Sharjah authorities announced on Wednesday, October 28, that all beaches across the emirate had been temporarily closed to the public following a major oil spill from a tanker in the UAE’s northern waters. The decision expands restrictions previously limited to certain beaches in Sharjah to cover the emirate’s entire coastline.

The closure was imposed as a precautionary measure to prevent oil pollution from reaching the shore and to protect public health and safety. Specialist teams and relevant authorities in Sharjah are taking steps to safeguard the coastline and contain the pollution.

Sharjah authorities urged citizens, residents and tourists to follow safety guidelines and obtain updates on beach conditions only through official channels. No date has yet been announced for the beaches to reopen.

Sharjah had previously closed Al Hamriyah Beach on Friday, October 23, over concerns that oil pollution could reach the shore. On the same day, all beaches and coastal areas in Umm Al Quwain were also temporarily closed. A day later, on October 24, Ras Al Khaimah closed all public beaches until further notice, although authorities did not specify a reason in the closure notice.

With Sharjah’s latest decision, beach access restrictions now cover the three emirates of Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah.

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed on October 23 that oil leaking from a tanker had reached the shores of Umm Al Quwain. After examining satellite imagery, independent experts identified the tanker Jam No. 2 as the likely source of the pollution. The vessel was struck by a projectile near Ras Al Khaimah on October 9, but UAE authorities have not officially confirmed that the spill originated from the tanker.