logo
Dubai Police issue 431 jet ski violations, seizes 41 in safety crackdown

Dubai Police issue 431 jet ski violations, seizes 41 in safety crackdown

Khaleej Times6 days ago
In a crackdown on unsafe marine activity, authorities in Dubai conducted an intensive inspection campaign targeting jet skis, resulting in the issuance of 431 marine violations and the seizure of 41 non-compliant jet skis.
The recorded violations included expired jet ski licences, entry into restricted areas such as swimming zones and hotel beaches, non-compliance with permitted usage hours, failure to wear life jackets, underage operation of watercraft, and overloading.
Brigadier Dr Hassan Suhail, Director of the Ports Police Station, explained that the campaign aimed to improve maritime safety, reduce injuries caused by reckless driving, and clamp down on violations to curb dangerous behaviours.
Common violations identified
Brigadier Al Suwaidi detailed the types of violations recorded during the campaign, which included:
Expired jet ski licenses
Entering prohibited zones, such as swimming areas and hotel beaches
Using jet skis outside of designated hours
Failure to wear life jackets
Underage individuals operating jet skis
Overloading the jet ski beyond its capacity
Various other infractions
Fines for breaking law
Brigadier Al Suwaidi further noted that fines were imposed based on the severity of the offence:
The violations were spread across multiple coastal areas in Dubai. Brigadier Suhail also praised the readiness of maritime security and rescue patrols, which are operational 24/7 to monitor activity, enforce safety, and respond to emergencies.
The inspections were conducted by Dubai Police, in collaboration with the Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA). The campaign also sought to boost the sense of security and reinforce public confidence in the police's presence across marine zones.
Sheikh Dr Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, CEO of DMA, highlighted the importance of joint efforts in ensuring maritime safety.
'The collaborative efforts between regulatory entities reflect our strategic vision of positioning Dubai as a global model for maritime safety. This initiative underscores our commitment to providing a secure and sustainable environment for all sea users, thereby supporting economic growth and strengthening Dubai's reputation as a leading global maritime hub.'
He emphasised that the safety of marine vehicle users is a top priority, and efforts are underway to develop regulatory and technological frameworks that ensure compliance and promote a culture of responsibility among sea-goers.
Safety reminders for jet ski users
Both Dubai Police and the Dubai Maritime Authority have urged jet ski users to prioritise safety by strictly complying with maritime laws and regulations.
Riders are reminded to wear appropriate safety gear, including life jackets, and to conduct regular maintenance checks on their watercraft. Authorities also emphasised the importance of avoiding navigation near private and tourist vessels, adhering to designated speed limits, typically not exceeding 5 to 7 nautical miles per hour, and refraining from overloading jet skis beyond their capacity. These measures are essential to ensure the safety of all sea users and prevent accidents.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How Beirut port explosion survivor Bachir Ramadan is turning trauma into testimony
How Beirut port explosion survivor Bachir Ramadan is turning trauma into testimony

The National

time5 hours ago

  • The National

How Beirut port explosion survivor Bachir Ramadan is turning trauma into testimony

