open beaches and parking traps

We went to an open beach (free entrance) near Jumeirah Mosque last weekend. I am not really a fan of open beaches because it would mean the lack of sufficient lifeguards, facilities, parking, etc but since we did not plan to stay long and just walk (who am I kidding, the babe would like to swim for at least an hour!) and feel the cool afternoon breeze, we opted to go the open beach instead of the enclosed beach park where we have pay 30 dirhams at the entrance.

As expected, we could not find a parking spot. Lots of drivers had been driving round and round trying to find a place. In one corner, there was a vacant spot under the date tree. The spot never had any signs or marks that parking is prohibited, except that, there were no white lines on the sides and there was a car beside it so we parked.

~ The white car way behind me is our car, safely and properly parked! (or so we thought!) ~

The beach babe and her dad frolicked in the beach while I watched the afternoon sun and took pictures.

~ she loves the feel of fine sand in her hands and feet ~

~ all set for an afternoon swim! ~

When we came back, there was a paper stuck in our windshield. It was all in Arabic so we couldn’t read it but the logo is very familiar: Dubai Police. I grabbed the paper, tugged an Arab looking man and let him read it. He smiled as if saying, they gotcha!

It was a parking violation card. The lovely vacant spot had been a trap and a perfect place to milk money out of clueless expats!

So much for living frugally by not going into the paid beach park and end up paying a hefty 200 dirhams ($55) parking fine!