DUBAI — Authorities in the United Arab Emirates' Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah emirates have reopened several beaches that were closed after an oil spill from a tanker damaged in a suspected attack in the Gulf last month spread along parts of the UAE's northern coastline.

Source: Reuters via AJOT

Sharjah's Government Media Bureau announced on Thursday, 12 November, that beaches across the emirate had reopened after authorities brought the marine pollution caused by the spill under control and completed environmental assessments and monitoring. 'The relevant authorities confirm that the emirate's beaches and marine environment are safe, allowing the public to visit and enjoy various marine activities safely,' the media office said.

In Ras Al Khaimah, the Public Services Department reopened seven beaches: Flamingo Beach, Dahan Beach, Al Maireedh Beach and Al Rams Corniche, along with the beaches at three hotels — The Cove Rotana Resort, the InterContinental Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa and the Anantara Mina Al Arab Resort. The department said updates on the remaining beaches would be announced through its official channels, so visitors should not assume every beach has reopened.

Three weeks of closures after the Gem No. 2 spill

The spill came from the supertanker Gem No. 2. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed on 23 October that a tanker oil spill had affected beaches in Umm Al Quwain, and satellite images showed the slick spreading towards Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Sharjah. Sharjah closed Al Hamriyah Beach on 23 October, and beaches in Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain were shut as a precaution. Authorities said the source of the leak was stopped on 30 October after a multi-agency operation, and reports on 13 November said around 1,000 workers a day were deployed on clean-up and recovery work across the three emirates.

7beaches reopened in Ras Al Khaimah
23 Octspill confirmed off Umm Al Quwain; first closures
~1,000workers a day on clean-up across three emirates
3 weeksapproximate length of the Sharjah closures

The reopening is phased, not complete. Beaches in Umm Al Quwain, where the spill was first confirmed, remain subject to restrictions while environmental recovery work continues, and a separate closure was reported at Al Luluyah Beach in Khor Fakkan on 9 November after another oil spill report. Officials say public access in still-affected areas depends on official clearance, not on neighbouring emirates reopening.

Why it matters in the Gulf

Reuters noted the spill has underscored the environmental risks from attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf since the US-Israeli war on Iran began in February. The northern UAE coast is home and workplace to large numbers of Indian and Punjabi expatriate workers, and its beaches are a main public leisure space for residents across the emirates.

The reopenings follow the closures this desk reported when the spill first reached the northern emirates' beaches in October. Read the earlier report: Sharjah beaches closed over oil spill

What happens next is the remaining clean-up: environmental teams are still working in Umm Al Quwain and other affected stretches, and Ras Al Khaimah says further beach reopenings will be announced officially as inspections are completed. For now, Sharjah's beaches and the seven named Ras Al Khaimah beaches are officially open and declared safe for swimming and marine activities.