DUBAI// It may have been well above 35°C, in stifling humidity, but that did not stop a few hardy souls from making the most of the growing range of facilities along Jumeirah Beach.
A 2km extension to the Jumeirah Beach cycling and jogging track was opened in July and now runs from Dubai Sailing Club to Umm Sequeim, near Dubai Municipality’s Centre.
It is a part of the much larger Dh100 million Jumeirah Corniche project, which will stretch 14km to the Burj Al Arab.
The extended area has a five-metre wide wooden panelling walk and a four-metre wide jogging track that is lined with new energy efficient lampposts.
The extension was sparsely populated on Thursday morning as most people chose to spend time at the open beach in Jumeirah One.
Cathie Cordahi, a French national, was one of a handful of people using the new path.
“It’s very convenient for me as I live nearby,” said the 45-year-old painter.
“I haven’t used the older tracks at the open beach but the work they have done here is really good.”
The area is much busier in the evenings and she said she expected it to be a much more vibrant atmosphere during the winter months.
“I’m not sure how else they could improve it, perhaps provide some more shaded seating areas, but apart from that it’s great,” she said.
Mohammed Ahmad Koko, 45, from Sudan, who works as an oil technician, had just completed his morning run before going for a swim near Dubai Sailing Club.
“I like to come here every morning before I start work and when it’s a little quiet,” he said.
“I prefer to run along the path near the free beach because it’s closer to my work at the dry dock.”
Mark Stevens, 48, a tax adviser from the UK who has lived in Dubai with his family for eight years, was impressed by the extension to the running and cycling path.
“I usually come here for walks in the evenings when it’s a bit cooler,” he said. “I’m not too sure why I decided to come out in the morning but it’s very hot already.”
He said he usually visited the beach in the evenings with his children.
“It’s not very busy these days because it’s still summer, but in a month’s time or so this area will be packed, as will where they have done the extension,” he said.
“The great thing is that these facilities give people more of an option for what they want to do at the beach. You don’t just have to sunbathe or go for a swim.”
Richman Anabieza, 30, a Filipino petrol station worker from Fujairah, was visiting a friend in Dubai during a week off so decided to take a look at the beach in Jumeirah One.
“This is the second day I’ve come to the beach and it’s great,” he said. “I went for a swim yesterday and decided to go for a run this morning. The material they have used is really good because it’s soft enough so that it doesn’t put pressure on your knees.
“It’s a very long path, which means a couple of laps would be more than enough for most people, myself included. I’m not sure what impact the extension has had but I’ll definitely take a look over the next few weeks.”
He called for similar facilities in other emirates.
Brian Jurado Baloro, 34, a Filipino waiter, decided to go for a bike ride at Jumeirah One.
“This is the first time I’ve come to ride my bike here and it’s very good,” he said. “I got here at about 7.30am and have been having a relaxed ride around the area.
“It’s very quiet but I’ve enjoyed it. I’m going to try to do the full length but it’s getting very hot now so it’s going to be tough.”
The Roads and Transport Authority said the entire project, including rest areas, retail kiosks and shaded benches overlooking the beach, was expected to be completed by October.
nhanif@thenational.ae
