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UAE closes beaches after oil spill from Gem No. 2

By Drooid · Oct 26, 2026, 3:13 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

UAE Ministry Closes Beaches

UAE climate ministry closed Umm Al Quwain beaches after detecting a tanker oil spill.
Shipping sources linked the slick to Panamanian-flagged supertanker Gem No. 2, struck by a projectile on Oct 9.
Satellite images on Oct 24 showed oil covering over 35 km and about 60 square miles, prompting closures in Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah.
Specialist teams began containment, cleanup and remediation of the spill.
Odors in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah and Ajman were said to pose no health risk.

Summary

Wynn Resorts Delays

Wynn Resorts says the Al Marjan Island casino project may be delayed because oil-spill-induced beach closures.
Tour operators warn they may cancel trips as luxury beachfront resorts lose access to key tourist zones.
Local fishermen in Umm Al Quwain report income loss after being ordered to avoid contaminated fishing zones.
Sharjah and Ajman desalination plants face risk of oil reaching intake systems, threatening drinking-water supplies.

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UAE Ministry Closes Beaches

UAE climate ministry closed Umm Al Quwain beaches after detecting a tanker oil spill.
Shipping sources linked the slick to Panamanian-flagged supertanker Gem No. 2, struck by a projectile on Oct 9.
Satellite images on Oct 24 showed oil covering over 35 km and about 60 square miles, prompting closures in Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah.
Specialist teams began containment, cleanup and remediation of the spill.
Odors in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah and Ajman were said to pose no health risk.

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