Dubai keeps cars off beaches

Stopping beach drivers is part of the municipality plan to rejuvenate public spaces, which includes new sand.

Visitors play on Jumeriah beach.

DUBAI // Authorities have erected barricades to protect residents and tourists from speeding cars on the emirate's beaches. The measures, taken at Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim beaches, are part of an ongoing effort to rejuvenate public spaces in the emirate and improve and protect the coastal environment through conservation. Cars will not be allowed onto certain areas of the beach, but new parking spaces have been provided.

Alya Abdul Rahim, the head of the coastal management section at Dubai Municipality, said the barriers had been put up to ensure the safety of the public and to provide a comfortable and peaceful environment. Hamdan al Shaer, the director of the environmental department at the municipality, said that, although all coastal areas were under review, special attention was being paid to public beaches, where drivers had damaged the sand and thrown rubbish along the shoreline.

The beaches in Dubai, he said, should be "calm - where people can enjoy privacy. In addition, there are enough parking spaces and a good road network." Natural forces had also resulted in a further deterioration of beachfronts, he said. "Beaches are subject to seasonal Shamal winds that deprive them of vital resources needed, especially in view of the reformation of the coastal line. As time passes, this will result in loss of beach sands and emergence of rocks and stones thereby causing the beachgoers to lose the comfort and security.

"This matter requires maintenance and nourishing the beaches in a scientific and well-planned manner that would provide maximum stability and continuity," said Mr Shaer. Jumeirah 3 Beach, Umm Suqeim 1 Beach and Al Mamzar Park Beach are all being restored with 600,000 cubic metres of high-quality sand brought in from various excavation projects in the coastal region. Prior to its facelift, Jumeirah 3 Beach had been nearly abandoned by visitors because of the pollution. The beach has now been extended, and the 800-metre-long rock breakwater that lies parallel to the beach has been renovated. In addition, more rock layers have been added to prevent erosion. The renovation has attracted a lot of attention.

"This beach has been nourished by some half million cubic metres of clean beach sand," said Miss Rahim. "Following the restoration works, visitors began to throng this beach." At Umm Suqeim 1, authorities are working to fix the southern side of the coastal line. A sand barrier, which will run along a 120-metre stretch and is about 70 per cent completed, would prevent further depletion of sand and preserve the newly restored area, said Miss Rahim.

Some 40,000 cubic metres of sand have been added to Umm Suqeim 1, which should help preserve it for years to come. An advanced anti-erosion technique had been used, creating structures from Australian-made textile containers. Filled with sand, they weigh up to five tonnes and are deployed in place of large rocks. The containers were less of an eyesore than those methods that had been used in previous projects, and also provided "an appropriate place where some marine creatures can grow", said Miss Rahim.

At Al Mamzar Park, an extra 30,000 cubic metres of sand was shipped in to replace that which was lost to large-scale erosion. The beach has since seen a significant increase in the number of visitors. The restoration project would continue at various locations, said Miss Rahim. @Email:[e-mail] * With additional reporting by WAM