WorldGulf
Ras Al Khaimah shuts all its beaches as an offshore oil spill spreads along the UAE coast
Umm Al Quwain and Sharjah closed stretches of coast a day earlier. Residents of three emirates have complained of a pungent smell, which the environment ministry says poses no health risk.
Key points
- Ras Al Khaimah closed all its beaches "until further notice" on Saturday.
- The UAE said on Friday it was working to contain oil leaking from a tanker offshore.
- Fishermen were told to avoid affected areas and follow official instructions.
Ras Al Khaimah closed all of its beaches on Saturday as an oil spill off the coast of the United Arab Emirates spread north, a day after neighbouring emirates shut stretches of their own shoreline.
The emirate’s Public Services Department said the beaches would stay closed “until further notice”. It did not give a reason.
On Friday, the UAE said work was under way to contain oil leaking from a tanker offshore. The authorities have not named the vessel or said what caused the leak. A satellite image taken on 19 October showed a slick off Umm Al Quwain.
Umm Al Quwain has closed beaches and coastal areas around the city until technical teams finish their assessment and put safety and marine protection measures in place. Sharjah shut Al Hamriyah Beach, on its northern coast near the Umm Al Quwain border, as a precaution.
Residents in parts of Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain have reported an unusual smell, which was still pungent across Umm Al Quwain on Friday. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said it “posed no health risks” and that it was carrying out an environmental assessment. It urged fishermen and other sea users to “avoid affected areas and follow official instructions”.
The spill comes as Gulf shipping lanes face repeated attacks on commercial vessels since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, raising fears over maritime safety and damage to the environment. The authorities have not linked this leak to any attack.