Surfing in Dubai has not been banned but surfers found in the swimming area of Umm Suquiem 2 beach, near Jumeirah Beach Hotel, may be fined.

The newly cordoned off swimming area is at the centre of the surfing hot-spot frequented by hundreds of surfers.

Dubai Municipality's Coastal Management Section confirmed to Gulf News that no official ban has been issued on surfing at the popular beach.

"I have not issued any ban because there are surfers already there, we know they are there," said Alia Al Harmoudi, head of the coastal zone and waterways management section at the environment department of Dubai Municipality.

However surfers found in the new swimming zone may face fines. "A lot of people are swimming there and it is a safety issue," she said.

Surfers are hoping to co-exist with swimmers on the beach during the few winter months, from November to March, as the swell is suitable for surfing.

Dubai resident and surfer Scott Chambers, 25, head of surf school Surf Dubai, received a Dh200 fine last week by Dubai Municipality for surfing in a newly demarcated swimming zone - also the only surf spot in the emirate. "There is a real community of surfers here and this is the only place we can come. After speaking to the authorities I hope that we can share the beach with swimmers in the safest way possible," he said. "I would really like to work with the municipality to have a dedicated area for surfers."

Brazilian Bruno Santos is the new 2009 Hang Loose Pro Contest Champion.

Santos paddled out in two-to-four foot (1 metre) barreling waves at Cacimba do Padre Beach three times today, beating the defending champion of the event Brazilian Raoni Monteiro 15.40 to 8.67 in the great Final. Santos, who is one of the best barrel riders in the world, finished the day with the title and the lead of 2009 ASP WQS ratings.

In the Final, Monteiro opened the heat with an excellent score of 8.67 points, then Santos emerged from a deep left-hand barrel to earn a near-perfect 9.90 and with fifteen minutes to go. Santos was in second with the priority.

With a set approaching, Santos took the first wave in an effort to get the lead, but Monteiro also paddle for the wave and committed a paddle interference, losing his second best wave and his chances to win the Final. After that, Monteiro also scored a 7.67 and a 7.07. In the last 10 minutes, Santos snuck into a small barrel on the wave, earned a 5.50 and won the heat.

"The way I like, I always pray to get barreling waves in the contests, and we had perfect waves in five days of surfing," Santos said.

Before the Final, Santos won the second Semifinal against Brazilian Marcelo Trekinho (who got the second and last 10 point ride of the event) and the Quarterfinal No. 3 against the young surfer Ian Gouveia (16).

"I think I had luck too," Santos said. "The waves came to me and Monteiro made some mistakes today. Noronha is my favorite event of the year and this is the place that I most like to go back every year and win here was great, I really happy with that."

With the result today, Monteiro moves to ASP WQS No. 3. The Final was Monteiro’s second Final in the Hang Loose Pro Contest in a row, he won the event in 2008.

Despite having an amazingly consistent campaign in the event, Monteiro was unable to claim the victory, but started the year with a great result at Cacimba do Padre. Monteiro was gracious in defeat – giving credit to Santos for his impressive surfing throughout the event.

Raoni began the day winning the opening heat of this Sunday against his good friend Leonardo Neves, then we took out of the event Brazilian Marco Polo, who surfed the first 10 point ride of the 2009 Hang Loose Pro Contest.