Twin Centre Escape: Dubai & Fujairah From Newcastle with Emirates

We enjoyed a fantastic twin‑centre holiday flying with Emirates from Newcastle to Dubai, then heading straight out to the quieter emirate of Fujairah. It was the perfect mix of city access, beach relaxation and family‑friendly facilities, all with the bonus of private transfers and plenty of sunshine.

On arrival into Dubai, we were met and taken by private transfer to Fujairah, around 1 hour 45 minutes’ drive from the airport. The journey itself is part of the experience: you travel through the Hajar Mountains, pass camels by the roadside and really get a feel for the landscape outside the city. Fujairah is a more laid back Emirate, it takes around an hour to drive from one end to the other, so staying in the right area is important.

We stayed at Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa – Al Aqah Beach, set between the Indian Ocean and the Hajar Mountains. It is a lovely all‑inclusive resort that works very well for families, with a main pool, children’s pool with slide, kids’ club, spa, tennis courts and a private beach that is great for swimming. There are six restaurants and bars, plus a mini‑shop and coffee shop on site. The hotel offers all inclusive and ultra all inclusive options, and rooms come in garden view or ocean view, with inter‑connecting options, suites and one‑bedroom suites available. All rooms face either the gardens or the ocean.

The beachfront setting means you can relax on the sand, enjoy the pool, or try water sports right from the resort. In the evenings there is entertainment, and during the day there are activities that help keep everyone happy without feeling too busy or crowded. It is the kind of place where you can genuinely slow down and enjoy some proper family time.

Nearby, around 20 minutes from the city area, is Khorfakkan: a town with shops, mosques, a waterfall feature and an amphitheatre overlooking the sea. There is a promenade with a public beach, boat trips, running and cycling paths, public toilets and a few familiar names like Pizza Hut and KFC. It has a relaxed, local feel and is much quieter and less built up than central Dubai.

During our stay we also enjoyed some local sightseeing, including a car museum, the oldest mosque in the area, the fountains, amphitheatre and the dam. These little trips added variety to the beach days and gave us a glimpse into the history and landscape beyond the resort.

Transport from Dubai is easy by either private transfers or some clients prefer to hire a car for extra flexibility.

Second Stop: Dubai City Stay

For the second part of our holiday, we moved into the heart of Dubai and stayed in an apartment right in the city. This worked brilliantly for us as a family, as it gave us lots of flexibility and plenty of space. We had our own kitchen area, dining area, living space, separate bedrooms, a laundry room and bathroom, which made day‑to‑day life very comfortable, especially for a longer stay.

Within the apartment building there were cafés, mini market and a restaurant, plus a rooftop pool and bar, so we could swim and relax without even leaving the property. We stayed on a half board basis, which meant breakfast and either lunch or dinner were included, and having that combined with the apartment facilities felt like the best of both worlds: hotel services with apartment freedom.

We packed a lot into our time in Dubai and did a real mix of sightseeing. We visited Jumeirah Beach and saw the iconic Burj Al Arab, spent time at Dubai Marina Mall, and went out to Kite Beach to relax by the sea. We also headed into Deira to explore the more traditional side of the city, visiting the spice souk and the gold souk, and taking an abra (traditional boat) across Dubai Creek from Deira over towards “new” Dubai.

One of the highlights was a visit to the Museum of the Future, followed by time at The Dubai Frame, both offering very different views of the city’s past and future. We also spent an evening at the Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant, where we looked at photos of Emirati history and tasted authentic Emirati coffee, which was a lovely cultural touch after the modern side of Dubai.

Of course, we could not miss the Burj Khalifa. We went up to the viewing areas on the 124th and 125th floors, enjoying those incredible city views. We also visited Dubai Mall for some shopping and stayed on to watch the Dubai Fountains in the evening, which is always a magical way to end the day.

We did much of this as part of a small‑group city tour on an air‑conditioned minibus, which picked us up from our apartment and finished at the Burj Khalifa. This made it easy to see a lot in one day without worrying about transport or directions. On other days, we balanced sightseeing with downtime: relaxing at the rooftop pool at our apartment and spending time on the beach to recharge between busy days.

Overall, combining a relaxing beach stay in Fujairah with an apartment‑style city break in Dubai gave us a really well‑rounded twin‑centre holiday. It worked perfectly for us as a family, and it is a style of trip I can tailor in many different ways depending on how much beach, city and sightseeing you would like. If you are interested in a similar Emirates twin‑centre, I would be delighted to help you plan the version that fits your family best.