In depth: Breathe in the green

As the hot summer fast approaches, now is the perfect time to relax outdoors and enjoy the cool breeze while sipping iced-tea or indulging in any recreational activity that you may fancy.

While the concept of seasons may be restricted in the UAE, the month of March is the closest that residents can get to the season of spring.

So why not take the opportunity of the mild weather and enjoy the outdoors before the shammal hits and the wind sprays sand at everyone who crosses its path.

Gulf News takes a look at the various public parks in the UAE that are perfectly suited for families interested in spending quality time outdoors.

DUBAI

Mushrif Park

The 400-hectare Mushrif Park offers a number of opportunities for recreational activities both on land and on water. Along with the usual children's play area, a train, leisure games and barbecue areas, the park also offers swimming facilities.

Entry fee: Dh10 for cars; swimming: Dh10 for adults and Dh5 for children.

Al Safa Park

Al Safa Park is the most popular park for sports fans, as the large green lawn has been reserved to include football, volleyball, basketball, tennis courts, a jogging track and a gymnasium. Besides being a recreational centre, the park has additional facilities such as an area equipped with 21 barbecue and wooden shades and seats.
Entry fee: Dh5 per person.

Zabeel Park

Zabeel Park is the first technology-based recreational theme park in the Gulf. While the municipality has spent Dh200 million to develop the park, private investors have so far invested Dh300 million in different projects, including Stargate Family Edutainment Centre, sports club and restaurants.

The park offers parking spaces for 2,300 cars. With an overall area of 47.5 hectares, the park incorporates a wide range of facilities such as a boating lake, lakeside restaurants, a sports centre, and an exhibition gallery, according to Qasim Sultan, Director General of Dubai Municipality. It also includes an activity area including mini golf, adventure play, informal recreation areas, barbecue facilities, shaded seating, play areas and refreshment kiosks.

Entry fee: Dh5 per person.

Dubai Creek Park

Dubai Creek Park occupies more than 96 hectares and is considered the second largest park in Dubai following Mushrif Park. Nevertheless, it is recognised by its modern equipment and is distinctive due to its strategic location in the middle of the city.

It was originally 125 hectares large, and in 1992, 400 hectares were added in order to use it as a natural forest.

Visitors can take advantage of the barbecue areas and rent bikes for the afternoon. Further services include children games, cable cars, the park train, ice rink and restaurant outlets.

Entry fee: Dh5 per person.

Jumeirah Beach Park

Jumeirah Beach Park is a venue that offers beach and park, combined with beautiful landscaping. You can either bring a hamper or cook on-site in the barbecue areas of the park and beach. In the evenings, you can stroll on some of the walking areas in the park.

Entry fee: Dh5 per person; Dh20 per car.

ABU DHABI

Corniche Park

Still there are many free entry parks like Corniche Park. Some of the city residents drive to the parks in suburbs to keep away from the noisy city. “My family enjoys the quiet environment at the park in Baniyas, about 50km away from the city,'' said a resident.

Entry fee: Free.

Khalifa Park

Many families say they choose the ones with spacious play areas and facilities for the children. “The electric train in Khalifa park is the favourite one for my children,'' said John, an Indian visitor. “Snack bars and party halls also make it a favourite destination of families,'' he said. Opening and closing time varies among the different parks.

Entry fee: Many of the parks in the city charge a nominal entry fee.

SHARJAH

Jazeerah Park

Jazeerah Park is located in Khalid Lagoon - an island that is also one of the most popular tourist spots in Sharjah. The facilities include an amusement park for children, a mini zoo, swimming pools, an artificial waterfall and train rides. The park also offers stunning views of the Blue Souq, Corniche and the Sharjah fountain.

Entry fee: Dh5 adults, Dh2 children.

Sharjah National Park

The largest park in Sharjah, the National Park boasts a miniature city of Sharjah with models of the most prominent buildings. Facilities and entertainment include barbecue area, children's play areas, a duck pond, a giant slide, a cycle track with a horror tunnel and an infrared beam to squirt water on unsuspecting cyclists. You can also skate on rollerblades.

Entry: free

RAS AL KHAIMAH

Saqr Park

Saqr Park located in Al Kharran area, eight kilometres south of Ras Al Khaimah, is the only public park in the emirate.

The park was constructed on 28 acres in 1989 and started receiving visitors in 1991. It is currently one of the key attractions.

Many Emirati and expatriate families, as well as visitors to Ras Al Khaimah spend their weekends and vacations in Saqr Park, which has been developed thoroughly since it was constructed.

Saqr Park is run by the RAK Municipality, and received 375,600 visitors last year, according to municipal statistics.

