AJMAN // The emirate’s beaches need to be cleaner with more public amenities, private family areas and increased lifeguard patrols to make them safer and more attractive to residents and tourists.
Beach goers have complained they do not feel as comfortable visiting Ajman’s coastline when compared to beaches in Sharjah and Dubai, which boast better facilities. The waters off the northern emirate are also known for strong currents and tides that can catch out even the most experienced swimmers.
So far this year three people have drowned, while 95 others had to be rescued.
Residents say they are worried the onset of the cooler weather will see a rise in incidents and are asking the authorities to do more to make the beaches safer as well as more family friendly.
Salena Brahane moved from Dubai six months ago and immediately noticed a difference between the emirates’ beaches.
“Dubai is nice and I can feel free, but here I can’t feel free because of the stares of males on us while we are swimming or tanning,” said the 24-year-old saleswoman from Ethiopia. “When I cannot go to Dubai beach due to my work times, I go to Ajman beach but I still prefer Dubai.”
The lack of lifeguard towers is a concern for Wael Abdulwahid who often sees families at the beach with young children.
“Ajman beach lacks watchtowers. Any woman feels afraid for her child approaching the beach,” said the 31-year-old Egyptian who works for a construction company. “I prefer to go to Mamzar and Jumeirah beach in Dubai because everything is available there.”
More around the clock patrols would mean people wouldn’t be afraid to enter the water, said Mohsen Mohammad. “I can’t always swim because of the unavailability of lifeguards at all times, but I found that they come in the afternoon.
“The walkers are more than swimmers, especially in the weekend.” The 21-year-old Egyptian added he hoped the “authority will provide more protection for beach goers”.
Despite fines of Dh500 for anyone caught littering, the amount of rubbish left behind by people is still a source of irritation for many.
“People throw their garbage on the beach and make it unclean,” said 25-year-old Pakistani barber Mohammad Younis. “I go to Ajman beach one time per month when I can’t go to Dubai.”
He added most visitors to the beach are Indian and Bangladeshi bachelors who mostly come on Fridays.
Brigadier Saleh Saeed Al Matrooshi, general director of Civil Defence in Ajman, said the authorities are working to make the coastline safer and more appealing to all sections of society.
“The ruler of Ajman [Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi] asked the municipality and me personally to provide lifeguards in areas only allocated for swimming. We will not leave the whole sea for swimming.
“Ninety per cent of beach goers are Asian labourers who do not enter the sea, they sit on the beach and focus their eyes on people relaxing or tanning, especially ladies which makes them feel uncomfortable. Tourists and vacationers have complained to the police, municipality and tourism administration.”
Brig Al Matrooshi said the police can not stop people from visiting the beach, so plans have been made to make some sections private.
“We will close some of the beach with barriers to make it private for tourists and hotels. Ramada Hotel made a private sector. People feel comfortable and to pay to enter it.”
Rescue teams from civil defence will monitor the beaches in case of an emergency.
“Our patrols are available during the day between every three to five minutes, they move by 4x4s and jet ski,” said Brig Al Matrooshi. “In summer we increase the number of rescuers to cover the largest possible area. As for watchtowers, we put them in the places that are intended for swimming, but people swim in improper areas.
“Most cases of drowning comes from people who do not know how to swim and do not have experience, or who are under the influence of alcohol, in addition to suicide cases by people suffering from psychological problems.
“Most cases happen in the late evening and in winter when water and wind currents increase and waves become high.”
newsdesk@thenational.ae
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The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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Scream%20VI
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Dr Graham's three goals
Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The%20Little%20Mermaid%20
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A Dog's Journey
Directed by: Gail Mancuso
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott
3 out of 5 stars
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
Company%20Profile
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Contracted list
Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
SPECS
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South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
Captain Marvel
Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn
4/5 stars
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