The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has reported an oil spill from a tanker, with pollution reaching the coast of Umm Al Quwain. All beaches and coastal areas in the emirate have been temporarily closed, while containment and clean-up operations are under way.

In a statement issued on October 22, the ministry said the country’s technical monitoring and environmental assessment systems had detected marine pollution caused by an oil spill from a tanker, with traces reaching the Umm Al Quwain coastline.

The ministry said the pollution was also responsible for the unpleasant odour reported by residents of Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain in recent days. UAE authorities stressed, however, that the odour posed no risk to residents’ health.

According to the official statement, specialist teams took immediate action after the pollution was detected, working with local and federal authorities to contain the oil spill, cordon off affected areas and begin clean-up operations. Field inspections and environmental monitoring are continuing to determine the extent of the pollution and assess its impact on the marine environment.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said all beaches and coastal areas in Umm Al Quwain would remain closed as a precaution until the required operations and assessments were completed.

The ministry also urged fishermen and other sea users to follow the instructions of the relevant authorities and avoid fishing in affected areas.

Meanwhile, maritime intelligence company Windward reported that satellite images captured on October 19 showed a large oil tanker about 25 kilometres north of Umm Al Quwain that appeared to be leaking oil. The company said the observed oil slick extended for about 1.5 kilometres.

Based on pollution-drift forecasting models, Windward had also warned that the oil could reach the Umm Al Quwain coast from October 22 before moving towards coastal areas of Sharjah and Ajman in the following days. However, the forecast did not account for the possible impact of containment and clean-up operations.

UAE authorities have not yet disclosed the name of the tanker responsible for the spill, its international identification number, flag, owner or operator. The volume of oil spilled, the exact time the leak began and the cause of the incident also remain unknown.

The pollution was reported after several oil tankers and commercial vessels were targeted in attacks in regional waters and the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks. However, no confirmed link has been established between the latest oil spill and the maritime attacks, including the October 9 attack on the Jam No. 2 oil tanker near Ras Al Khaimah.