UAE's Ras Al Khaimah shuts all beaches as neighbours grapple with oil spill

Authorities in Ras Al Khaimah announced on Saturday the closure of all public beaches until further notice. The Public Services Department, in coordination with the Ras Al Khaimah Police General Headquarters, issued the directive to safeguard public safety and has urged residents and visitors to avoid coastal areas and follow official instructions.

While Al-Monitor reports that no reason was given for the closures, The National UAE states the decision follows efforts to contain an oil spill from a supertanker in the Arabian Gulf.

The spill has already affected neighboring areas, with Umm Al Quwain temporarily closing all beaches and coastal areas. In Sharjah, authorities sealed off Al Hamriya beach as a precautionary measure. BBC World reports that the spill originated from a tanker attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, matching the location and dimensions of the Gem No.2, which was damaged between October 9 and 10. Satellite imagery reviewed by BBC Verify showed the oil slick spreading more than 35km from the tanker by a Wednesday.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed the incident and stated that containment efforts began immediately to limit environmental impacts. The Ministry noted the spill has caused a strong smell reported by residents across the country. While Umm Al Quwain Municipality is conducting field operations to minimize damage to marine and coastal environments, researchers told BBC Verify it is too early to assess the full extent of the damage.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Ajel English, The National UAE, Gulf News, BBC World — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.