Beachgoers urged to not to swim after sunset

As part of its keenness to provide a safe environment and attractive beaches in the emirate, Dubai Municipality has recently installed new signboards designed to create awareness among beachgoers at the public open beaches.

Alya AbdulRahim Al Harmoudi, Head of Coastal Zone and Waterways Management Section, said the public open beaches in the emirate have been witnessing, since the beginning of winter last month, a significant increase in the number of visitors, especially during the weekends. She reiterated that Dubai beaches are expected to see heavy public turnout during the Eid Al Adha holidays, especially those who love swimming and relaxation.

Al Harmoudi said that as part its keenness to educate the public and create awareness among them, the Coastal Zone and Waterways Management Section has in the past month installed 50 new signboards with instructions on how to use the beaches.

"These signboards have been designed in a distinctive umbrella-shaped style to suit the coastal environment and have been distributed in all the public beaches in the emirate, including Al Mamzar Creek Beach, the beaches of Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Al Sufouh, and Dubai Marina," she said.

Al Harmoudi also called upon the public, particularly the swimming enthusiasts, to avoid swimming after sunset or in bad weather conditions.

She also said it is important to stay away and not to swim near the breaking waves and rock barriers due to the strong currents near these areas.

"In many of the open beaches areas for swimming have been identified through floating buoys and ropes," noted Al Harmoudi, pointing out the importance of commitment to swimming only in these areas and not to exceed further.

She added that visitors to the sea can properly plan their trips to the beach by visiting the Dubai Municipality website which is dedicated to monitoring the coastal zone, www.dubaicoast.ae, which displays real-time data on the status of the sea and meteorology, as well as aerial snapshots that show the developments in public beaches.

Al Harmoudi also appealed the visitors of these beaches, especially families and youth groups, for the need to be committed to preserve the coastal environment and not to leave garbage and leftovers of food on the beaches, noting that the municipality has provided waste containers at all public beaches.

She also pointed out some of the behaviours and practices banned on public beaches in the emirate of Dubai, which have been made clear on all beach instructions signboards, such as barbecue, smoking Shisha, lighting fire, overnight camping on the beaches, as well as to take dogs and other animals.

Al Harmoudi said that these activities would pollute the coastal environment as well as cause disturbance to public, who always head for these beaches for the purpose of recreation, relaxation and to practice various hobbies.

In this context, Al Harmoudi said that the Environment Department is working hard to provide necessary field monitoring for the public open beaches to prevent any violations that may harm the beach environment and disrupt the serene atmosphere.

She said the municipality is keen to educate beachgoers on the violations and prohibited acts.

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