Last night Dubai Municipality officially declared Dubai’s first “night swimming beach” open. So if you fancy a late night dip head down to Umm Suqeim 1 Beach, approximately one kilometre away from the iconic Burj Al Arab, which is now open to swimming until midnight.
Night swimming on Dubai beaches had previously been restricted by Dubai Municipality and Dubai Police, the two entities in charge of beach safety, on account of safety issues.
The change in government policy comes with the installation of two “Smart Poles” which will automatically provide high-intensity lighting on the beach after sunset. A project by D Idea Media Company, the 12-metre Smart Poles provide enough visibility for night time swimming and have been set up to allow people to enjoy the sea at night. In addition to the lighting, which uses the solar and wind-powered Smart Poles, the civic body have also assigned lifeguards.
Residents and tourists can now swim till midnight in the illuminated stretch of this beach, announced Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of Dubai Municipality, who visited the beach yesterday. “This is going to boost Dubai’s image as a tourist destination,” Lootah said.
He also declared the beach as a ‘Smart Beach’ since it now boasts three ‘smart’ elements - ‘smart’ poles, ‘smart’ changing rooms and ‘smart’ palms that provide free WiFi service.
Nelepa said that night swimming would be allowed on a 125-metre stretch on the beach and 30 metres into the sea.
“Lifeguards will be at service till midnight, when the smart poles will also switch off,” he said.