UAE Beaches Closed After Tanker Spill Expands
Oil from the Gem No.2 tanker now covers 35 kilometers of water, forcing authorities in Umm Al Quwain to seal off coastal zones.
By Kwame Silva ·
Residents near the northern city of Umm Al Quwain have been told to stay off the beach. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment announced on Thursday that oil from a damaged tanker had reached the shore. Verified video from Friday shows black water washing against the sand and covering the coastline.
The spill originates from the Gem No.2, a Panama-flagged crude oil tanker. The vessel was struck by an unknown projectile on 9 October near Al Jazeera Al Hamra. Satellite imagery reviewed by BBC Verify and the intelligence firm MAIAR shows the leak grew rapidly. A small patch of oil was visible on 19 October. By Wednesday, the slick stretched more than 35 kilometers from the ship.
Authorities said they began containment efforts immediately to limit environmental damage. The oil now extends toward Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands. These islands are designated as a globally recognized Key Biodiversity Area. They host corals, seagrasses, and saltmarshes. The area is also home to green turtles and the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish.
Eoghan Darbyshire, a scientist at the Conflict and Environment Observatory, called the proximity of the spill to these islands the most concerning environmental angle. Prof Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, stated that an impact on marine life was inevitable. He noted that the severity of the damage depends on the volume of oil, its type, and how fast it evaporates or breaks down.
Oil spills can kill marine life quickly. Turtles can become trapped, and seabirds can have their feathers smothered. Fish gills can be damaged by the toxic compounds. Prof Widdicombe warned that long-term exposure could also affect the ability of species to reproduce.
The attack on the Gem No.2 was part of a series of strikes on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Security experts described the strikes as an Iranian effort to assert greater control over the waterway. This response followed the US military escorting more vessels through the strait. Both Iranian and US forces have attacked commercial ships in the conflict between the two countries.
Footage posted on social media on 10 October showed crew members running across the deck of the Gem No.2. They put on lifejackets beneath a plume of black smoke. Iranian state media shared video of the ship on fire, with burning oil spilling into the sea. The media reported the vessel was trying to leave the strait by an unauthorized and dangerous route.
The Indian consulate in Dubai confirmed on 11 October that all 22 Indian crew members had been rescued. This incident follows a previous major spill in August. That slick reached the shores of Iran's Qeshm Island, threatening local wildlife and fishing communities.
