Video from Umm Al Quwain shows blackened seawater and oil washing onto the beaches of the northern UAE after a tanker spill. The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirmed on October 23 that its monitoring system had detected the spill and said all beaches and coastal areas in Umm Al Quwain were closed until technical teams finish their assessments. Sharjah closed Al Hamriyah Beach near the border as a precaution, and on Saturday, October 24, Ras Al Khaimah announced that all of its beaches would be closed until further notice. Fishermen and other sea users were urged to avoid affected waters and follow official instructions. Containment and cleanup operations are under way, along with coastal surveys to measure the damage.

The source of the oil is still being pieced together. A radar satellite image from October 21 showed oil leaking from a tanker about 25 kilometers off the coast of Umm Al Quwain, and at least one outlet reported that the spill followed a drone strike on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, though UAE authorities have not publicly confirmed the cause in the statements I found. Residents in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah and Ajman had noticed a strong, unusual odor for days, and the ministry said it posed no health risks. The pungent smell lingered across Umm Al Quwain on Friday, and officials have not said how much oil escaped or how long the beaches will stay closed. The big questions now are how badly marine life will be hit, who will be held responsible, and when residents can go back to the water.