09 July 2007

Dubai: Kite surfers are being squeezed out of Dubai at weekends because of a lack of available beaches.

The enthusiasts have seen many of the beaches they used to use for the sport given over to construction.

Now more of them have to travel to other emirates in order to continue enjoying the high-adrenaline activity.

During the week, kite surfers commonly use "Kite Beach" in Umm Suqueim, but Dubai Kite Club bans kite surfing here on Fridays to prevent accidents between kite surfers and weekend beachgoers.

Until last month, on Fridays Dubai kite surfers had instead enjoyed their sport on a section of public beach in Jebel Ali.

That has now been closed to the public for building work, and as a result there is nowhere in Dubai for kite surfing on a Friday, which is the most popular day for the sport as most people are off work.

Andy Dean, chairman of Dubai Kite Club, which regulates the sport and has about 200 members, said the Jebel Ali beach had been a good spot because there were few people swimming or sunbathing there.

Limitations

"It is such a shame. We are running out of places and the public in general is running out of places in the public beaches. We are having to go further afield," he said.

Georges Sfeis, head of training at the club, said some Dubai kite surfers were now going to Abu Dhabi emirate to enjoy a day's fun on Fridays.

"It would be great to have a dedicated beach for kite surfing but it's impossible with the limitations that there are on Dubai's beaches," he said. Sfeis said some kite surfers recently spent time looking for beaches for kite surfing in Ajman, but were unable to find anything suitable.

Instead, Sfeis said Dubai's kite surfers were heading in the opposite direction and going beyond Jebel Ali into Abu Dhabi emirate for a day's fun on the beach.

"There are some beaches beyond Jebel Ali and it's not impossible to go there, although of course we would prefer a beach on our doorstep," he said.

Membership key to pursuing activity

Kite surfing involves using a large kite to pull a small surfboard over the water, although other versions involve a wheeled board being pulled on land, and a snowboard on snow. In order to kite surf on Dubai's beaches, people should be members of Dubai Kite Club.

By Daniel Bardsley

Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.