Dubai coastline highly contaminated

The water along parts of Dubai's coastline is highly contaminated due and not safe for swimming or sailing, independent tests have revealed.

Dubai Offshore Sailing Club said samples taken from both inside and outside the harbour in Jumeirah show the presence of faecal matter in "exceedingly high proportions" due to raw sewage that has made its way into the water because of illegal dumping into the city's storm drainage network, Dubai tabloid 7Days reported on Tuesday.

The club, which has banned all activities until the polution is cleaned up due to safety fears, brought in specialist contamination testing firm Intertek to check the level of polution.

"We were shocked by the findings of the company. The samples showed the presence of faecal matter in exceedingly high proportions both within the harbour as well as outside it," Dr Michael Loubser, a club member and a specialist paediatrician, told the newspaper.

“We have stopped all our activities after the test results fearing the health hazard. We have asked people not to swim or sail in the waters until it is cleared.

“I am not sure to what extent the other beaches are safe."

Dubai Municipality and doctors on Sunday warned beachgoers to stay out of the sea after it was discovered sewage tanker drivers have been dumping waste illegally to avoid long queues at Dubai's only sewage treatment plant.

The sewage has affected the waters close to Jumeirah Open Beach and further up the coast in the same area.

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