August 4, 2020 started out, by all accounts, as a beautiful day. Bachir Ramadan remembers helping a colleague secure a promotion by pleading his case to the boss at a lighting factory near Beirut Port. Afterwards, he popped home for a quick lunch with his former partner. They talked about the weekend's plans before he walked back to the office. A few hours later, the Beirut port district exploded – killing more than 200 people, injuring thousands, and devastating surrounding neighbourhoods. Ramadan, a lighting technician and renowned drummer in Lebanon's tight-knit heavy metal scene, was 800 metres from the epicentre. He recalls a casual conversation cut short by a blinding light, a thundering sound, and the four-storey office building partly caving in. Windows shattered. Somehow, he emerged from the wreckage dazed and bloodied. He spent the next three days in hospital, where glass was removed from his face and eyes. Doctors treated him for several skull fractures and nerve damage to his hands. 'It was a beautiful day,' Ramadan recalls five years later. 'Until it wasn't.' In the months that followed, Ramadan, 36, forced himself behind the drum kit. First as rehabilitation to rebuild motor function in his damaged hands, then as survival. But the recovery was never linear. It stopped and started, the pain lingering like a muted backbeat that never fully faded. Five years on, a few gentle scars remain on his cheekbones where glass was removed, and on his shoulders. The emotional healing, however, is still a work in progress. 'I feel like the healing stopped for a long time,' he says now, speaking from his apartment in Doha, Qatar, where he moved in October. 'I think it was because I was too preoccupied with other things, like wanting to get out of Lebanon.' Those feelings would rise each weekday morning in Beirut, when Ramadan drove past the mangled silos at the port on his way to work. 'It wore me down,' he says. 'It was heavy, emotional, and negative every single time I saw it. I needed to take that out of the equation.' Ramadan moved to Doha after landing a job in sales. It wasn't a creative role, but it offered distance. And in that solitude – away from the bustle of Beirut's social scene and bereft of his drum kit – Ramadan began scribbling notes and reflections that are now forming the basis of a memoir to be published later this year. 'I never meant to write a book,' Ramadan says. 'But being away from the drums, I needed another outlet. So I started writing in April. And when I got to the chapter about August 4 … man, it hit me hard.' The English-language memoir, Obsidian Tempo, will be released through a Lebanese publisher, with details to be announced soon, Ramadan says. Named after volcanic rock, the book blends personal history with practical insight on navigating a music career in Lebanon. Given the trauma the writing unearthed, Ramadan sees its release as a kind of survival document. 'It was painful to write,' he says. 'But it felt like therapy. Actually, better than therapy. The healing didn't just restart, it went full throttle.' Unlike drumming, which provided immediate physical catharsis, writing forced him to slow down and sit with the memories.' I had to really dig into those memories,' he says. 'The smell, the grey smoke, the rubble of that day – it all came back and gave the writing its shape.' The post-blast period marked not just a change in medium, but in sound. In place of the thunderous riffs and double-kick drums of heavy metal, he opted to listen to a more gentle soundtrack. 'My healing music became Nordic folk,' he says. 'It grounds me. It makes me feel present. Metal never gave me that kind of calm.' It's a striking shift from someone long associated with Beirut's underground scene – one that, even before the explosion, struggled with visibility and support. Gigs were largely self-funded, venues were limited and metal musicians often balanced multiple jobs to sustain their work. The port blast scattered what little infrastructure there was. 'It took a lot out of the scene,' Ramadan says. 'People left. Bands paused. It will take some time to get back to where it was.' Still, Ramadan kept playing for a time. He hasn't performed live since January, when he flew back to Beirut for one final show with his former band, Khavar. 'I hadn't touched the drums at the time in four months. But the body remembered. One rehearsal and it all came back. That muscle memory was just magical.' He no longer plays regularly as the drums remain in Beirut and his apartment in Doha too small for a kit. 'And that's fine for me as I have a different focus now,' he says. 'Writing is my way to get through the hard days and difficult moments.' Memories of that day remain an open topic of conversation among some friends and colleagues in Beirut. 'We don't avoid it at all and I've found that talking about it actually helps,' Ramadan says. 'You get to hear someone else's take on what happened and sometimes that perspective can clear up some of the things in your own mind.' One conversation, however, two days after the explosion still stays with him. 'I remember a former bandmate telling me, quite frankly: 'Just be thankful you're alive.' And you know what, that really stuck. I wear my scars, but I'm here. I can still do everything I love. I'm grateful.' But gratitude doesn't erase the anger he feels at the authorities, and the absence of official accountability. 'We still don't know the truth about who caused this,' he says. 'Those behind what happened should be held responsible in the worst way. They destroyed lives.'

Dubai: 2 fraudsters arrested for illegal fund transfer using digital wallets, bank accounts
Dubai: 2 fraudsters arrested for illegal fund transfer using digital wallets, bank accounts

Khaleej Times

time11 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

Dubai: 2 fraudsters arrested for illegal fund transfer using digital wallets, bank accounts

The Anti-Fraud Centre in the General Department of Criminal Investigation at Dubai Police has apprehended two fraudsters involved in exploiting individuals' bank accounts and digital wallets for criminal activities, including transferring funds obtained through online fraud. As part of their ongoing awareness campaign "Be Aware of Fraud," Dubai Police shared details of a case in which fraudsters targeted individuals through social media. They convinced victims to provide their banking information or open bank accounts and digital wallets for small amounts. These accounts were then used to facilitate the transfer of illicit funds within an organised fraud network, designed to obscure the origins of the money and hinder tracking efforts. Dubai Police confirmed that the Anti-Fraud Centre successfully tracked down the fraudsters and their locations, leading to their arrest and the initiation of legal proceedings. The Force also confiscated several electronic devices and payment cards associated with the fraudulent accounts. Dubai Police has urged community members to avoid engaging with suspicious offers about opening bank accounts or sharing banking information with unofficial sources. They highlighted that such actions could unintentionally implicate individuals as accomplices in the crime, resulting in serious legal consequences. Moreover, the Force called on the public to promptly report any suspicious financial activities through the "eCrime" platform or the Dubai Police smart app. They emphasised the importance of vigilance, urging individuals to take the security of their bank accounts and personal information seriously to safeguard the financial and social well-being of the entire community

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store