Dubai police have fined over 100 beachgoers for not following safety rules amid the COVID-19 pandemic - particularly for not using masks and not complying with the requirements for social distancing.

Dubai's public beaches reopened on May 30 after more than two months of closure. 

According to CNBC, the fines are 'hefty' - 3,000 dirhams ($817).

As noted, beaches were crowded over the weekend, despite ubiquitous signs and notifications reminding people of current safety regulations.

“It’s like people forgot Covid existed,” one Dubai resident said. “The roads are just like they were before lockdown,” a taxi driver told CNBC, while stuck in thick traffic leaving the beach area around sunset on Saturday.   

The UAE has recorded 36,300 COVID-19 cases. The death toll is 270 and 19,000 people have already recovered.