DUBAI —Ras Al Khaimah authorities closed all beaches across the emirate on Saturday until further notice, one day after an offshore oil spill triggered beach closures in neighboring Umm Al Quwain and Sharjah.

The Public Services Department announced the decision in a statement released by Ras Al Khaimah Police General Headquarters.

Officials did not disclose the reason for the closures.

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said Friday that efforts were underway to contain oil leaking from a tanker offshore. The ministry also launched an environmental assessment to evaluate the incident.

In Umm Al Quwain, authorities shut all beaches and coastal areas until technical teams completed their inspections and identified the safety measures needed to protect the marine environment.

The ministry urged fishermen and other sea users to stay away from affected areas and follow official instructions.

Sharjah authorities also closed Al Hamriyah Beach as a precaution. The beach lies on the UAE’s northern coast near the border with Umm Al Quwain, the Sharjah Government Media Bureau said.

The spill comes amid growing maritime security concerns since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Attacks on commercial vessels along Gulf shipping routes have raised concerns about the conflict’s potential environmental impact.

Ras Al Khaimah, known for its beaches and luxury resorts, is also the site of Wynn Resorts’ planned casino resort on Al Marjan Island.

The Las Vegas-based company received the UAE’s first commercial gaming license in 2024 and said in February that it expected the resort to open in the first quarter of 2027.

Wynn said in March that construction had resumed after a brief suspension, despite continued disruption to businesses across the Middle East caused by the Iran war.

Residents reported unusual odors in parts of Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain.

The environment ministry said the odors posed no health risks, although the smell remained strong across Umm Al Quwain on Friday.

UAE authorities have not identified the tanker involved in the spill or disclosed what caused the leak.

(With files from Reuters)

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