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Alya AbdulRahim Al Harmoudi

Dubai to take up $9.5m rehabilitation of beach

Dubai, June 16, 2014

Dubai has finalised plans to take up the project on rehabilitation of Umm Suqeim beach at a cost of Dh35 million ($9.5 million).

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Chairman of Dubai Municipality recently approved the project.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality, stated that the scope of work of the project will cover all areas of the of Umm Suqeim 1, 2 and 3 beaches starting from the second fishing harbor to Burj Al Arab Hotel at the length of approximately 3.5 km.

He explained that the project comes as part of the responsibilities of Dubai Municipality for the management of public beaches in the emirate ensuring the sustainability of marine and coastal environment.

Lootah said: ‘Dubai Municipality will start the implementation of the project as of next week and expects to be completed in coming March. The project plan consists of constructing five groynes normal to the beach with lengths ranging between 135 and 165 meters and beach nourishment in Umm Suqeim 1. Whereas, in Umm Suqeim 2 beach, the stabilization is achieved by beach nourishment works only.  The total volume of beach sand required to accomplish the proposed stabilization scheme is approximately 760,000 cu m.”

Alya AbdulRahim Al Harmoudi, director of Environment Department, said: “The Umm Suqeim beaches are one of the most important public beaches in the emirate which attract thousands of visitors annually, due to their unique location and natural characteristics. But over the past years, these beaches have been subjected to severe erosion as a result of the implementation of offshore development projects. This led to the loss of large parts of the coastal areas threatening the safety of buildings and infrastructure overlooking the sea, in addition to hindering the development works on these beaches.”

She explained that the project has been thoroughly studied by a team of experts and specialists in the municipality using most advanced numerical modelling systems to determine the dimensions and elements of the project, as well as, to be able to accurately predict the long-term changes of the shoreline.

“Accordingly, it has been decided to stabilize the Umm Suqeim 1 beach by constructing five groynes normal to the shoreline in addition to nourishing the beach to maintain its equilibrium orientation. One of the main advantages of groynes is that there will be minor change in the wave characteristics unlike the nearshore breakwaters which drastically change the wave characteristics by preventing the waves from reaching the shore,” she explained.

Al Harmoudi added that the municipality innovatively developed the structural designs of the groynes which were also implemented to stabilize the beach of Jumeirah First.

The proposed groynes are composite type made of timber logs fixed to steel piles instead of conventional rubble mound structures for aesthetic reasons. In addition, the proposed design does not occupy much space from the beach area since it does not exceed one meter, unlike the conventional structure in which the structure is at 30 meters wide.

“The project will be executed in different stages to avoid completely closing the beaches considering its high recreational use. The public is urged to cooperate with the municipality and the project contractor throughout the stages of partial closures of these beaches complying with the safety instructions and regulations and should refrain from entering the work sites for their own safety,” she said.

“The main works will be commenced taking into account the entire safety measures in line with international standards adopted in this regard so as to ensure the safety of beach and public,” she added. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Dubai Municipality |

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