Tag Archives: dubai
Life’s a beach on women-only days
Life’s a beach on women-only days Sajila Saseendran / 22 April 2013 Hundreds of female visitors on Sunday enjoyed new levels of privacy in Dubai’s most visited beaches in Al Mamzar on the first day of women-only days. As exclusively reported by Khaleej Times on Sunday, the Dubai Municipality introduced two ladies-only days at Al Mamzar Beach Park (Sundays and Tuesdays) and added one more such day (Wednesdays) to Jumeirah Beach Park that already observes a women-only day on Mondays. No men and boys aged above four years will be allowed inside the two beach parks on these days. Announced without much fanfare, the quadrupling of the ladies-only days came with the allocation of separate beach areas for tourists and local residents based on the purpose of their beach visit. When KT reported that separate areas have been designated for beach activities for female tourists and residents, some readers were confused if this actually meant that there is a separation of beach areas for expatriates and nationals. Clearing their doubts, the Director of Public Parks and Horticulture Department, Ahmed Abdul Kareem, said that the separate beaches have been designated based on the purpose of the beach visits. “It has got nothing to do with nationality or religion,” he told Khaleej Times on Sunday. “Some women come for getting more sunlight and some others come to the beach park for other activities. We know that 95 per cent of the European tourists love to enjoy the sun, whereas tourists from GCC countries come for other leisure activities, for barbecuing etc.” The official said separate beaches were allocated to allow the different categories of visitors to carry out their favourite activities in their own style or costume. By mid-day on Sunday, he said hundreds of Western tourists came to the beach park. “They came through different hotels. Since we had informed hotels about the introduction of the ladies-only day, they sent women in groups.” Though female tourists had a field day, there was less number of takers from local residents for the new offer. Officials said the number of female residents to visit the beach parks on ladies-only days may increase as the news spreads. “The weather was not very good and it is the first day. So, we are expecting more women to come next time,” said a staff at the park’s gate. He said he had to turn away some men who had accompanied their wives and families to the park. “But they were co-operative. I sent them to the open beach area which is away from the beaches under the park.” A group of Russian women who were seen taking their pictures said they liked the concept of ladies-only day to allow more privacy to women visitors to the beaches. However, some Dubai residents were not very happy with the move. Thara Abraham, whose son is six years old, said she could not leave her son behind when she hangs out with her female friends. “I faced the same problem when we took him to the swimming pool in Mushrif Park last week. Since they don’t allow boys aged above four years in the ladies’ pool, we had to send our friends’ daughters to the gents’ pool so that all three can play together.” – sajila@khaleejtimes.com Women-only days on Dubai beach parks From today Dubai will offer two days each a week at two prime beach parks exclusively for women — with female tourists and local residents separated to accommodate religious and cultural differences in swimwear. No males aged above four will be allowed entry in either the Jumeirah Beach Park or Al Mamzar Beach Park on the ladies-only days. Sunday and Tuesday have been designated as ladies-only in Al Mamzar, while Jumeirah Beach Park will observe the same on Monday and Wednesday, Dubai Municipality Parks and Horticulture Department director Ahmed Abdul Kareem told Khaleej Times. Continue reading
Earth Day: Fighting climate change
Earth Day: Fighting climate change Staff Reporter / 22 April 2013 What are you going to do to help protect our planet and fight climate change? Get inspired today by checking out ‘Trashion’, created by environmentally-conscious fashionistas making a promise to turn off the lights or the air-conditioning, learn about new green initiatives in the UAE, and swap plastic bags for a better alternative. Today, more than one billion people from more than 192 countries will take part in the 43 rd anniversary of Earth Day by voicing their concerns for the planet and what they will do to protect it. Started in the United States in 1970, Earth Day raises environmental awareness and brings together people from all over the globe to fight for a clean and healthy planet for generations to come. In the UAE, visitors to the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, in the Dubai Mall, are being asked to write down a promise they will make to protect the Earth, on the Underwater Zoo entrance wall screen. This is the third year the aquarium has participated. Last year’s promises included statements like: “From today onwards, I promise to turn off all lights and electronic appliances before leaving my house”; “I promise to turn off the water while brushing my teeth”, and “I will reduce the use of air conditioning when I am not home,” amongst others. Children’s City will also be celebrating under a theme ‘hand by hand to protect the earth’, with