The Blue Flag programme is a global initiative of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to protect and develop beaches and marinas around the world in an environmentally-friendly manner.

 It is a voluntary and internationally recognised eco-label which has been awarded to more than 4000 beaches and marinas across 48 different countries, The Blue Flag certification involves strict criteria including environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management, safety and other services.

 The high number of Blue Flag beaches in the UAE shows increased transparency on water quality on the beaches. The UAE is the only country in the Gulf to have Blue Flag beaches. Only a few countries in the Middle East have received this certification for their beaches.

Now seven more UAE beaches receive Blue Flag certification, a total of 28 beaches and six marinas in the UAE have been awarded the Blue Flag, a voluntary standard of environmental excellence, since its UAE launch in 2010, Emirates Wildlife Society-World Wide Fund for Nature (EWS-WWF) that coordinates the Blue Flag certification.Water samples on the beach are tested every 15 days during the first year of certification and every 30 days in subsequent years for certification renewal.

The certification requires many other facilities such as adequate number of toilets and access to special needs people.If you are on a beach with Blue Flag, you are assured that you are on a safe beach.

It is important that public beaches that can be enjoyed by residents and tourists alike have the Blue Flag. This achievement is a testimony to the continued efforts and hard work of site managers, authorities, and stakeholders to enhance the quality of beaches and marinas in the UAE.

Source:http://uae.panda.org/what_we_do/environmental_education

http://7daysindubai.com/beaches,http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment,http://www.thenational.ae/uae//blue-flag-environmental-status-given-to-seven-uae-beaches

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