Ras Al Khaimah Shuts All Beaches Amid Arabian Gulf Oil Spill Emergency
Ras Al Khaimah closes all beaches until further notice as authorities scramble to contain a spreading oil spill from a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz.
POLICY WIRE — Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates — Officials in Ras Al Khaimah ordered the immediate closure of all public beaches across the emirate until further notice on Saturday. The sweeping restriction comes as emergency teams work frantically to contain a spreading oil spill originating from a supertanker in the Arabian Gulf.
The latest closures follow similar emergency actions taken by neighbouring jurisdictions. Authorities in Umm Al Quwain previously announced a temporary shutdown of all local beaches and coastal zones after the offshore oil leak was first detected, while officials in Sharjah also responded to the environmental hazard.
The crisis began when an oil tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a massive leak that sent burning oil and heavy slick spreading along the coastline of the United Arab Emirates. Dramatic imagery from the area captured dark plumes and spreading pollution moving into regional waters.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment stated on Friday that extensive containment operations and urgent environmental assessments were immediately launched off the coast of Umm Al Quwain. Officials issued strict warnings advising local fishermen and marine operators to completely avoid the affected offshore sectors.
The Public Services Department of Ras Al Khaimah issued its directive on Saturday, urging both residents and visitors to strictly adhere to official safety instructions while cleanup efforts continue. Authorities have not yet specified a timeline for when the popular tourist destinations and coastal areas will be cleared to reopen.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
