21 March, 2007

Life's a beach.

We have some fabulous beaches in Dubai, huge stretches of soft white sand with warm turquoise water to swim in. They're part of life in Dubai for many people, especially at the weekend when friends meet there to relax after their hard working week.

We now have some iconic buildings on the beach too, which tourists love to photograph.

Today I took my camera when I went for a stroll along the most famous stretch of beach so that I could share some photographs of our beach culture with you.

First, the view of the beach from Umm Suqeim Park:



Then Burj Al Arab, the building that the tourist buses head to every morning so that the excited tourists can have their photo taken with our symbol of Dubai in the background:



And its sister hotel, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, photographed from the lifeguard tower at the end of the beach:



Looks fantastic doesn't it.

15 comments:

BuJ said...

this is a very sad and sombre moment for dubai..

i'm not impressed.

Unknown said...

Perfect title - made my day *thumbs-up*

Even the width of sidewalks is being narrowed day by day :(

Nice, not!

zolt said...

please post your comments also on http://dubaidreamz.blogspot.com we are following uae very closely from a european perspective and this is just another insane problem that you guys have...

are we agreed that rulers and contractors are just insane and will make a new beach 500 metres offshore ?

Anonymous said...

ah so sad (and pissed off) - this is just heading the wrong way.

Christ, even America is not this capitalistic!

Look on the bright side, perhaps this is a good sign for Ajman beaches - DXB's share of beach lovers, tourists driving up businesses in AJ. I've always felt bad for them - they didn't have any oil, is so small and SHJ won't help build that tiny stretch of road to connect with AJ.

CG said...

Yes this is very sad indeed. So are the majority of the people here. Anyone who arrived in Dubai less than 15 years ago should have to pay a residence tax (or visitors tax). After all, the people who really 'made' Dubai arrived many moons ago. The people who 'ruined' Dubai and who have taken it are those who came recently.

Rosh: America is not this capitalistic, you are right. But they already think they are better than the rest of the world, plus they have driven away most of their money spending visitors by their new terrorism laws...blah blah.

Ajman should not be felt sorry for one bit. Firstly, if they used one ounce of their brains they could be raking in the dosh. Years ago I used to think that the reason behind their 5 metre/straight road driving test was to enable them to be able to make a business out of traffic fines. Alas, they missed that boat. If the photographs of traffic offending vehicles in the papers is anything to go by (along with what I personally witness daily) then it seems that vehicles from Ajman could still do with some impounding/fines. Think of the revenue.

فهد المحمود said...

Oh My God! I'm from Abu Dhabi, and I used to like going to Dubai with my family and drive along the beach in Jumaira. I guess this is just another (X) I have to put in the list of fun things I like to do with the family in UAE.

I think the only way to enjoy a beach in the UAE is to get a beach hotel room ...

Anonymous said...

Totally insane....commericalism at is best...more money making adventure, and so more greed. I have spent lots of time at this beach during the last 7-8 years soon after the Burj was completed. Well those images will never be captured for free now. SAD

Anonymous said...

cg...because the people who have come to Dubai recently have been calling for this new development?

Please, please...build a huge shopping mall on the beach?

We don't have 1% of say in what happens here. It's the esteemed rulers who decide what the people want.

BuJ said...

in 50 years the burj al arab will become a museum and you can only access it by paying 5000dhs for a helicopter ride.

imagine that!

Keef said...

I despair. This means that the only public beach left is the 'open beach' in Jumeirah. What are they thinking?

trailingspouse said...

Well, not quite, Keefieboy, there is a large open beach next to Al Mamzar Park, right at the border with Sharjah. Although I must admit I only discovered it a few months ago. However this is quite a way to travel for anyone living at the "new Dubai" end of town.

Harsha said...

I wouldnt recommend that beach for families who want to take a dip.. if ppl complained of men oggling at women in Jumeirah.. I dont know what you'd call Mamzar

Seabee said...

There's actually a lot of beach left along Umm Suqeim/Jumeirah, but this is the most popular stretch, with residents and tourists, and it's the thin end of the wedge getting thicker. if they give this one over to a development what hope is there for the remainder.

Lirun said...

soo so soooo sad..

BuJ said...

lirun don't be so sad.. the waves weren't of the surfing quality anyway hehe

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