Police in Ras Al Khaimah have launched a swim safety awareness campaign following a recent spate of drownings across the UAE.
More than 500 adults and children attended the two-day event which took place at a number of popular beaches in the emirate last week.
Families were given a series of lectures on emergency first aid as well as tips and advice on how to stay safe in the water.
Last week, a six-year-old girl drowned while swimming at a hotel pool in RAK and in June this year a nine-year-old Emirati boy also drowned off the coast of RAK during a day out with his family.
First Lt. Muza Al Khabouri, director of community programmes at RAK Police, said authorities hoped the campaign would reduce numbers of deaths by drowning.
She also said officers planned to boost swimmer safety by introducing lifeguard cover on Al Mahad public beach.
“One of our goals is to prevent the number of incidents of drowning by educating the public and improving swimming safety measures," she said.
"The awareness campaign aims to reach out to families and children as well as working to provide lifeguard cover on Al Mahad beach.
"We're looking to encourage young people to volunteer and become certified lifeguards so they can help us provide a safer environment for the public in and around the water.
“This will be an opportunity for young people to give back to the community and learn something new."
The two-day campaign took place on Al Mahad and Al Mairid public beaches in collaboration with RAK tourism development authority.
As well as games and lectures on water safety measures, some 350 life jackets were given out to children learning to swim.
Parents welcomed the new initiative, urging authorities to hold similar events throughout the summer.
“We all enjoyed the activities as well as the useful tips on how to deal with children around water,” said mother-of-three Amina Al Rashidi.
“The children were extremely happy with the life jackets and we're looking forward to seeing lifeguards on Al Mahad beach.
“We also attended a first aid session which was very useful. This is the kind of event we regularly need to see at the beach, especially during the summer."
Amina Al Shahi, an Emirati mother-of-two, added: “Both my children love the beach and we take them at least once a week.
"But unfortunately they're not yet great swimmers and this worries me a lot.
“The beach is the number one getaway for almost all families in the UAE and so everyone should know how to swim and how to perform emergency first aid.
“The community police are doing a great job in spreading safety awareness and we really appreciate all their efforts."
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Read more:
Calls for better swimming pool safety after Dubai drowning
Swim safety message vital after yet another drowning incident
More lifeguards needed to boost safety at beaches and pools in the UAE, says expert
How to make sure your children are safe swimmers in the UAE
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Luke Cunningham, managing director of Blue Guard Middle East, a Dubai-based consultancy specialising in water safety training, urged anyone going swimming to always respect the water.
He also called for authorities to consider making swimming lessons mandatory in schools in an effort to address instances of young people drowning.
“The ocean is a beautiful yet terrifying place and must be treated with respect," he said. "It's mood can change very quickly depending on the tides, winds and the shape of the beach. If parents aren't sure (of conditions) they shouldn't swim and shouldn’t leave children unsupervised.
"Only enter the ocean if you know how to swim or are being supervised by a lifeguard, parent or guardian who can."
Stamp duty timeline
December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes.
The car
Hertz offers compact car rental from about $300 (Dh1,100) per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
The national park
Entry to Mount Rainier National Park costs $30 for one vehicle and passengers for up to seven days. Accommodation can be booked through mtrainierguestservices.com. Prices vary according to season. Rooms at the Holiday Inn Yakima cost from $125 per night, excluding breakfast.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 5
Keita 1', Mane 23', 66', Salah 45' 1, 83'
Huddersfield 0
MATCH INFO
Karnatake Tuskers 114-1 (10 ovs)
Charles 57, Amla 47
Bangla Tigers 117-5 (8.5 ovs)
Fletcher 40, Moores 28 no, Lamichhane 2-9
Bangla Tiger win by five wickets
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.4-litre%20four-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20210hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Starting%20from%20Dh89%2C900%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
NO OTHER LAND
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Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books
