Dubai Municipality sets up hiking tracks at Mushrif National Park
The municipality previously completed mountain bike tracks, a skills area, and a 50km professionals’ track in the park
A 9.7km hiking trail has been set up at Mushrif National Park by Dubai Municipality, a statement said. Billed as a first of its kind feature in Dubai, the park now features multiple tracks designed for beginners and professionals.
The park features a 8.3km yellow recreational track and a 1.4km orange sports track designed to provide a safe and secure environment for hikers to practice their hobby; the trail will be open to the public starting from 20 June 2023, the statement noted.
The municipality said that it has established a variety of guidelines for visitors and hikers to follow, while using the tracks to ensure their safety. These include ensuring the emergency communication methods are available and mountain hikers are carrying sufficient drinking water and wearing proper clothing, footwear and safety tools for hiking. Additionally, children between the ages of 12 and 15 are permitted to use the tracks, provided that they are accompanied by an adult, the statement explained.
“The mountain track in the Mushrif National Park’s forests offers a distinctive opportunity for individuals who are fond of walking, climbing, and adventure to explore and enjoy various unique facilities. In a continual effort to improve Dubai’s appeal, aesthetics, quality of life, and wellbeing for all inhabitants and visitors, we are developing recreational facilities and parks as well as equipping them with all the leisure amenities and components. In line with this, the municipality has made an effort to incorporate all amenities and services in the park including public restrooms, safety instructions, and warning signage boards with directions,” said Ahmed Al Zarooni, Director, Public Parks and Recreational Facilities Department in Dubai Municipality.
He added, “The trail will be open and free to use all year round for visitors and hikers. It further consists of various sculptures, wooden stairways and bridges, slopes and rest areas, which provide a comprehensive view of the landscape and wildlife in Mushrif Park. To assist hikers and guarantee their safety, administrative and supervisory employees are also stationed at the track locations.”
The municipality underlined the need for hikers to abide by the trail etiquettes and instructions mentioned on the boards, to ensure they leave the mountain bike trail in Mushrif Park safe before crossing and making way for cyclists, to always walk in the direction of the trail, not the opposite, and to adhere to the designated track. In addition, hikers must be careful while choosing the right track level as the orange track is designed to be suitable for skilled athletes with higher levels of fitness and endurance. One must also keep in mind to do warm-up exercises before hiking in order to ensure their safety, the statement noted.
The municipality also emphasised that setting fire, cooking, smoking, camping, and staying overnight in the forest after the hiking is completed must be avoided, the statement concluded.
