Al Bahar beach in Abu Dhabi has been closed to swimmers for a week until Friday after the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) announced that an endangered whale shark has been spotted in the Kasr Al Amwaj area.
In a Twitter post, EAD wrote, "EAD is monitoring a whale shark that has been spotted in Kasr Al Amwaj area in Abu Dhabi. Considered Endangered on the IUCN Red List of threatened species, #WhaleSharks appear occasionally in the marinas and waterways of Abu Dhabi during this time of year and are not harmful."
EAD has urged residents to alert the agency if they spot the whale shark and has advised boat drivers to keep their distance.