Oil slick from a tanker hit in the Gulf war reaches UAE shores: beaches closed in Umm Al Quwain and Sharjah

An oil slick spreading along the northern coast of the United Arab Emirates is linked to a tanker that was hit near the Strait of Hormuz. Emirati authorities closed beaches in Umm Al Quwain and Sharjah, one after the other, on Thursday and Friday, as black waves reached the shore and a strong smell of fuel made the slick’s presence felt in coastal areas.

The Sharjah Government Media Bureau announced on Friday, October 23 the temporary closure of Al Hamriyah beach as a precaution to keep pollution from a tanker’s oil leak from reaching the shore. Specialised crews and the emirate’s competent services have taken action, while fishermen and swimmers are asked to follow instructions and rely only on official channels, without spreading rumours.

A day earlier, the federal Ministry of Climate Change and Environment had confirmed that the leak was affecting the coast of Umm Al Quwain. Beaches there were closed until technical teams complete their assessment, fishermen were told to stay away from affected spots, and containment, isolation and cleanup work began. According to the ministry, the smell residents report poses no health risk, and containment of the slick started immediately to reduce the environmental impact.

The Gem No.2

The slick is linked to the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker Gem No.2, hit by a projectile on October 9 north of the town of Al Jazeera Al Hamra and engulfed in flames. The BBC Verify team matched the ship in the area with Gem No.2 using satellite imagery. A small leak was already visible on October 19, but within two days the oil spread rapidly, and by Wednesday the slick extended more than 35 kilometres from the ship. All 22 crew members, all Indian, had been rescued.

Iranian state media had then broadcast video of a ship resembling Gem No.2 on fire, claiming it tried to leave the Strait via an “unauthorised and dangerous route”. Tehran imposes its own transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Revolutionary Guards repeatedly announce strikes on ships they describe as violators. Washington disputes many of the Iranian announcements, with Donald Trump speaking of “fake strikes” on tankers meant to push up the oil price.

The environmental risk

The greatest environmental risk concerns the islands of Sir Bu Nair and Khor Al Beidah, an internationally recognised Key Biodiversity Area with corals, seagrass meadows, salt marshes, green turtles and the critically endangered Glaucostegus halavi (halavi guitarfish). Professor Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Scientific Research Centre, called an impact “inevitable”, while researchers note that the extent of the damage will depend on the volume and type of oil, evaporation and the effectiveness of the cleanup.

The trade magazine Maritime Executive writes that, based on satellite data, the slick covers more than 60 square miles, while the Persian Gulf Straits Authority, the Iranian body that controls transits, continues to add ships to its list of “non-compliant” vessels, which are at risk if they attempt to pass.