Oil Reaches UAE Shores After Tanker Strike
Beaches near Umm Al Quwain closed as a 35km slick spreads from the Gem No.2, threatening critical marine habitats.
By Abigail Brooks ·
Residents and visitors near the northern city of Umm Al Quwain found their coastal access restricted on Thursday as the UAE government closed beaches and specific coastal zones. The closures came after verified video from Friday showed oil washing ashore, turning the water black in areas previously known for clear tides. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment stated that it immediately began containment efforts to limit the environmental impact on the shoreline.
Satellite imagery documents the rapid expansion of the spill. A small leak was visible on the vessel on 19 October. By Wednesday, the slick had stretched more than 35 kilometers, or 22 miles, from the ship's location. Radar data reviewed by BBC Verify and the intelligence firm MAIAR confirms the spill grew significantly over the two days following the initial detection. The source of the oil is the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker Gem No.2, which was struck by an unknown projectile on 9 October just north of Al Jazeera Al Hamra.
The crew of the Gem No.2 survived the attack and the subsequent fire that was extinguished on board. Footage posted on 10 October shows crew members running across the deck in black smoke while donning lifejackets. The Indian consulate in Dubai confirmed on 11 October that all 22 Indian crew members had been rescued. Iranian state media described the vessel as taking an unauthorized route through the Strait of Hormuz, a claim that aligns with security reports of Iranian efforts to control the waterway.
Marine scientists warn that the proximity of the oil to Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands poses a direct threat to local ecosystems. These islands constitute a globally recognized Key Biodiversity Area containing corals, seagrasses, and saltmarshes. The area is home to green turtles and the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish. Eoghan Darbyshire, a scientist at the Conflict and Environment Observatory, identified the spill's location near these habitats as the most concerning environmental angle of the incident.
Prof Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, stated that an impact on marine life is inevitable. He explained that oil spills can kill animals quickly by trapping turtles or smothering seabirds. Longer-term harm is also possible if species remain exposed to toxic compounds, which can affect their ability to reproduce. Researchers note that the severity of the damage depends on the volume and type of oil spilled, as well as the effectiveness of the ongoing clean-up.
This incident adds to a pattern of maritime damage in the region. In August, a similar large oil slick reached the shores of Iran's Qeshm Island, threatening protected ecosystems and local fishing communities. The Gem No.2 attack is one of a record number of strikes on ships in and around the strait at the start of October, a period marked by increased conflict between Iranian and US forces escorting commercial vessels.
