Ras Al Khaimah closed all of its public beaches "until further notice" on Saturday 24 October 2026, the latest emirate to shut stretches of the UAE's northern coast as an oil slick from the damaged tanker Gem No.2 drifts ashore. Umm Al Quwain and parts of Sharjah had already closed beaches earlier in the week, and federal authorities say containment and clean-up operations are under way.
What happened
The Gem No.2, a Panama-flagged crude oil tanker, was hit by an unidentified projectile on 9 October about 13 nautical miles west of Al Jazeera Al Hamra in Ras Al Khaimah, according to reporting by Reuters and the BBC. A fire on board was put out, and India's consulate in Dubai said all 22 Indian crew members were rescued. No group has publicly claimed the strike.
Watch: Ras Al Khaimah closes its beaches
WATCH: Ras Al-Khaimah authorities said Saturday all beaches in the emirate would be closed until further notice, a day after an offshore oil leak prompted beach closures in neighboring Umm Al-Quwain and Sharjah
— Arab News (@arabnews) October 24, 2026
Video: Arab News via X, embedded with X's official player.
Oil was first seen leaking from the vessel on 19 October. On Tuesday 20 October the maritime intelligence firm Windward said it had identified a slick roughly 25 km off Umm Al Quwain, and its drift modelling warned that the oil could reach seawater intakes for desalination plants serving Sharjah and Ajman. By Wednesday, satellite analysis cited by BBC Verify showed the slick had stretched more than 35 km. Leon Moreland, a researcher at the UK-based Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS), estimated it covered about 160 square kilometres.
The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed the spill and said specialist teams had begun containment and clean-up. It added that oily odours reported by residents in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain did not pose a health risk. Umm Al Quwain closed all of its beaches, Sharjah closed Al Hamriyah beach, and fishermen were told to keep clear of affected waters. Ras Al Khaimah's closure on Saturday extends the shutdown further north along the coast, as reported by The National.
Key points
- 9 Oct: the Panama-flagged tanker Gem No.2 was struck about 13 nautical miles off Ras Al Khaimah; all 22 Indian crew were rescued.
- 19–20 Oct: a leak was spotted and a slick identified about 25 km off Umm Al Quwain.
- More than 35 km long by midweek, with one researcher estimating about 160 sq km of affected sea.
- Beaches closed: all of Umm Al Quwain, Al Hamriyah in Sharjah and, from 24 Oct, all public beaches in Ras Al Khaimah.
- The UAE environment ministry says odours carry no health risk and clean-up is under way.
Background
The northern emirates sit on one of the busiest stretches of water in the world. Tankers heading to and from the Strait of Hormuz pass close to the coasts of Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Sharjah, and in recent months several merchant ships in Gulf shipping lanes have been damaged in attacks linked to the wider US–Iran confrontation. Investigators have not publicly attributed the strike on Gem No.2, and WorldScope is not speculating on responsibility.
The vessel's identity was first pieced together by open-source analysts. Martin Kelly of Orbital Risk Intelligence matched it to imagery of the burning ship, and independent groups have since tracked the slick from orbit. Satellite radar is particularly useful here because it can spot oil on water at night and through haze; we explained how commercial radar satellites work in our story on a Russian satellite circling a US-owned ICEYE radar satellite.
What makes this incident stand out is its size, its position near sensitive habitats, and the fact that it follows a direct attack on a laden tanker rather than routine operational pollution.
Why it matters
Drinking water. The UAE depends on desalinated seawater for most of its drinking supply, and plants along the northern coast draw water through offshore intakes. Oil in the intakes can force plants to slow or stop production while filters are cleaned. Officials have not reported any interruption to supply so far, but Windward's warning about Sharjah and Ajman intakes explains why authorities moved quickly on containment booms.
Wildlife. The slick is close to Siniyah Island and the Khor Al Beidah lagoon, recognised as a Key Biodiversity Area. These shallow waters hold coral, seagrass meadows grazed by green turtles, mangroves, and the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish. Seagrass and mangroves are slow to recover once smothered, and conservation groups say the coming weeks matter most.
Livelihoods and tourism. Fishing remains an important income for families in Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah, and winter is the start of the busy beach season. Each closed weekend means lost trade for beach clubs, hotels and boat operators, and a lingering slick could keep fish markets cautious about local catch. Residents and visitors from Saudi Arabia planning a coastal trip to the northern emirates should check each emirate's official channels before travelling.
Shipping risk. The spill adds an environmental cost to the security risk already priced into Gulf shipping. Higher war-risk insurance for tankers feeds into freight costs, which ultimately reach fuel and goods prices across the region.
What residents should do now
Authorities have asked the public to stay out of the water at closed beaches, avoid touching tar balls or oily residue, and keep pets and children away from the shoreline. Fishermen have been told to avoid the affected area. Anyone who sees oil on a beach or oiled wildlife should report it through the municipality or the environment ministry's official channels rather than trying to clean it themselves, as crude oil can irritate skin and eyes.
What's next
The key questions are whether the tanker is still leaking, how much oil remains on board, and whether it can be towed and offloaded safely. Shifting winds in late October could push the slick further along the coast or back out to sea, so more closures or reopenings are likely day by day. Watch for updates from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment on water-quality testing at beaches and desalination intakes, and for any statement from investigators on who struck the ship. Coastal communities elsewhere are also facing environmental emergencies this month, as in our coverage of Super Typhoon Champi in the western Pacific.
Sources
Follow WorldScope on X for live updates: @worldscope_now
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