Would you pay AED 100 to soak up the sun at the beach?

Starting this week, Yas Island public beach-goers will have to pay an entry fee of AED 100 ($27.23) on the weekends as compared to the AED 50 charge on weekdays, UAE weekly XPRESS reported.

According to XPRESS, the rates have also doubled for the admission fee of children of ages 8–16 which was previously AED 15 on weekdays and AED 25 on weekends.

Residents were in disbelief about the recent changes. Khalifa city resident Peter told XPRESS: “I went to the beach with my family and was shocked to see the new rates. We are a family of four. Why on earth would I pay AED 300 to go to a beach?”

Yas Beach, which is managed by Ventura Entertainment, justified the charges by saying that they want to remain exclusive for guests at the seven hotels on Yas Island, who can access the beach free of charge.

XPRESS reported that Ventura Entertainment has introduced a membership fee to obtain access to the beach, with monthly charges of AED 350 per person, AED 600 for couples, and AED 700 for a family of four. An AED 100 discount is granted for residents in Abu Dhabi of neighbourhoods such as Khalifa City, Al Zeina, Al Bandar, Al Mounira, and Al Raha.

Omar Al Jaddou, Director of Marketing at Ventura Entertainment, told XPRESS they are confident that visitors of the beach would increase as they are introducing a beach club with pool bars, restaurants, parks, and playgrounds, which will be completed by the end of this year.