Flood lights to be installed on beaches

DUBAI - New flood lights would soon be installed in the Jumeirah Open Beach to ensure that the Dubai police and the Dubai Municipality security personnel are able to hold daily extensive checks along the coastline, a senior DM official said yesterday.

By Joy Sengupta (Our staff reporter)

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Published: Tue 15 Jul 2008, 1:48 AM

Last updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 6:12 PM

The move comes after Dubai police recently arrested a British woman for allegedly indulging in sexual activity on the Jumeirah Open Beach.

The security personnel have also arrested 79 people for violating public decency in the beach areas of the emirate.

Abdullah Rafea, the Assistant Director-General for Health and Environment Services Sector, at the civic body said that the municipality would also request the police to deploy more undercover officials in the beach areas.

Municipal officials manning the beaches would also be doubled to about 50.

Among the beaches which come under the jurisdiction of the civic body are the Jumeirah Open Beach, the Jumeirah Beach Park and the Mamzar Beach and Park.

"These flood lights would be installed in the Jumeirah Open Beach area by the end of this summer. The lights would be switched on all throughout the night so that the security personnel can hold uninterrupted checks and inspections in all parts of the beach. Also, we have requested the Dubai police to increase the number of undercover officers in all the beaches," he said.

Earlier, the DM officials had pointed out that there would be new signboards coming up in the beaches in two months time which would mention the kind of attire one should wear while in the beaches. Officials had asked the beach goers to wear proper swim suits and behave decently.

Rafea however said that they did not have any plans to introduce fines and penalties for the violators.

"Though fines and penalties from the civic body are a no for now, we would be doubling our men in the different beaches. Any form of indecency is not permissible in the beaches," he said.

Both the tourists and the UAE residents stressed on the fact that decency should be observed.

Alexander Zaning, an Australian nation working in the UAE said, "The many expatriates in the UAE should know that they need to respect the culture of the country they are staying in. The particular incident has been a shocking one. Indecency and vulgarism cannot be tolerated by any civilised society."

Rhea Mittal, an Indian housewife, said that people should not cross their limits. "The tourists need to be informed about the rules and laws of the country. Most of them don’t know about the regulations. But then there has to be a limit of showing public affection," she added.


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