Oil from struck tanker closes beaches in Umm Al-Quwain

Oil leaking from a tanker struck near the Strait of Hormuz has washed ashore in Umm Al-Quwain, closing all beaches and coastal areas around the northern emirate while containment work continues, UAE authorities said.

Why it matters: The slick is spreading toward the Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands, a recognised biodiversity area, on a coast where desalination plants produce most of the UAE's drinking water.

Data as of BBC Verify report of October 23, 2026 and Reuters report of October 23, 2026 via Arab News, both read in full. UAE authorities have not named the vessel or the cause; the identification of the leaking ship as the Gem No.2 rests on BBC Verify satellite imagery matching and analysts cited by Reuters. Developing item.

UAE authorities said on Thursday that the spill is affecting beaches near Umm Al-Quwain, and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said containment work began immediately, with all beaches and coastal areas around the emirate closed until technical teams complete their assessments, Reuters reported; Sharjah also closed Al Hamriyah Beach as a precaution. The UAE has not named the tanker or the cause, but BBC Verify matched satellite imagery of the leaking ship to the Panama-flagged crude tanker Gem No.2, which maritime firm Vanguard reported was struck by an unknown projectile on October 9 just north of Al Jazeera Al Hamra, and analysts cited by Reuters put the slick at about 160 square kilometres. A smaller leak was first seen on October 19 and had spread more than 35 kilometres from the tanker by Wednesday, BBC Verify said.

Oil from struck tanker closes beaches in Umm Al-Quwain

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