Dubai 'need some answers'

[superhondaman]

Hi, i know there is a Dubai kite forum but have not had answers to the questions on there. Anyone on this forum been out there in January? if so is it worth taking any kit ? also if so will just a rash vest and shorts be ok or is a wet suit(shorty) needed.

Thanks for any help.

[Tjah1087]

My mate has kitesurfed out there, take your biggest kite ~16m, as wind is always light. You shouldn't ever need a wetsuit.

[Neptune]

Those that live out there use wetsuits - most visitors are fine with shorts and a rash vest. If you have room for your shorty or are prone to cold, then pack it. Yes 16m kites are the most common - wind is 10-15kts average although winter months can have a storm - most consistent months are the summer months. Kitebeach is just north of the Burj Al Arab hotel. If you need to know anything else then pm me.

[Foilman]

Yep - what Neptune siad is about right. I learned to KS out there in 2002. You don't need a wetsuit appart from maybe Jan / Feb when it gets a bit chilly, but you'd still survive - like a good summer day here.

 

budget for avg of 10kts until a Shamal comes through when you could be looking at 20+, though its not that often.

 

As for the Kitebeach, last time I was there (2007) they were just in the process of selling off the last of the public waterfront, so there may not be any places easily available for kiting anymore - we went to south of Jebl Ali for a session & that spot was under threat - you'd need to check what the skinny is now. They aslo had really strict rules about who could & couldn't KS - deffo need a card with some sort of Insurance details on it to show the cops - they dont mess about.

 

When the water's clear its ace!

 

FM

[Sand-Yeti]

Hi, i know there is a Dubai kite forum but have not had answers to the questions on there. Anyone on this forum been out there in January? if so is it worth taking any kit ? also if so will just a rash vest and shorts be ok or is a wet suit(shorty) needed.

Thanks for any help.

 

superhondaman, Sorry you haven't had too many responses from the Dubai forum.

 

link: http://www.dubaikiteclub.com/

 

The Dubai year end winds, Jan & even Feb winds are generally very poor.

I watch the winds all the time being a kite buggier and using the desert behind my house for my playground.

You can see from the Dubai forum that there are restrictions in Dubai

i.e.

- no kiting on Fridays or public hold

- limited to a certain part of Jumairah beach

- Jebel Ali is off limits to kiter boarders now.

- You will need to join the Dubai Kite Club to get insurance. Note that the cops do check the kiters on the beach from time to time.

- More recently, some unscrupulous truckers have dumped raw sewage into the storm drains that run into the sea. The beach has been & I believe is still is closed due to contamination and risk of deadly e.coli bacteria attacks from the sewage.

Read article on Dubai Sewage:

 

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/11/26/10262561.html

 

They don't like to advertise this serious pollution for fear of damaging the tourist industry but the Jumeirah public beach has been closed. It might be OK in Jan as the cops are coming down hard on truck drivers caught illegally dumping sewage.

 

Assuming the water is safe, you get the right documents and there is some wind, you should be OK to kitesurf on the Jumeirah beach .

Renting cars here is very cheap and this would allow you to drive to beaches in other Emirates where there aren't so many restrictions and the water is clean.

 

Water temp in January is OK but the air temperture can drop down to 15 C in the day time, which is a bit chilly on a board if you don't have some protection. You won't need a lot but recommend you do bring something to keep the cool air off.

 

Kite buggying is a different ball game as we have huge areas and no restrictions to play our kiting game. The winter is very welcome for us & I just use a pair of old overalls for kiting in winter whereas in summer just shorts & T-shirt.

 

Sorry I can't help you much more but to be honest, if you are coming to Dubai to kite surf in Jan., I'd not bother if I were you. However, don't kick me if you come here and see some glorious windy days and the sea has been cleaned up.

 

Please fire any more questions at me & I will try & help

[superhondaman]

Thanks for those replys, very helpfull. My sister in law has moved out to Dubai so we have a cheap 2 week holiday in the midst of our winter! makes me think if it is worth carting kit all the way there though? Will have the use of a car so is it very far to some nicer spots?

[Sand-Yeti]

If Neptune live here and is a kite boarder then he can tell you where there are spots in other Emirates much better than what I can.

 

Abu Dhabi is about as far as you will want to drive which is about two hours .

I was buggying on Al Hamrah beach at one time in Ajman (Emirate north east of Sharjah). Could be one hour's drive depending where your sister in law lives in Dubai. The beach is narrow and dirty but have seen kiteboarders using it.

Further North east there are some beaches towards Ras Al Khaima where I have seen kite boarders. That's about 90 minutes drive from Dubai.

However, hopefully you can get on to the Jumeirah beach as mentioned by Neptune.

 

 

Neptune, If you read this, what's the situation now with the contaminated sea? Are people allowed to swim in it yet? They had fixed a simple barrier around the beach with notices not to swim last time I was there. I still saw people swimming though.

[superhondaman]

Well this time next week i will be out in Dubai, packing my kit and have put 14mt Vapor in & my light wind board, is it worth putting the 10mt in?

[Neptune]

Pollution has been up and down depending on rain fall emptying the drains. The police are still catching tankers unloading!!

 

We have a Shamal (storm 20kts) coming through this weekend, starting tomorrow. Can't say with any certainty what it will be like next week yet.

 

I use a 3/2 wetsuit now for anytime after 3pm as the sun loses it strength and water is cold for those of us that are used to 47'C in the summer!! Shorty would make sense if you have room.

 

Kitebeach is more open now as we have a VIP interested in kiting - it has umbrellas, volleyball nets and basically no restrictions any more, although nothing is written down officially yet. Kiting does go on there on Fridays and holidays now. Membership is not hotly policed but you could always be unlucky. Just say you are on holiday and were not aware of the rules!

 

If you can use the same bar for your 10m and you are light then put it in - but I reckon your 14m should cover everything. What is your light wind board?

 

I kitesurf north of Dubai in an area with an offshore island with some small waves (if there is wind swell) and lots of turtles around. Very safe horseshoe shaped bay with lots of different terrain to play with, including lagoons if the tide is up. Pm me if you want to know where it is and I will fill you in.

 

Jebel Ali was the area down south of Dubai but that has now gone as they closed it off as they built the Palm. There is one small stretch of public beach left but that has Jet Skis at the weekend and is not that nice.

 

Oman in the summer is the place to go with big wind and big waves!!!

[superhondaman]

Hi

its a Spleene session,and i have a Hein 127 for higher winds,but thats staying at home. So its worth putting the 10 in then as i do use it a lot here, even on the Spleene in 15mph if its dropped whilst i have been out on the Hein.

Got to be carefull with weight but is it worth putting in the 3/2 short arm suit or just the shorty and a neoprene t shirt?

[Neptune]

Stick with the shorty and neo T shirt.