The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (Moccae) has confirmed an oil spill detected in waters near Umm Al Quwain, which it says is responsible for a fuel-like smell reported across several emirates in recent days. The ministry stressed that the odour poses no health risk to residents, but response teams moved quickly from October 24-25 to begin containment, cordoning and clean-up work in the affected waters.
As a precaution, Sharjah authorities temporarily shut Al Hamriya beach while safety assessments are completed. In Ras Al Khaimah, the Public Services Department went further, closing all of the emirate's beaches "until further notice" and asking the public to follow safety guidance until an official reopening is announced.
By October 28, other emirates had also closed sections of their beaches and coastal areas as a precautionary measure, even as environmental teams continue monitoring water and air quality around the spill site. Moccae said remediation and marine-protection efforts remain ongoing, with results of the assessments to be released once finalised.
The closures come during a period when UAE beaches, particularly in Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, are popular weekend destinations for both residents and tourists. The disruption is likely to affect travel plans for many families and visitors in the coming days, and authorities have urged the public to check official channels before heading to the coast.