a range of activities including a lecture on Mother Earth, workshops on green initiatives and the planet Earth, a pollution versus cleanliness photography exhibition, and a ‘best recycling project’ competition. Naila Al Mansoory, head of the Children’s City, also known as an ‘edutainment centre’, at the Creek Park, urged parents and schools to get their children involved. Preserving resources and the environment should not just be confined to a government programme or a specialist group’s discussion topic — it should be every individual’s obligation, she said. Meanwhile, the city centres are getting on board too, with re-usable jute bags being handed out in Sharjah, and eco-friendly ‘trashion’ — a fusion of recycled goods and fashion — on show at LOVE Art Gallery in Deira. Sharjah City Centre is encouraging people to visit the mall today and exchange their plastic bags for a re-usable jute bag. The jute bags, made from all natural materials, can be used for shopping and day trips to help minimise plastic bag waste. More than one trillion plastic bags are used every year, worldwide — about one million bags every minute — and a single plastic bag can take more than 20 years to degrade, according to the Australian Department of Environment and Conservation. Meanwhile, a ‘Trashion’ photo exhibition documenting the results of a school community project and fashion show hosted by Mirdif City Centre will be on display at Deira’s LOVE Art Gallery, to raise awareness about the importance of recycling. This year’s Earth Day theme is ‘The Face of Climate Change’. Organisers have been collecting stories about people, animals and places directly affected or threatened by climate change, and the stories of those who are doing something about it. An interactive digital display of images showing everything from a polar bear in their melting surrounds, to a tiger in India’s threatened mangrove forests and a Maldives family wondering where to live as the sea-levels rise, can be viewed online and at thousands of events around the world today. sarah@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Cloudy skies and rain ahead
Cloudy skies and rain ahead Nissar Hoath / 22 April 2013 The whole UAE will witness light to moderate rain on Tuesday with skies covered with thick clouds across the country, according to the National Centre for Metereology and Seismology (NCMS). “Skies will be clearer on Monday compared to Sunday, that witnessed cloudy skies with partial and scattered light to moderate rain across some parts of the country, particularly in the central region,” spokesman from NMCS told Kheleej Times. He further added Suweihan, near Al Ain, witnessed the maximum downpour of record rain reaching 5.6mm: “Elsewhere, including Abu Dhabi, the rain fall was recorded at up to 2.7mm.” He also said the situation, with a brief break on Monday, will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday with more showers and thunderstorms and lightening activities across the country: “More rain and cloudy weather is expected on Tuesday,” he said. Referring to the weather witnessed on Sunday, the spokesman said nine NCMS stations recorded light to moderate rainfall across the country with the entire country under thick clouds. He also said the change caused the temperatures to drop by 4 to 7 degrees Celsius in various parts of the country, providing residents with pleasant weather conditions. “Even Dubai witnessed light to moderate rain coupled with thunder and lightening activities on Sunday morning. Abu Dhabi city and its suburbs also witnessed a light to moderate downpour on Saturday evening and early on Sunday morning,” he added. Residents across the country reported pleasant weather on Saturday and Sunday, with cloudy skies and temperatures down. Hassan Abdul Rahim from Al Ain said the drizzling in the city and its suburbs throughout the day on Sunday made for a pleasant change: “Though the sun was out, there was light rain in many parts of the city. Jebel Hafeet witnessed more light to moderate rain on Sunday. The entire area is under cool clouds even now,” he said. Elok Hoath from Ghantoot said they enjoyed the heavy rainfall on Sunday morning. “We started witnessing thick and dark clouds gathering on Saturday. But on Sunday morning it rained well, though (only) for a few minutes, removing all the dust that gathered after strong winds on Saturday and before the rain. The weather is really nice and cool still cloudy and we see no sun,” he said. A resident from Liwa Oasis, Ghulam Rasul, also reported a similar weather condition, saying the temperature was cool and pleasant: “It was windy but no sandstorm. It was drizzling on Saturday and Sunday morning , and the weather is beautiful with clouds over the sand dunes. It is really nice and I hope it continues throughout the summer,” he added. Amani on Sir Bani Yas Island in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi Emirate also reported a welcome change in the weather condition: “The clouds started gathering on Saturday. This Sunday morning we experienced little drizzle that also dropped the temperature. The weather is so nice that we don’t need air-conditioning. The entire area is still under cloud since yesterday, and I hope it will continue for the next few days.” nissar@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
