Almost 400 sites have been booked by citizens at the Sealine camping area within the first days of the second registration phase in the southern regions, which ended Friday, local Arabic daily 'Arrayah' reported.
Fawzi al-Shammari, assistant director of the Wildlife Protection Department and head of the Winter Camping Season Team at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), explained that registration will be reopened for all regions after the completion of the final phase, specifically from November 1 to 10.
Preparation works have begun at the service area in the Sealine site, located around the ambulance roundabout, which includes a special area for restaurants and cafes and another for service shops. License holders have set up their shop locations.
MoECC has increased the number of licenses granted to shops up to 97, with the restaurant area having 62 restaurants and cafes, and the service shop area having 35 different activities ranging from specialized camping equipment stores, firewood and charcoal sales, travel gear, supermarkets, and other stores selling health-related products, as well as a motorcycle repair shop.
Al-Shammari pointed out that the restaurant area is designated in a convenient location, allowing easy entry and exit for all vehicles, both small and large. He stressed that the new restaurant area will be an attraction for campers as well as visitors, tourists, and hikers from all nationalities.
The official pointed out that the service launched by MoECC, related to choosing the same previous location for campers, is limited to only desert land camps. As for nature reserves and beaches, this service is not activated, as camping in these locations is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Campers in Sealine, Khor Al-Udaid, and nature reserves can have the same camping location as in the previous season if it is available. They can do so by contacting the environmental inspectors immediately after receiving approval, and making payment of the fees and security deposit. They should inform the inspectors to reserve their location. But they do not have the right to demand the previous camper to vacate the location.
Al-Shammari also said there has been interest from citizens in going for in-person registration at the environmental units concerned, especially from among the elderly or individuals with disabilities, or those who are not familiar with e-platforms, in spite of the ease of the electronic registration process and the National Authentication System, which only requires a few minutes.
Fawzi al-Shammari
