The warm weather on the East Coast has attracted thousands of holiday-makers, specially visitors from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, who thronged Fujairah, Kalba and Khor Fakkan during the three days of the Eid Al Adha holiday.

Eid Al Adha this year has recorded a huge number of visitors to the East Coast, filling all the main roads leading to tourist and historic sites.

A large number of Fujairah residents as well as visitors from other emirates visited the old forts, valleys and dams, the mineral water springs, and enjoyed watching the bull-butting shows and competitions for which the emirate is renowned.

Since the city of Fujairah lacks big parks where families can enjoy their holidays, children of families who preferred to stay home during the holidays took instead to the grassy areas of Kalba and Khorfakkan parks.

Other nationals enjoyed watching the bull-butting contests, which have proved to be a major local traditional sport that still attracts a large number of residents and tourists on Fridays and Eid holidays.

On 3,600 square metres of land in Al Ghurfa, close to the Fujairah-Kalba road, spectators gather at the bull-butting ground where over 20 gigantic Brahma bulls, weighing a ton or more each, are exhibited by their proud owners.

The sport was introduced to the East Coast during the time of the Portuguese. The sport pre-dates the arrival of Islam in the emirates, and originated in Persia where the bull was once an object of worship.

"The contest pits not a man against a bull, but bull against bull. These great pampered beasts are carefully bred from the humped bulls that can still be seen working the occasional water wheel in Fujairah's palm groves, even through they have now largely been replaced by diesel-powered pumps," said Ali Rashid Humaid, one of the bull owners.

According to Ali Rashid, the value of a bull could be as high as Dh 50,000. A bull's owner feeds him with milk and honey. The price of a winning bull doubles after a victory, but usually there are no rewards.

"The losing bull's price drops below its real value and if the bull is badly wounded it goes to the butcher," Humaid said.

The bulls, cautiously led into the arena with two ropes tied around their necks, lower their heads, lock horns and wrestle to see which one can force the other to the ground or make him turn tail and flee.

The elderly, especially nationals, preferred to visit and enjoy their time at the 400-year-old Fort of Fujairah. They go there during Eid holidays and love to sit and reminisce about times past.

Yet others prefer to visit Al Bithna Old Fort which is around 260 years old and believed to have been built by Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah in 1735. It still retains its original shape and lies nestled in greenery.

The 550-year-old mosque of Al Bedya is another attraction for those seeking to enjoy time at an ancient archaeological monument. Al Bedya mosque is the oldest mosque in the UAE. It was built during the Ottoman era and reflects Islamic architecture of that period.

The mosque was built on a very small area of seven square metres. It has four cone-like domes, but without any minarets.

Nine kilometres to the south of Fujairah lies the only hot mineral water spring in the emirate, the Ain Al Ghumour.

It is yet another favourite haunt for locals and visitors who can spend a whole day near the spring. Holiday-makers here like to swim in small pools or dipping their feet in the hot water and benefit from its powers in healing many skin diseases and inflammation of the joints.

"Ain Al Ghumour is a major attraction for Fujairah people, as well as for visitors during Eid holidays. A bath in the sulphur-rich water of the spring is supposed to help cure different ailments such as rheumatism, arthritis, skin ailments and muscular pain," said Ahmed Salem Rashid, a national from Fujairah.

Some locals also sacrifice goats beside the spring in thanksgiving, after they have been cured of their ailments.

Fujairah Tourism Bureau has an ambitious plan to promote Ain Al Ghumour and turn it into a health spa where locals and tourists can benefit from the healing qualities of its water. Tents have also been erected on a large area of beach near Al Faquit, where people enjoyed sitting or swimming.