Ras Al Khaimah closes beaches following tanker oil leak off UAE coast

Ras Al Khaimah authorities said on Saturday that all beaches in the emirate would be closed until further notice, a day after an offshore oil leak prompted beach closures in neighbouring Umm Al Quwain and Sharjah. The Public Services Department announced the closures in a statement shared by Ras Al Khaimah Police General Headquarters. No reason was given. The United Arab Emirates said on Friday that efforts were underway to contain oil leaking from a tanker offshore, with its Ministry of Climate Change and Environment conducting an environmental assessment. All beaches and coastal areas around the city of Umm Al Quwain were temporarily closed until technical teams completed their assessments and determined the necessary safety and marine protection measures, the ministry said. The ministry also urged fishermen and other sea users to avoid affected areas and follow official instructions. Authorities in Sharjah temporarily closed Al Hamriyah Beach, on the UAE’s northern coast near the border with Umm Al Quwain, as a precaution, the Sharjah Government Media Bureau said. Residents reported unusual odours in parts of Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, but the UAE’s environment ministry said they posed no health risks. The smell remained pungent across Umm Al Quwain on Friday. UAE authorities have not named the tanker involved in the incident or said what caused the spill. Since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, attacks on commercial vessels in Gulf shipping lanes have heightened concerns about maritime security and the conflict’s environmental fallout.

REALNEWS HUB Newsroom

Oct 24, 2026, 12:49 UTC

A closed, empty sandy beach in the UAE marked by red and white barrier tape with emergency response vessels offshore. — REAL NEWS HUB

Authorities in Ras Al Khaimah have ordered the closure of every beach across the emirate until further notice, following an offshore oil leak that has already impacted coastal areas in neighbouring regions of the United Arab Emirates.

The decision was issued by the local Public Services Department and distributed through the Ras Al Khaimah Police General Headquarters. While the statement did not specify the cause of the shutdown, it comes directly after environmental disruptions forced authorities in nearby Umm Al Quwain and Sharjah to seal off their shorelines.

The UAE government confirmed on Friday that emergency operations were actively attempting to contain petroleum spilling from an offshore vessel. Specialist crews from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment have launched an evaluation of the ecological impact across affected waters.

In Umm Al Quwain, officials enacted a temporary ban covering all city beaches and adjoining coastal territory. The restrictions are slated to stay in place while investigators complete technical evaluations and implement appropriate precautions to safeguard the marine habitat. Government officials also issued warnings directing commercial fishermen and recreational boaters to stay clear of contaminated zones and adhere strictly to official guidance.

Precautionary measures expanded into Sharjah as well, where the Sharjah Government Media Bureau confirmed the temporary shutdown of Al Hamriyah Beach, located along the northern coastline adjacent to Umm Al Quwain.

The spread of the spill has been accompanied by strong, unusual smells noticed by community members across Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, and Ajman. Despite the persistent, sharp odour noted throughout Umm Al Quwain on Friday, the environment ministry assured the public that the fumes do not present a danger to human health.

Federal officials have not yet disclosed the identity or nationality of the tanker responsible for the release, nor have they explained how the incident occurred.

Maritime security throughout critical Gulf waterways has faced mounting scrutiny and heightened anxiety over potential ecological damage amid recent attacks against merchant vessels connected to the broader regional conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Explained: catch up on this storyWhy the US-Iran conflict is causing a global fuel crisisA seven-month war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has severed maritime oil routes through the Strait of Hormuz, sending diesel to record highs and prompting the G7 to release 100 million barrels from emergency reserves.Read the explainer →

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