UAE oil spill spreads towards Umm Al Quwain as coastal closures expand

Umm Al Quwain, United Arab Emirates. Oil leaking from a damaged tanker offshore has spread towards the northern emirate of Umm Al Quwain, satellite imagery shows. Authorities have expanded beach closures amid concerns about environmental damage.

Satellite images reveal spreading oil

Images dated October 24 from the European Union’s Copernicus observation network show that the spill expanded over several days, approaching Umm Al Quwain’s shores. Dark patches of oil are visible both offshore and along the coastline.

Imagery captured by Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites shows a substantial slick extending from the tanker.

On Friday, the UAE said containment work was under way, while the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment was assessing the environmental effects.

Coastal access restricted

Authorities in several northern emirates have limited access to coastal locations in response to the pollution.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment announced on Friday that beaches and coastal zones surrounding Umm Al Quwain city were temporarily closed. In neighbouring Sharjah, officials also closed Al Hamriyah Beach as a precaution.

Nidal Hilal, Professor of Engineering and Director of New York University Abu Dhabi’s Water Research Center, told Reuters that the reported spill posed a serious environmental concern. He described the temporary restrictions as a prudent precaution while officials assessed its extent and tracked the oil’s movement.

Tanker identity and shipping risks

Officials have neither identified the tanker nor disclosed the cause of the leak. However, experts interviewed by Reuters identified Gem No.2 as the source.

Shipping sources said an unidentified projectile had hit that vessel the previous month, starting a fire that was subsequently put out.

Since the US-Israeli war against Iran began, commercial ships using Gulf shipping routes have faced attacks, increasing maritime security risks and concern about environmental consequences from the conflict.

Data gathered by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy think tank indicate that October recorded the highest level of attacks against commercial shipping around the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waterways.