its unique nature 40 years on I see all this pollution in the air and sea and how we’re destroying the mountains and it’s all just heartbreaking. Even the fishing methods have become too irresponsible and are harming the fish population and I see too many trees dying and removed and it goes on and on.
As I said, I’m happy to see all new developments in the emirate such as the malls and major projects which are important for the economy, but at what price?
FO: What of the people living in Fujairah? What is our role in preserving the environment?
FB: We have an important role especially in raising awareness and doing our part in not harming our environment. I live by the beach and I see the consequence of people not being environmentally responsible when they leave their litter on the beach and the tide takes out to sea; you should see the rubbish washing up on the beach in the morning and some of the fish trapped and killed because of it; it’s really sad.
FO: Finally, what about you? This has been your home for a long time; will it continue to be so?
FB: Yes, of course, this is our home and we will continue to live here. The kids have now grown up and are doing their own thing, but to them this will always be home. I have my own business to keep me very busy and I really love doing what I do and living here.
Fuad Mohammed Ali
