Swimming suspended at UAE’s Khor Fakkan beach following oil spill

Authorities have temporarily closed swimming at Al Zubarah beach in Khor Fakkan due to an oil spill, the municipality announced on Monday.

The cause and precise source of the spill are still under investigation, with safety precautions in place to protect visitors, Khaleej Timesreported.

This is not the first time the area has faced such environmental threats.

In 2020, two beaches in Khor Fakkan experienced a similar oil spill, which was successfully contained through coordinated efforts by the Environmental Protection and Development Authority (EPAA), police, coast guard, municipal teams, and Bee’ah. The spill had posed serious risks to marine life and the coastal ecosystem.

More recently, in 2024, a spill near Fujairah’s Snoopy Island was reported by local hotels, prompting swift response and legal warnings against those responsible for harming the region’s natural resources.

Earlier incidents in 2022 also led to temporary closures of beaches in Fujairah and Sharjah’s Kalba area.

Oil spills involve the release of petroleum-based liquids such as crude oil or refined products like gasoline and diesel into the environment, often forming a visible oily sheen on water surfaces and leaving black stains on the sand.

Visitors who notice such signs are urged to report them immediately to local authorities to enable prompt containment and cleanup efforts.