ABU DHABI // Police and municipality officials have warned people not to camp or park their vehicles on a popular, but undeveloped, Yas Island beach, as construction work could threaten their safety.
According to beachgoers, many people gather during the weekends to camp on the stretch of beach, off the Sheikh Khalifa motorway.
As well as rubbish being left behind by visitors, two caravans have been left unattended beside the beach, along with a television satellite dish, electricity generator, carpets and a barbecue.
The municipality asked them to remove their vehicles and advised beachgoers about the health and safety measures.
“This step is intended to clear the way for the gradual vacation of Yas [open] beach as the area is set to be a site of a development project. The anticipated construction work is aimed to upgrade the beach and develop a modern infrastructure conforming to the requirements of a comprehensive and sustainable development,” the municipality said.
Abu Dhabi Municipality, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Police, has carried out an awareness campaign for visitors and caravan owners.
Beachgoers, however, say they were not asked to leave, even when police patrols passed by.
A kitesurfer, who asked not to be named, said: “I’ve been coming here since October for kite surfing. There was another beach stretch the authorities closed for development, but this stretch is open and nobody has asked us to go.”
On windy days, you can find up to 200 kite surfers here, he said.
“On Friday evenings many locals come here to camp. Mostly family people with their kids,” he said. “The trash is the big problem here after people have left after camping.”
The municipality has held a meeting with Abu Dhabi Police at Yas police station, and Miral Asset Management Company to work out a comprehensive awareness campaign.
During the two-day awareness drive at the beach the municipality also distributed brochures and leaflets to educate beachgoers about the standards and principles of maintaining the safety of beach visitors.
It also informed beach visitors to clear the Yas beach stretch and told owners of caravans and tents to “remove them as they have the potential of undermining the safety of community members and beach visitors”.
anwar@thenational.ae