Families in RAK prefer Saqr Park to spend their free time as the park is planted with trees and the internal roads are well designed and protected where children can play freely.

The park has been provided with three new huge halls of electronic games (kids zones), suiting children of all age groups, and one of which is dedicated for women.

Mubarak Ali Al Shamsi, the Director General of the RAK Municipality said new ideas will soon be implemented.

Entry fee: Dh10 per car or Dh2 per visitor.

Madhab Sulphuric Springs

Madhab Sulphuric Spring Park is located behind the Rulers Palace in Madhab and is open from 10am to 9pm all day, everyday, except Sundays.

The park has an indoor swimming pool open from 10am to 7pm, and also has children play areas, a theatre stage and a cafeteria. Visitors can also rent self-catering rooms priced between Dh150 to Dh300 per night.

FUJAIRAH

Al Muntazah Park

Al Muntazah Park is situated in the heart of town, just off Hamad Bin Abdullah Street, and is open between 2pm and 10pm on Fridays, 4pm-10pm the rest of the week.

The park has children play areas and public utilities, and organised children activities are sometimes held at the park, especially during school holidays.

Corniche Park

Elsewhere in the East Coast, and located just five minutes from Fujairah, is the Kalba Corniche Park, which is currently under re-development after last year's Juno related flooding.

The park is very popular for its proximity to the sea and for having lush green areas with plenty of palm trees to boot. Expected to open later this year, the park will have brand new facilities such as a new cafeteria and public utilities.

AL AIN

Al Ain Zoo

Another major recreation centre is Al Ain Zoo. People are allowed to take food along with them and stay until sunset. The zoo also extends its timing during summer up to 10pm and holds night shows.

The zoo has also undergone a major renovation programme with a new look and animal exhibits. It has introduced a number of new shows that give visitors an insight into the behaviour of certain species in the animal kingdom. The bird show is one of its kind in the world.

The zoo was established in 1968 by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

It houses around 68 species of mammals, 88 species of birds, and 35 species of reptiles with over 4,000 specimen.

Currently, the most popular section at the zoo is the 45 hectare animal habitat, also known as the core zoo.

Entry fee: Dh10 for adults, Dh5 for children; free for children under six.

Green Mubazzara

The rough undulating range at the foothills of Jebel Hafeet, the UAE's highest mountain, has taken the shape of a beautiful tourist resort, called Green Mubazzara. It attracts visitors and tourists from all over the UAE and neighbouring countries.

Mubazzara is now the prime recreation centre at the Oasis city, enabling tourists to spend an enjoyable time in the lush green environment. A large number of chalets have been built in different parts of Mubazzara for visitors.

The resort has covered swimming pools and hot spas for male and female visitors. People can enjoy a relaxing spa at a nominal entrance fee of Dh5 per person. Two artificial waterfalls are also a big attraction at the park.

The surrounding area of the waterfalls has been decorated with lights and grass patches.

Mubazzara has a number of free rides for children and people are allowed to have barbecue parties at different designated areas. The entry to the park is free for all visitors.

Plenty of car parking, also free, is available.

Entry is free.

MORE PARKS COMING

The UAE is taking a number of initiatives to make available more green spaces for residents, recognising it as an important factor of a developed city.

Abu Dhabi has planned to develop public gardens, green meadows, natural reserves and increase the number of palm trees to about 41 million, in addition to 150 million fruitful forest trees, which according to officials led to the UAE being ranked sixth worldwide in date production. It was recently reported that five more public parks will be added to the existing more than 40 parks in Abu Dhabi soon.

Dubai Municipality aims to achieve eight per cent greenery of the total urban area in the emirate by 2020.

Last year, Dubai had 3.7 per cent of green areas in the city. The emirate's total green area in 2006 is spread over 2,236.8 hectares. The ministry had planned 56 projects for 2007 including five new parks, seven community areas, 13 children's play areas, 15 city 'beautification' drives and four new nurseries for plants.

A series of recently announced landscaping projects will add 113 hectares of greenery to the city this year too.

Have your say
Do you think there are enough green areas in the cities? How does it impact you? Which area, according to you, needs a park urgently? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com

You got the details wrong. Entry to the Sharjah National Park is not free anymore. But it is one of the beautiful parks in UAE, well maintained and a good place for a family get-together. Comparitively, the Mushrif park is not developed much since the last 10 years.
shaheer
sharjah,U.A.E
Posted: March 07, 2008, 13:29

There are certainly not sufficient parks or green areas. Abu Dhabi really has become a big crowded city and there are no places for the poorer section to get out and feel free in. Instead, at weekends every roadside, the Cornice and other slivers of green are crowded by anyone and everyone making barbeques and pic
David
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 07, 2008, 12:55