ABU DHABI // Jet-skiers are angering residents in Al Muneera, Al Zeina and Al Bandar by illegally racing along the waterfront near their homes – and close to where families swim.
Residents say about a dozen young men race each other along the bay towards Yas Marina, speeding dangerously close to the beach, often past midnight on Fridays.
“The noise of roaring jet skis is extremely annoying and it’s everywhere in the locality,” said Elizabeth Smith, a British expatriate who lives in Al Muneera.
“This is a big problem we are facing here. It’s very difficult to sleep. They don’t just go along the canal but pump up the accelerator and buzz off speedily.”
Of greater concern than the noise is how close the jet-skiers come to families and children swimming.
On Sunday at 5pm, three jet-skiers were speeding along the stretch. Four others joined them an hour and a half later.
The jet-skiers splash water on swimmers and encircle passing boats dangerously, Ms Smith said.
Jet-skiing on weekdays was usually from 4pm until 9pm, but they ended about 2am on weekends, she said.
Residents along the stretch from Al Bandar to Al Zeina were all highly disturbed by the noisy machines, Ms Smith said.
The use of jet skis is banned on several stretches of water including Al Raha beach area, Al Maqta opposite Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi Corniche, Al Bateen area and north Saadiyat Island.
Department of Transport rules say private watercraft can be operated “not less than 500 feet (152.4 metres) from the beach” and up to “a maximum of one nautical mile (1,852 metres) away from the starting point”.
Jet skis should also stay 60 metres away from moored vessels.
Briton David Ledward said there were two aspects to the problem – safety and noise.
“We live in a beautiful development here with water and beachfronts and we pay a premium for that. To have that peace and quality of life disturbed by noisy jet skis is quite annoying,” said Mr Ledward, who lives in Al Zeina.
“I regularly phone coastguards about jet skis in the prohibited area. They take action when they find them.”
He also said coastguard personnel should be permanently based on the waterfront to deter the use of jet skis.
The department’s rules stipulate that “the user shall stay away from public and crowded places with beach users or from restricted zones, and shall avoid disturbing beach users”.
O F, an American resident of Al Muneera, said: “I’m one of many extremely annoyed residents of Al Muneera, Al Zeina and Al Bandar who are getting extremely frustrated with daily jet ski disturbances.”
Residents, kayakers, swimmers and stand-up paddleboarders were all becoming afraid to enter the water between 4pm and 6pm because of the jet-skiers, he said.
“We regularly complain to the coastguard and occasionally they dispatch a boat here. When it arrives the jet-skiers leave, but as soon as the boat leaves they’re back. They generate massively annoying noise pollution.”
A fine of Dh1,000 can be imposed on businesses that offer jet skis for hire.
The penalty is doubled if the offence is repeated. A Dh500 fine is levied on those who breach the law.
The department did not respond to questions.
anwar@thenational.ae
