Take a plunge, after dark
Dubai residents can now frolic in the waters off a beach in Umm Suqeim at night with lifeguards on duty, Nawal Al Ramahi reports
DUBAI // Dubai has opened a beach for people to swim safely at night under the watchful eyes of lifeguards and floodlights after a series of near-drownings.
The 125-metre stretch of beach in Umm Suqeim is open until midnight and is staffed by lifeguards on 12-hour shifts.
The swimming area extends 30 metres into the sea and 12-metre floodlight poles have been installed.
Residents welcomed the opening of the beach on Sunday after police and the municipality set tighter restrictions on swimming at night.
Last year, about 30 people drowned in waters off beaches in Dubai, up from 24 deaths in 2015, says Dubai Ports Police.
Officials have warned against swimming after dusk when lifeguards are off duty.
Dubai Police’s maritime rescue department last year conducted 289 missions and responded to 73 accidents, some of which were drownings.
It carries out rescue missions after sunset, as lifeguards have left for home.
During the work hours of lifeguards from last July to last month, there were 1,147 rescues off beaches in Al Mamzar, Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim. No fatalities were recorded. After- hours swimming has been an challenge for the municipality. When lifeguards leave work after the sun sets, red flags are placed on the beach to indicate that swimming is not allowed. “People swimming at night used to be one of the challenges we experienced,” says Ibrahim Ali Juma, head of the municipality’s coastal engineering unit.
“Municipality lifeguards are always on the beach, from sunrise to sunset.” On weekdays, between 60 and 65 lifeguards watch over swimmers, while 84 of them do so at the weekends, says Tareq Abdin, 32, an Egyptian emergency and lifeguards manager. He has witnessed several near-drowning incidents.
“Thankfully, we use a rescue tube to help a drowning person, especially women,” says Mr Abdin.
“Many parents or relatives of female swimmers don’t prefer a lifeguard to approach their female relatives in the sea. The rescue tube and drones help lifeguards to overcome similar problems.”