UAE's Ras Al Khaimah Closes All Beaches Following Offshore Oil Leak

IRGC VIA IRIB

Footage, taken from video on 10 October 2026, released by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB shows the Gem No. 2 engulfed in flames.

Authorities in Ras Al Khaimah announced on Saturday that all beaches in the emirate would remain closed until further notice, a day after an offshore oil leak led to 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.

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.

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.

Ras Al Khaimah, a northern UAE emirate known for its beaches and luxury resorts, is also home to Wynn Resorts' planned casino resort on Al Marjan Island.

The Las Vegas-based operator, which won ⁠the UAE's first commercial gaming licence in 2024, said in February it expected the resort to open in the first quarter of 2027.

Source: Reuters



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