The future is bright in Dubai, the future is smart, especially on the beaches.
Earlier this year we reported that Dubai was getting smart thanks to 21 ‘smart initiatives’ being launched by Dubai Design District (d3), to develop an innovative business community and contribute towards Dubai’s idea of being one of the world’s ‘smartest’ cities.
Now it seems the emirate is going one step further with a new smart beach project that will provide beach-goers with hi-tech services.
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According to Obaid Al Shamsi, assistant director general of Dubai Municipality, the smart beach project will begin at Umm Suqeim 2 with installations of smart wind turbines and smart changing rooms. The changing rooms will have the same facilities as a normal changing room including key-code lockers for beach-goers to safely put aware valuable items while sunbathing.
Smart Palms
Beaches will also feature free wireless internet so should you want to do some work or keep up with the latest happenings online you can do so without eating into your data plan. Also, as well as free Wi-Fi there will be Smart Palms, charging stations and information stands revealing details on Dubai’s attractions, weather and more for tourists.
According to Al Shamsi the municipality is carrying out an extensive overhaul in upgrading Dubai’s beaches, with Umm Suqeim 2, Al Mamzar and Jumeirah being the first to get Wi-Fi stations. Currently the So far, the Smart Palms, offering Wi-Fi and charging zones, have been installed at Zabeel Park and at the beach near Burj Al Arab.
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Alya Harmoudi, Director, Environment Department, Dubai Municipality, said each Smart Palm can support 50 users at a time over a radius of 53 metres. Each Smart Palm runs entirely on its own solar power source and lights up at night for an aesthetic look.
Hussain Lootah, Director-General, Dubai Municipality, said the smart beach initiative is in line with the transformation of Dubai into a Smart City.
