The United Arab Emirates has detected an oil spill from a tanker affecting beaches in Umm Al Quwain, a northern emirate near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting authorities to close all beaches and coastal areas as cleanup operations begin.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment detected the spill through its technical monitoring and environmental assessment system but did not identify the tanker or disclose the volume of oil released.
Containment, cleanup and remediation operations began immediately in coordination with local and federal authorities to limit the environmental damage, the ministry said.
Authorities have launched coastal surveys and are continuing to monitor affected areas to determine the extent of the spill and protect the marine environment.
All beaches and coastal areas in Umm Al Quwain will remain temporarily closed until technical teams complete their assessments and determine the necessary safety measures and marine protection requirements.
The ministry also urged fishermen and other sea users to follow official instructions and avoid fishing in affected areas while the response continues.
The spill comes amid reports of unusual odors in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. The ministry sought to reassure residents, saying the reported odors posed no health risks.
It also called on the public to rely on official channels for information, avoid spreading rumors and follow updates on the spill and the measures being taken to address it.
The spill follows other oil pollution incidents reported in the Gulf region this year, including cases in Oman and Iran after the outbreak of the Iran war, which severely constrained shipping traffic in the region and ramped up attacks on tankers.
In June, the tanker Caroline Bezengi ran aground near Oman’s Hallaniyat Islands, leaking Russian crude oil into waters off the country’s southern coast. By mid-August, satellite imagery showed oil had reached up to 40 kilometers of coastline.
In August, oil also reached Iran’s Qeshm Island after the bulk carrier Minoan Pioneer was damaged near the Strait of Hormuz on Aug. 3. Satellite imagery analyzed by the United Nations University showed an oil slick covering about 100 square kilometers of water near Qeshm and neighboring Hengam Island.
The United Nations University warned that the environmental effects could persist long after the spills, as oil can drift far from its source and remain trapped in mangrove roots and coastal sediments even after visible slicks disappear.
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