The oldest known mosque still standing in the UAE: a small mud-brick and coral-stone masjid with four low domes on a single central pillar, at the foot of the Hajar hills in Al Bidya village on the Fujairah coast. Excavations dated it to between about 1450 and 1655, and a 2018 study of its coral blocks put its building at around 1599. It is still a working mosque for the village, holding only a few dozen worshippers, with two old watchtowers on the ridge behind it.
Step 2 of 8Next: Visiting rules↓Visiting rules
Visiting with respect
- It is a village masjid, not a museum: wait outside while salah is under way.
- Speak softly inside; the prayer hall is tiny and sound carries.
- Do not photograph worshippers, and ask before taking pictures inside.
Hours and rules can change for festivals and services. Check the official site on the day.
Step 3 of 8Next: Getting there↓The route, stop by stop
The whole route first. Tap any stop and the map zooms to just that place.
Route
Stops
Dubai to Fujairah → Fujairah city to Al Bidya → Al Bidya Mosque → Watchtowers on the ridge · Directions in Google Maps ↗
- 1RTA intercity bus E700 to Fujairah city, about 2–2.5 hours. Sources give AED 25 or AED 30 one way and differ on the Dubai stop (Union or Etisalat by e& metro); check the RTA journey planner or S'hail app. Pay with a nol card. Map ↗
- 2No useful bus: taxi about 35 km north along the coast road, roughly 35 minutes, about AED 80–120 one way. A ride-hail straight from Dubai is about AED 250–350. Map ↗
- 3Free parking beside the small visitor centre; walk in between prayers. Map ↗
- 4Short, rough path up the hill directly behind the mosque; views over the village and the Gulf of Oman. Wear closed shoes. Map ↗
Travel legs add up to about ₹3,362 per person.
Step 4 of 8Next: Cost↓What it costs
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
A do-it-yourself budget for the visit: local transport and any entry fee. Donations and guided tours are extra.
What to book ahead
Where to stay and eat
Stay
Most people do it as a long day trip from Dubai. To stay on the coast, Fujairah city has the cheapest rooms, from about £19–23 (₹2,070–2,510) a night per a hotel aggregator (April 2026 data); Dibba, 20 minutes north, starts around £44 (₹4,800). The beach resorts at Al Aqah just south are much dearer.
Food
There is no café at the mosque. Small restaurants are a short drive south in Al Aqah, and Fujairah city has Indian and Pakistani cafeterias; we could not confirm current Fujairah meal prices. Carry water for the hill walk, but drink it outside the mosque.
Photos
Questions people ask
How many days do you need for Al Bidya Mosque?
1 day, starting from Dubai (DXB), via Fujairah.
What is the best time for Al Bidya Mosque?
November to March, when the east coast is warm rather than scorching; May to September is 40°C+ and the hill walk to the watchtowers is hard work. Avoid prayer times and Friday afternoons, when the small prayer hall is closed to visitors. Hours change in Ramadan.
How much does Al Bidya Mosque cost?
From about ₹6,720 per person doing it yourself, with the travel legs adding up to roughly ₹3,362.
What needs to be booked in advance?
No booking: Entry is free and there is no booking. Visitors are not admitted to the prayer hall during the five daily prayers. Dress (must book): Cover shoulders, arms and knees; long trousers or a long skirt. Women cover their hair before entering the prayer hall (the visitor centre lends scarves). Shoes come off at the door. Timing (must book): Roughly 09:00–13:00 and 16:00–20:00, closed during prayers and on Friday afternoons; Friday mornings are usually fine. Ramadan hours differ. These hours come from one guide, so allow slack.
Where do pilgrims stay?
Most people do it as a long day trip from Dubai. To stay on the coast, Fujairah city has the cheapest rooms, from about £19–23 (₹2,070–2,510) a night per a hotel aggregator (April 2026 data); Dibba, 20 minutes north, starts around £44 (₹4,800). The beach resorts at Al Aqah just south are much dearer.
What about food?
There is no café at the mosque. Small restaurants are a short drive south in Al Aqah, and Fujairah city has Indian and Pakistani cafeterias; we could not confirm current Fujairah meal prices. Carry water for the hill walk, but drink it outside the mosque.
Guides for Al Bidya Mosque
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
Sources and last check
Checked 18 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- gov.uk OfficialMaritime attack risk in nearby sea areas; flooding advice; dress and Ramadan advice
- gov.uk OfficialFCDO updated 24 Jul 2026; no advise-against areas; Iranian strikes since 8 July
- uaeinform.comHours, free entry, no booking, closed at prayers and Friday afternoons, dress, scarves lent, shoes off, photo guidance, drones, distance/time from Fujairah and Dubai, taxi AED 80-120 and ride-hail AED 250-350, watchtowers, no café, Al Aqah restaurants
- gulfnews.com2018 study: radiocarbon 1450-1655, uranium-thorium coral dates 1530±71 and 1599±9; probably built by 1599; coral-stone construction; oldest mosque in UAE
- khaleejtimes.comEarlier dating claim of 1446 from Fujairah heritage dept with Sydney University (search summary)
- gulfnews.comE700 Etisalat metro to Fujairah AED 30 (Oct 2024)
- dubizzle.comE700 from Union Square, AED 25, ~2-2.5 h (search summary)
- hotelscombined.co.ukFujairah cheapest hotels about £19-23/night, data 8 Apr 2026 (search summary)
- uk.hotels.comDibba budget hotel from about £44 (search summary)
More sacred places and routes
Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: Nasser Ali Alkhlaifi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Nasser Ali Alkhlaifi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Clémence Jacqueri · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Nasser Ali Alkhlaifi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Mike Che · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
