UAE oil spill: Ras Al Khaimah closes all beaches 'until further notice'

Ras Al Khaimah has ordered all beaches to remain closed indefinitely following an oil spill from a supertanker in the Arabian Gulf. This decision follows temporary closures by Umm Al Quwain and a precautionary measure by Sharjah. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment reported the incident on Friday, noting a strong foul odor across the nation. The oil slick's extent remains unknown, but the situation has raised concerns about the environmental impact of the ongoing Iran war in the Gulf and Arabian Sea.

Umm Al Quwain authorities are actively working on containing the spill and minimizing damage to marine environments. They will continue to monitor conditions, identify affected areas, and support clean-up and treatment efforts. Specialists will also assess the impact of the spill to determine appropriate measures.

Environmental experts emphasize that swift containment is crucial to limit damage to the UAE's marine ecosystems. Inesaf Benzaki from Greenpeace Mena highlighted the importance of timely action due to the semi-enclosed geography of the Gulf, which could allow pollutants to persist. Prof John Burt from NYU Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Arabian Centre warned that if oil reaches the coastline, remediation would be costly and a full recovery could take years.