UAE oil spill: beaches closed in three emirates, no date to reopen

A tanker oil spill off Umm Al Quwain has led to beach closures in three emirates of the United Arab Emirates and a restriction on fishing in the affected waters. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed the marine pollution on 22 or 23 October, and it said that the strong fuel-like smell reported across the country in recent days was caused by the spill. Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah have closed beaches, and no date has been set for reopening them. The tanker involved has not been officially identified, and the cause has not been confirmed.

How it was found

Satellite imagery from the European Union's Copernicus programme showed the slick widening between 19 October and the following Saturday, as it spread towards the Umm Al Quwain coastline, according to one report. Another report says that a radar satellite image captured on 21 October shows oil leaking from a tanker about 25 km off the coast of Umm Al Quwain. The ministry confirmed marine pollution on 22 October according to one report, and on 23 October according to others.

Residents had noticed the smell for about three days before the spill was confirmed, and authorities said at the time that there was no cause for concern. The ministry linked the odours to the spill after the confirmation.

The closures

Umm Al Quwain closed its beaches and coastal areas first. Sharjah closed Al Hamriyah Beach as a precaution, and then, on Wednesday, 28 October, all of its beaches, with specialised teams deployed to keep the pollution from reaching them. Ras Al Khaimah's Public Services Department closed all of its beaches on Saturday, 24 October, until further notice, without giving a reason at first. The closures are described as precautionary, so contamination may not have been found at every closed location.

The Environment Ministry said that the odour poses no health risk. The public was advised to stay away from any oil that washes ashore and to avoid the affected beaches until the authorities reopen them. The ministry urged fishermen and others using the sea not to fish in the affected waters and to follow instructions from the authorities. Fishing has been restricted in the affected areas.

Umm Al Quwain Municipality began clean-up, containment, cordoning and remediation work as soon as the spill was detected, and it said that fieldwork to contain the spill and limit its effect on marine life was continuing. An industry expert said that the first priority is to contain the oil with floating barriers called booms. One report says that the ministry confirmed that no new oil leakage had been detected, and that maritime and aerial surveillance supported by satellite imagery remained in place. A maritime intelligence firm reported that the oil approached the Naqa'a desalination plant near Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah, according to one report.

Authorities have not identified the tanker or confirmed the cause of the spill. One report names a vessel, but another says that the ministry has not disclosed the ship's name or the cause, so the name should be treated as unconfirmed.

The closures will remain until technical teams finish their assessments, and the ministry says that it will release further updates on the incident and the response. Residents are advised to rely on official channels for updates and to avoid spreading rumours.

The reports found do not give the size of the spill or the volume of oil that has reached the shore. They do not say how many beaches are closed in total, and they do not give the cost of the clean-up or any liability for the tanker's owner.