Sharjah reopens beaches to public after oil spill clean-up
Sharjah has reopened its beaches after closing them for nearly three weeks because of an oil spill in the Arabian Gulf. Residents have been reassured that the beaches are safe to visit after authorities completed clean-up operations and contained the marine pollution. Authorities carried out environmental assessments and monitoring before reopening the beaches, the Sharjah Media Office said. The…
Sharjah has resumed public access to its beaches following a three-week closure due to an oil spill in the Arabian Gulf. Authorities have assured residents that the beaches have been thoroughly cleaned and are now safe for visitors. Before reopening, the authorities conducted comprehensive environmental assessments and ongoing monitoring to confirm the marine environment's safety and sustainability.
This decision to reopen the beaches comes after neighboring Ras Al Khaimah reopened seven of its beaches, with additional beaches expected to reopen once they meet safety standards. The UAE confirmed the oil spill on October 22, linking it to the supertanker Gem No 2. The crew of the vessel was safely rescued, but the spill persisted for several weeks, resulting in a significant oil slick extending from Umm Al Quwain towards coastal regions in Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, and Sharjah.
Umm Al Quwain's beaches remain closed as of now. The government reported that the spill was successfully contained through a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies. On Monday, Al Luluyah Beach in Khor Fakkan on the Gulf of Oman was also closed due to an oil spill, marking the first confirmed incident on the UAE's eastern coastline.
The cause of this spill remains unspecified. Sharjah's authorities emphasized that continuous monitoring and surveillance will be maintained to ensure the ongoing safety and health of the marine environment. They have encouraged the public to rely solely on official sources and to disregard any rumors circulating about the situation.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
