Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have announced the closure of all beaches in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah until further notice. This decision comes shortly after the neighbouring emirate of Umm Al-Quwain closed its beaches due to an oil spill from a maritime tanker.
Closure of Beaches Amid Environmental Concerns
On Saturday, the Public Services Department of Ras Al Khaimah made the announcement via a statement on their Facebook account. “We have decided to close all beaches of the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah until further notice,” the department stated. They urged the public to adhere to guidelines issued by relevant authorities to ensure their safety.
Link to Recent Oil Spill
While the statement did not specify the reasons for the closure, it follows a similar move by the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, which closed all beaches in Umm Al-Quwain on Friday after detecting marine pollution caused by an oil spill from a tanker.
The ministry reported that the pollution had affected Umm Al-Quwain’s shores along the Arab Gulf and that residents in the neighbouring emirates of Sharjah and Ajman had noticed unpleasant odours. However, officials reassured the public that these odours did not pose health risks, and specialized teams had begun to contain the pollution and clean up the affected areas.
Advisories for Residents and Fishermen
Authorities have also advised fishermen and beachgoers to refrain from fishing in the impacted sites and to follow directives from the appropriate departments. Despite the closures, the specific location of the tanker responsible for the spill and the exact quantity of oil released remain undisclosed.
Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al-Quwain both border the Arabian Gulf, but it remains unclear how far-reaching the marine pollution may be beyond the areas currently acknowledged by authorities.